For anyone planning an estate in Utah or settling one: what a will or trust costs, whether an estate needs probate, what executors and trustees are paid, and the taxes on an inheritance, each answered under Utah law.
36 tools for Utah
Probate in Utah takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges 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; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Utah authorizes transfer on death deedsUtah Code 75-6-401 to 75-6-419Verified Jul 15, 2026: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
Utah does not offer a transfer-on-death designation on a vehicle title; a vehicle passes by will, trust, joint title, or probate.
Utah has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableUtah Code § 75-3-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
In Utah, the Utah District Court appoints the personal representative and the District court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; an informal (registrar) track is availableUtah Code § 75-3-301Verified Sep 8, 2026View source.
In Utah, creditors have 3 monthsUtah Code § 75-3-801Verified Sep 8, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
When an estate owes more than it holds, Utah pays the claims in 6Utah Code § 75-3-805(1)Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with reasonable funeral expenses.
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
Compare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, and what proves the trust.
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
Utah requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040Utah Code Ann. § 59-10-104(2)(b) (Amended by Ch. 250, 2026 General Session / S.B. 60)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
In Utah, a will-based plan pays probate 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; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
Settling an estate in Utah: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 90 daysUtah Code §§ 75-3-705, 75-3-706, 75-3-707Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsUtah Code §§ 75-3-801, 75-3-803, 75-3-805, 75-3-806Verified Sep 15, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
Settling a trust in Utah happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeUtah Code Title 75B, Ch. 2 (eff. 5/7/2025; formerly § 75-7-101 et seq.)Verified Jul 15, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysUtah Code § 75B-2-811 (formerly § 75-7-811; renumbered eff. 5/7/2025)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
After a death in Utah, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $100,000Utah Code § 75-3-1201Verified Sep 8, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 3 monthsUtah Code § 75-3-801Verified Sep 8, 2026View source to file claims after notice.