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Utah will forms: fast and easy
Your estate will be divided up according to default Utah laws (“intestacy statutes“) if you die without a valid will in place. These laws might not match up with your preferences. If you have a blended family, special needs children, or other unique family circumstances, you will probably find that the default laws do not suit your situation. But you can choose how to distribute your assets according to your personal preferences if you have a will.
Ease a challenging period for your family by clearly communicating your desires about what happens to your assets, when beneficiaries can inherit, and specifying individuals you prefer not to include. This ensures your estate plan aligns precisely with your true intentions, providing clarity and peace of mind for all involved.
With FindLaw, you can easily create a will. Click on the links below to jump down the page:
How it works
It only takes minutes to control your future. Need help? Contact one of our directory attorneys.
Create an account
Create a secure account which is accessible through an easy dashboard you can access any time.
Gather information
You will need a list of your assets, contact information for important people, and any wishes you want to be honored when you’re gone.
Complete your documents
Answer all questions, then we’ll generate your digital documents for downloading, printing, and signing.
Make it legal
Carefully follow the instructions provided in the form, which may include signing your documents in front of witnesses or a notary.
Plan for your future with confidence
This free guide will help you:
Learn the most common estate planning terms
Understand the essential estate planning tools
Gather critical information with an estate planning checklist
What’s next to finish my Utah will?
If you want a will, you can hire a lawyer or use a will form from a reliable source. If you use a form, follow these steps:
List your assets and debts
Make sure to include both real property and personal property in your list of assets. Real property includes real estate like homes, vacation homes, and land. Personal property includes all other assets like vehicles, jewelry, furniture, and personal possessions. In addition to descriptions of property, you should also include a list of your debts. This will make it easier and faster for your personal representative to handle your estate.
Name beneficiaries
Your beneficiaries are the individuals or entities you would like to leave your assets to. You should give the full names and contact information of your beneficiaries to help your personal representative to locate and identify them. You can name trusts or charitable organizations as beneficiaries if you choose to.
Choose a personal representative
You should choose someone you trust to be your personal representative. This person is sometimes referred to as an executor. Under Utah law, they must be at least 21 years old. They will oversee the payment of your debts and the distribution of your assets after your death.
Select people to care for your minor children
You should name guardians to take care of your children and their inheritance as part of your last will and testament. Knowing that you have named good caretakers for your children can give you peace of mind. In the event that you were to pass away while your children are still minors, you know that you have named appropriate guardians for them.
Sign your will
You should sign your Utah will in front of two witnesses. They must sign the will within a reasonable time after witnessing your signature.
Locate a safe place to store your will
Once you have completed the process, you should inform your loved ones that you have written a will. Make sure to give a copy to your personal representative and attorney if you have one.
It’s a good idea to keep a copy of your will in a secure place to be sure that it will be honored when the time comes. A popular option is to store it in a locked safe that trusted family members can access.
Common questions about Utah last will and testaments
A last will and testament is the bedrock of a good estate plan. It allows you to make choices about the distribution of your assets after your death. You may also name guardians for minor children and even for pets through a will and proper estate planning.
A living will is sometimes referred to as an advance health care directive. It is a legal document you use to specify your medical care wishes in the event that you were to become incapacitated. If you become unable to make your own health care choices, your health care providers would look to your living will for guidance.
Utah has intestate succession laws that specify how to divide up the assets of someone who dies without a will (“intestate”). The intestate succession laws might not align with your preferences if you have a former spouse, children from previous relationships, or a blended family.
Rather than relying on default laws, it is a better plan to create a will and make your own choices. With a valid will in place, you know that you are distributing your assets as you see fit. With our do-it-yourself will creation process, you can get your will without even having to make an appointment at an attorney’s office.
Technically, yes. Utah law contains a provision allowing for handwritten wills. An unwitnessed will that is materially (mostly) handwritten can be used as a valid last will and testament. This is called a “holographic” will.
Due to difficulties interpreting handwriting, a holographic will can slow down the distribution of your assets and may increase the likelihood of someone contesting your will. A better plan is to properly sign a printed will. You should do so alongside two witnesses who will sign the will shortly after you do.
Yes, you can make your will self-proving in Utah. Having a self-proving will means that your witnesses do not need to testify before a probate court that they witnessed the will. This can speed up the process of distributing your assets if your witnesses are unavailable or unreachable.
To make your will self-proving, your witnesses must swear to affidavits and you need to swear an oath in front of an authorized officer.
Yes. Utah law allows for electronic wills. But there are certain requirements an electronic will must fulfill in order to be valid. It must:
- Be readable as text
- Be signed by you (the “testator“) or by someone else at your instruction
- Be witnessed by two people, either in person or electronically. They must sign within a reasonable time of having witnessed your signature.
Although Utah laws have evolved to permit electronic wills, these laws are much more recent and less tested than traditional estate planning laws. If you need to use an electronic will, you should consult an estate planning attorney who can make sure that you are following the correct procedures. Our DIY forms will create a will you can print instead of an electronic will.
Although you can distribute most of your property through your will, there are certain special categories of exempt property in Utah. The following exceptions apply:
- Jointly held property: Jointly held property and accounts with a named beneficiary transfer automatically and without the need for a will or intestacy statutes. This includes real estate held jointly between spouses and life insurance policies with named beneficiaries.
- Homestead allowance: Your spouse is entitled to $22,500 in homestead allowance out of your estate. If there is no surviving spouse, your minor, dependent children will split this amount.
- Personal property allowance: In addition to the homestead allowance, your spouse may claim $15,000 of furniture, vehicles, and personal possessions. If there is no surviving spouse, the children will split this amount, as they do with the homestead allowance.
- Family allowance: this is a third type of allowance in addition to the homestead and personal property allowances. The family allowance gives your spouse and minor children the right to reasonable maintenance payments out of your estate for up to a year.
- Elective Share: In Utah, a spouse has the right to an “elective share” of the estate. Although the exact amount of the estate varies depending on your specific circumstances, it is generally about a third.
There are two ways to make changes to a will. You can either write an amendment to your will (known as a “codicil”) or draft a new will. A codicil is sufficient for minor adjustments. But if you have gone through major life events, you should consider drafting a new will. Major life events include:
- Birth of children or grandchildren
- Adoption
- Marriage or divorce
- Death of a loved one
- Sale of a business
Any of these life situations could make you reconsider your will and plan for your loved ones differently. With our service, you can make changes to your will at no charge for a full year after purchase.
You may want to speak with a lawyer if you:
- Have a past divorce, blended family, or other complex family situation
- Have a high-value estate
- Own a business
- Want to create a special needs trust
- Want legal review of your completed will
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