In Utah, you can make a living trust to avoid probate for virtually any asset you own—real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, and so on. You need to create a trust document (similar to a will), naming someone to take over as trustee after your death (called a "successor trustee").
The key documents required for a title transfer in Utah include the Certificate of Title, Bill of Sale, Release of Lien, and Affidavit of Ownership. Having these documents prepared is essential for a successful transfer process.
Utah has a survivorship period. To inherit under Utah's intestate succession law, the heir in question must survive the decedent by at least 120 hours. In addition, relatives conceived before you die but born after the decedent's death are eligible to inherit as if they had been born while the decedent was alive.
The first step in transferring a car title after a death in Utah is to gather all the required documents. These typically include the original car title, a copy of the death certificate, the will (if applicable), and any relevant court documents such as letters of testamentary or letters of administration.
How Does the Utah Transfer on Death Deed Work? To execute a TOD Deed in Utah: The property owner must create a deed that names one or more beneficiaries. The deed must be signed, notarized, and recorded with the county recorder where the property is located.
By jointly owning property, you may find yourself party to a lawsuit if your co-owner is sued or the asset could be lost to a creditor of your co-owner. If your co-owner becomes incapacitated, you could find yourself “owning” the property with the co-owner's guardian or the courts.
Unlike joint tenancy, where each owner has an equal share, tenancy in common allows for specific parts or percentages of the property to be owned by each tenant. This type of ownership is often seen in situations where family members or business partners want to maintain separate shares.
Joint tenancy is most common among married couples because it helps property owners avoid probate. Without joint tenancy, a spouse would have to wait for their partner's Last Will to go through a legal review process—which can take months or even years.
An ownership interest granted on or after , to two or more persons in their own right is presumed to be a joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, unless severed, converted, or expressly declared in the grant to be otherwise.