Avoiding Probate in Utah: Wills, Beneficiary Designations, and Your Family
Can you avoid probate in Utah using wills and beneficiary designations? Short answer Yes — some assets can pass outside probate in Utah if you use beneficiary designations, joint ownership with rights of survivorship, transfer-on-death mechanisms, or certain contract designations. However, a will by itself generally does not avoid probate for assets you own alone […]
Read article →Utah: How to Buy Out Siblings’ Shares in a Parent’s House Instead of a Probate Sale
Can I buy out my siblings’ shares in a parent’s Utah house to avoid selling it through probate? Short answer: Often yes. Whether you can buy out your siblings’ shares instead of selling the house through probate depends on who legally owns the house, whether the parent left a will, the stage of any probate […]
Read article →Utah: Can an Estate Recover Money an Heir Took From a Deceased Parent's Accounts?
Can the estate recover money an heir withdrew from a deceased parent's bank account or charged to their credit cards? Short answer: Yes — in most cases the estate (through the personal representative or executor) can try to recover funds that an heir took from a deceased parent's bank accounts or charged on the decedent’s […]
Read article →Utah: Appointing a Guardian ad Litem for Minor Heirs Before Selling Inherited Land
Disclaimer: This article is educational only and is not legal advice. For guidance about your situation, consult a Utah attorney who handles probate, guardianship, or real property matters. Detailed Answer Yes — under Utah law a court can appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) or otherwise provide court supervision for the interest of minor heirs […]
Read article →Utah: How to Get Court Approval to Sell an Inherited Home When Co-Owners Include Minors
What you need to know to get court approval for selling an inherited home when co-owners include minors This FAQ-style guide explains the common legal steps and practical requirements under Utah law when a decedent’s home is inherited by more than one person and at least one heir is a minor. It assumes no legal […]
Read article →Year’s Allowance Petition Checklist and Guidance — Utah
Filing a Year’s Allowance Petition in Utah: What to Include and How to Prepare Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This article provides general information about Utah probate practice and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed Utah attorney for advice about your situation. Detailed Answer — What a year’s allowance petition should include under […]
Read article →Step-by-Step Guide to Handling a Parent's Estate in Utah
Step-by-Step Guide to Handling a Parent's Estate in Utah Short answer: Under Utah law, handling a parent’s estate generally means locating the will (if any), determining whether probate is required, opening an estate in district court if necessary, notifying heirs and creditors, inventorying and valuing assets, paying valid debts and taxes, and then distributing the […]
Read article →Utah: How to Switch to a Small-Estates Process After an Allowance Cap
Switching to a Small-Estates Process in Utah after an Allowance or Cap Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. I am not a lawyer. For specific guidance about your situation, consult a Utah probate attorney or the court. Short answer If the remaining probate assets in a Utah estate are small enough to qualify […]
Read article →Utah: Paying Delinquent Taxes on Inherited Land — What Paying Taxes Does and Doesn't Do
Paying delinquent property taxes when you are not on the deed — clear answers under Utah law Short answer Paying past-due property taxes on land that you inherited but do not hold title to does not automatically make you the legal owner. Payment can prevent tax sale or redemption consequences and may give you the […]
Read article →Utah: How to Find the Rightful Heirs and Who Owns a Grandparent’s Property
How to Find the Rightful Heirs and Who Owns a Grandparent’s Property in Utah Quick answer: Start by locating a will and the decedent’s property records, then check probate filings at the county probate court. If there is no will, Utah’s intestate succession rules determine heirs. If title is unclear, the county recorder’s office and […]
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