Should You Get a Trust or a Will in Utah?
Compare probate costs, trust administration fees, and digital signing options for your state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Utah uses reasonable compensation for probate fees, typically 2.2-3.5% of the estate value.Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 14, 2026 A trust avoids probate entirely and distributes assets faster than the 4-6 month probate timeline.
Probate in Utah typically costs 2.2-3.5% of the estate value in attorney fees alone.Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Jul 14, 2026 All-in costs on a $500,000 estate run about $28,244. A revocable trust has a one-time setup cost and no probate fees. See a detailed breakdown with the Utah probate calculator.
No. A will must go through probate in Utah. However, estates with personal property under $100,000 may qualify for Small Estate Affidavit, which is faster and less expensive than full probate.Utah Code § 75-1-110 (CPI cost-of-living adjustments), § 75-3-718 (compensation), § 75-3-1201 (small estate affidavit; amended 2025 Ch.123 eff. 5/7/2025), § 75-3-1203 (summary admin formula), § 75-3-801 (notice to creditors / 3-month claim bar), § 75-3-603 (bond), § 75-3-301 (informal probate), § 75-3-501 (unsupervised admin), § 75-3-705 (inventory), § 75-2-402 (homestead allowance — 2026 CPI: $33,700; base $22,500), § 75-2-403 (exempt property — 2026 CPI: $22,500; base $15,000), § 75-2-404 (family allowance — reasonable amount), § 75-2-405 (PR family-allowance determination cap — 2026 CPI: $40,500 lump-sum / $2,250 per month; base $27,000 / $2,250), § 78A-2-301(1)(a)+(1)(r) (filing + accounting fees); le.utah.gov; utcourts.gov/en/about/miscellaneous/legal-community/price.html (Estate CPI table); utcourts.gov/en/self-help/categories/probate; utcourts.gov Filing/Record Fees (eff. 7/1/2023); re-verified 2026-05-27 against le.utah.gov and utcourts.gov primary sourcesVerified Jul 14, 2026
Simple estates in Utah typically take 4-6 months through probate. Complex or contested estates can take 12-24 months or longer.Utah Code § 75-1-110 (CPI cost-of-living adjustments), § 75-3-718 (compensation), § 75-3-1201 (small estate affidavit; amended 2025 Ch.123 eff. 5/7/2025), § 75-3-1203 (summary admin formula), § 75-3-801 (notice to creditors / 3-month claim bar), § 75-3-603 (bond), § 75-3-301 (informal probate), § 75-3-501 (unsupervised admin), § 75-3-705 (inventory), § 75-2-402 (homestead allowance — 2026 CPI: $33,700; base $22,500), § 75-2-403 (exempt property — 2026 CPI: $22,500; base $15,000), § 75-2-404 (family allowance — reasonable amount), § 75-2-405 (PR family-allowance determination cap — 2026 CPI: $40,500 lump-sum / $2,250 per month; base $27,000 / $2,250), § 78A-2-301(1)(a)+(1)(r) (filing + accounting fees); le.utah.gov; utcourts.gov/en/about/miscellaneous/legal-community/price.html (Estate CPI table); utcourts.gov/en/self-help/categories/probate; utcourts.gov Filing/Record Fees (eff. 7/1/2023); re-verified 2026-05-27 against le.utah.gov and utcourts.gov primary sourcesVerified Jul 14, 2026 A revocable trust avoids probate entirely; trust administration typically runs 1-3 months.
Yes. A will becomes a public court record once it enters probate in Utah. A revocable trust is a private document that does not go through probate, so the terms, beneficiaries, and asset details remain confidential.
Use the Utah probate calculator to estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and the probate timeline.Utah Code § 75-1-110 (CPI cost-of-living adjustments), § 75-3-718 (compensation), § 75-3-1201 (small estate affidavit; amended 2025 Ch.123 eff. 5/7/2025), § 75-3-1203 (summary admin formula), § 75-3-801 (notice to creditors / 3-month claim bar), § 75-3-603 (bond), § 75-3-301 (informal probate), § 75-3-501 (unsupervised admin), § 75-3-705 (inventory), § 75-2-402 (homestead allowance — 2026 CPI: $33,700; base $22,500), § 75-2-403 (exempt property — 2026 CPI: $22,500; base $15,000), § 75-2-404 (family allowance — reasonable amount), § 75-2-405 (PR family-allowance determination cap — 2026 CPI: $40,500 lump-sum / $2,250 per month; base $27,000 / $2,250), § 78A-2-301(1)(a)+(1)(r) (filing + accounting fees); le.utah.gov; utcourts.gov/en/about/miscellaneous/legal-community/price.html (Estate CPI table); utcourts.gov/en/self-help/categories/probate; utcourts.gov Filing/Record Fees (eff. 7/1/2023); re-verified 2026-05-27 against le.utah.gov and utcourts.gov primary sourcesVerified Jul 14, 2026
Whether a trust is cost-effective depends on estate size, property types, and Utah's probate costs. The Utah trust need assessment evaluates these factors against your specific situation.
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Utah Estate Planning Resources
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