Last Will and Testament in Utah
A simple will form for straightforward estates. A will is valid only if it is signed and witnessed exactly as your state requires (below); one that is not executed correctly may be ignored by the court. Larger estates, blended families, trusts for minor children or business interests are worth a lawyer's review.
What Utah law says
| Requirements for a valid will | A person 18 or older with testamentary capacity may make a will. Capacity means the person can identify family members and others in his or her life, understands those relationships and the nature and extent of his or her property, and can form a plan for disposing of it; capacity is presumed even if the person is under a guardianship or conservatorship. A will must be in writing, signed by the testator (or by someone else in the testator's conscious presence and at his or her direction), and signed by at least two witnesses, each within a reasonable time after seeing the signing or the testator's acknowledgment of the signature or of the will. An interested witness does not invalidate the will. Utah also recognizes electronic wills signed by the testator and two witnesses in the testator's physical or electronic presence. Section 75-2-501 was amended in 2025 (2025 Utah Laws ch. 338) to define testamentary capacity. A document not properly executed may still be treated as a will if clear and convincing evidence shows the decedent intended it as a will (§ 75-2-503). |
|---|---|
| Self-proving affidavit | Yes. A will may be made self-proved at signing, or at any later time, by the testator's acknowledgment and the witnesses' affidavits before a notary or other officer authorized to administer oaths, using the statutory certificate form. Source: Utah Code § 75-2-504 |
| Handwritten (holographic) wills | Yes. A will that does not meet the witness requirements is valid as a holographic will, whether or not witnessed, if the signature and the material portions of the document are in the testator's handwriting. Intent that the document be a will may be shown by other evidence, including portions not in the testator's handwriting. Source: Utah Code § 75-2-502(2)-(3) |
Fill it in
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LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF [your full name]
I, [your full name], of [city, county and state], being of sound mind, make this my will and revoke all earlier wills and codicils.
1. Executor. I name [executor name] as personal representative (executor). If they cannot serve, I name [alternate executor name].
2. Specific gifts. I give [item or amount] to [beneficiary name].
3. Everything else. I give the rest of my property to [beneficiaries and shares]. If a beneficiary does not survive me by 30 days, their share goes to [alternate beneficiary].
4. Guardian. If I have minor children, I name [guardian name] as guardian, and [alternate guardian name] as alternate.
Signed on [date signed] at [city and state]. Signature: ____________________
Witnesses: we signed below in the presence of the person making this will and of each other, as required by state law. Witness 1: [witness 1 name and address] ____________ Witness 2: [witness 2 name and address] ____________
[Notary or self-proving affidavit, if your state provides one]
Last Will and Testament for other states · Utah tenant rights
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.