Utah allows estates valued at $100,000Utah Code § 75-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or less to use the Small Estate AffidavitUtah Code § 75-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, which avoids full probate administration. The Small Estate Affidavit is presented directly to the bank, employer, or other holder of the property — it is not filed with a court. The waiting period is 30 daysUtah Code § 75-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source after death.
Probate costs in Utah typically include attorney fees of typically 2.2%Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to 3.5%Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source of the estate, executor fees, court filing fees, and publication costs. On a $500,000 estate, total costs run about $27,719Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source, roughly 6% of estate value, varying with complexity. Estimate executor compensation separately with the Utah executor fee calculator.
Utah intestacy law decides. Utah follows separate property rulesUtah Code § 75-2-102Verified Sep 10, 2026View source: the surviving spouse's share depends on whether children survive and whose children they are. The estate passes to the closest surviving relatives, in most cases the spouse and children first, then in order: Parents; Descendants of your parents; Grandparents and their descendants; A deceased spouse's descendants; EscheatUtah Code § 75-2-102Verified Sep 10, 2026View source.
No. Utah imposes no state estate tax and no inheritance taxNo state estate, inheritance, or gift tax. Utah's pick-up inheritance tax (Utah Code Title 59, Chapter 11, Inheritance Tax Act) produced $0 for deaths after December 31, 2004 — it was measured by the IRC § 2011 state death tax credit, which EGTRRA phased out — and the entire chapter (§§ 59-11-101 through 59-11-115) was repealed outright effective May 6, 2026 by H.B. 77, 2026 General SessionVerified Sep 15, 2026View source. Only the federal estate tax applies, on an estate above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, an exemption the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21 §70106) set permanently from 2026 and indexes for inflation.
A will in Utah costs what the provider charges. An online service runs $0 to $299 up front. An attorney in Utah charges around $389Clio Compare Lawyer Rates, Utah: Wills and Estates rate (2025 data)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source an hour for wills and estates, which puts a simple will at $1,167Estimate: 3 hours at $389, Clio's Utah Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $2,334Estimate: 6 hours at $389, Clio's Utah Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source. The document is only part of the cost: probate adds about $27,719Utah Code § 75-3-718 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 8, 2026View source on a $500,000 estate in fees the heirs pay later.