What Are My Duties as Trustee in Utah?

Utah requires the successor trustee to notify qualified beneficiaries of the trust's existence and the trustee's contact information within 60 days of the grantor's death.Utah Code Title 75B, Ch. 2 (eff. 5/7/2025; formerly § 75-7-101 et seq.)Verified May 27, 2026 The notice typically includes the trustee's name and address, and the beneficiary's right to request trust information.

When the grantor dies, the revocable trust becomes irrevocable and requires its own EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS. The trustee must file Form 1041 (U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts) for any income earned by trust assets after the date of death. The trust may also need to file a Utah state income tax return.

Utah requires trustees to maintain detailed records of all trust transactions, including income, expenses, distributions, and investment decisions.Utah Code Title 75B, Ch. 2 (eff. 5/7/2025; formerly § 75-7-101 et seq.)Verified May 27, 2026 Beneficiaries have the right to request accountings. Proper documentation protects the trustee from liability claims and provides transparency for beneficiaries.

Trustee compensation in Utah is based on reasonable compensation for the services performed. Professional trustees typically charge 0.5-1.5% of trust assets annually. Individual (non-professional) trustees often reference executor fee guidelines (2-4% of estate value) as a benchmark. See the Utah trustee compensation guide for details.

Trust administration in Utah typically takes 6-12 months, compared to 6-12 months for average probate cases.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 May 27, 2026 Trust creditors have 3 months to file claims, compared to 3 months for probate creditor claims. Trust administration avoids court involvement, public filings, and many of the procedural delays associated with probate. See the Utah estate settlement guide for a complete overview.