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").
Except as provided in Section 75-3-1201, to be effective to prove the transfer of any property or to nominate a personal representative, a will must be declared to be valid by an order of informal probate by the registrar, or an adjudication of probate by the court, except that a duly executed and unrevoked will which ...
If you die with no descendants, or if all of your descendants are from you and your surviving spouse. Your spouse inherits all of your intestate property. (Utah Code § 75-2-102 (2023).)
Who may file. Anyone may file a probate case. To be appointed the personal representative, an applicant must be at least 21 years old.
How long does the probate process take in Utah? That depends on the nature of the assets in the estate, and whether there are any objections to the appointment of the personal representative or the validity of the will. In most cases, however, the probate process takes approximately four to five months.
Given the complexity of these tasks, a common question asked is, "How long does an executor have to settle an estate in Utah?" The timeline can vary widely, generally ranging from a few months to over a year, depending on factors such as the size and complexity of the estate, the clarity of the will, and whether or not ...