The figures on this page are general estimates. Laws, fees, thresholds, and prices differ by state and change often, and your own situation may change the result. Before you act, confirm the current numbers and rules for Utah with a licensed professional — an attorney, tax advisor, or licensed agent as appropriate. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship.
This page is built to print. Use your browser's Print command and choose "Save as PDF" for a one-page Utah reference. Every figure below is compiled from the statutes and state authorities listed at the bottom — the same sources cited on our Utah probate pages.
Utah probate fees
| Item | Utah |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | Approximately $375 to open a probate case in Utah district court (set by the Judicial Council fee schedule), plus a small newspaper charge to publish the notice to creditors. |
| Attorney fees | Not statutory. Utah Code §75-3-718 entitles both the personal representative and the attorney to 'reasonable compensation.' Attorneys typically charge a flat fee ($1,500–$3,500 for routine informal probate) or an hourly rate ($200–$400); the court may review fees for reasonableness. |
| Executor / personal representative fees | Utah Code §75-3-718 allows the personal representative reasonable compensation — there is no percentage schedule. A family member serving as personal representative often waives the fee. |
| Fee basis | reasonable |
| Appraisal / referee | Not used. Utah does not appoint a state appraiser. The personal representative prepares an inventory and may hire appraisers for specific assets when needed (Utah Code §75-3-706). |
Worked example
On a $500,000 Utah estate there is no fixed statutory figure; a reasonable fee for ordinary administration commonly runs in the roughly $10,000–$20,000 range, with the exact amount driven by the work performed. The estate's attorney fee is separate.
Utah thresholds and deadlines
| Item | Utah |
|---|---|
| Small-estate threshold | Estates whose total value (less liens and encumbrances) does not exceed $100,000 and include no real property can be collected by a small-estate affidavit 30 days after death, with no court case, under Utah Code §75-3-1201 (threshold raised to $100,000 effective 2025). |
| Creditor claim period | Creditors must present claims within 3 months after the first published notice to creditors, or be barred, under Utah Code §75-3-801. A separate 1-year ultimate cutoff measured from the date of death also applies under Utah Code §75-3-803. |
| Typical duration | About 4 to 12 months for a routine informal probate; the estate generally cannot close until the 3-month creditor claim period has run. |
| Simplified real-property transfer | The small-estate affidavit covers personal property only; real property titled solely in the decedent's name is not transferred by affidavit and generally requires probate, a TOD deed, or a living trust. |
| Transfer-on-death deed | Utah authorizes a transfer-on-death deed for real estate under the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, Utah Code §75-6-401 et seq. (enacted 2018). An owner can record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes to the beneficiary at death without probate, and the deed is freely revocable during life. |
What passes outside Utah probate
These transfers are not part of the estate the fees above are calculated on:
- Beneficiary designations — retirement accounts, life insurance, payable-on-death accounts.
- Joint ownership with right of survivorship.
- Transfer-on-death deed — Utah authorizes a transfer-on-death deed for real estate under the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, Utah Code §75-6-401 et seq. (enacted 2018). An owner can record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes to the beneficiary at death without probate, and the deed is freely revocable during life.
- Assets titled into a funded living trust.
Sources for this sheet
- Statutes: Utah Code §75-3-718; Utah Code §75-3-801; Utah Code §75-3-803; Utah Code §75-3-1201; Utah Code §75-6-401 et seq.
- State authority: Utah Code (Utah Legislature, le.utah.gov)
- Attorney fees: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title75/Chapter3/75-3-S718.html
- Creditor claim period: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title75/Chapter3/75-3-S801.html
- Small-estate procedure: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title75/Chapter3/75-3-S1201.html
- Transfer-on-death deed: https://law.justia.com/codes/utah/title-75/chapter-6/part-4/
Compiled August 15, 2026 from the sources listed above. Fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs are amended by legislatures and courts — confirm each figure against the cited statute or the Utah court before relying on it.
The full Utah guides
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How Much Does Probate Cost in Utah? — the full cost breakdown.
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How Much Does an Executor Get Paid in Utah? — the fee rule in detail.
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How Long Does Probate Take in Utah? — the timeline and its statutory floor.
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How to Avoid Probate in Utah — the transfers that pass outside it.
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How Much Does a Will Cost in Utah? — execution requirements and pricing.
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This sheet sets out Utah probate figures as published at the time of compilation. It is not legal advice. Figures and statutes change and their application depends on the specific estate. Confirm current figures with the Utah courts or a licensed Utah attorney.