Utah Living Trusts Attorney in Salt Lake City

A living trust is a vital component of many Utah estate plans. A living trust is not a substitute for a last will and testament. But used in combination with a will, a living trust can provide a number of important benefits as part of a comprehenseive estate plan. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with Utah estate planning lawyer Stephen Howard. Learn how you can benefit from a personal estate plan including a living trust.

Trusts are a common part of many Utah estate plans. A living trust (sometimes called an "inter vivos" trust) is a trust created during the lifetime of the grantor (sometimes called the "trustor"). A testmentary trust is one that is created through a last will and testament, and only becomes effective after your death.

A Utah living trust can provide benefits that are not available through a testamentary trust. Chief among the benefits of a living trust is its ability to help avoid the probate process. A living trust may also help avoid the need for a guardianship if you become incapacitated.

Like a testamentary trust, a living trust can also provide detailed instructions on how your assets should be managed or distributed following your death. Without a trust, Utah law requires immediate distribution of assets following your death. While the probate process may delay this distribution, without a trust your assets will be distributed directly to your children or other individuals who are designated in your will. If those individuals are not of an appropriate age or do not have the capacity to appropriately manage those assets, your gift or bequest may not provide the benefit to them that you had intended. A trust provides a much greater degree of flexibility in determining how your assets should be managed and distributed.

If you have not created a Utah estate plan including a living trust, or if it has been more than a couple of years since you updated your estate plan, contact us now to schedule an initial consultation with Utah estate planning attorney Stephen Howard. Based in Salt Lake City, he is pleased to offer legal services to clients throughout Utah.