Posted by Stephen Howard
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Estate Planning in Layton, Utah
Estate planning helps you make decisions about your property, your care, and the people who depend on you. Stone River Law helps individuals and families create estate plans that reflect their circumstances and wishes. Based in Layton, we serve clients in Davis County and throughout Utah.
Whether you are preparing your first will, considering a living trust, or updating older documents, we can help you understand your options. Your plan should address both what happens after your death and who can help if you become unable to manage your affairs.
Call 801-448-7451 or request a consultation to discuss your estate planning needs.
What Can an Estate Plan Include?
The documents you need depend on your family, property, and goals. An estate plan may include:
- A will: Provides instructions for distributing property covered by the will and identifies your preferred personal representative. Parents can also nominate a guardian for minor children.
- A living trust: Establishes instructions for managing and distributing property held in the trust, during your lifetime and after your death.
- A durable power of attorney: Authorizes someone you choose to handle specified financial matters and can remain effective if you become incapacitated.
- An advance health care directive: Records health care instructions and allows you to name someone to make health care decisions when you cannot.
These tools serve different purposes. A consultation can help you decide which are appropriate for you.
Work with Attorney Stephen Howard
Stephen Howard is a founding partner at Stone River Law and has practiced law in Utah since 1999. His practice includes estate planning, adoption, and guardianship matters.
Our approach starts with understanding your priorities. That may mean providing for children, choosing trusted decision-makers, planning for a blended family, or making it easier for loved ones to handle your affairs.
We help you understand how the documents work together so you can make informed decisions about your plan.
Common Questions About Estate Planning in Utah
Who Needs an Estate Plan?
Estate planning is not just for wealthy families. It can be useful if you own property, have children, want to provide for someone, or want to choose who could make financial and medical decisions for you.
Even if your finances are straightforward, documenting your wishes can give the people close to you clearer guidance.
Is a Will Enough?
A will may be an important part of your plan, but it does not address every need. For example, a will does not authorize someone to manage your finances or make medical decisions while you are alive.
A durable power of attorney and an advance health care directive address different situations. Depending on your property and goals, a trust may also be appropriate.
Do I Need a Living Trust?
Not everyone needs a living trust. The decision depends on what you own, how you want property managed, and the needs of your beneficiaries.
A properly established and funded trust can help certain assets pass outside probate. Signing the trust document is only part of the process: property ownership and beneficiary arrangements also need attention.
We can help you evaluate whether a trust fits your circumstances. You can also learn about the difference between a living trust and a testamentary trust.
What Is an Advance Health Care Directive?
An advance health care directive allows you to document health care wishes and choose a person to make health care decisions when you cannot.
It serves a different purpose from a financial power of attorney. The Utah Commission on Aging provides advance health care directive forms and information.
Can I Use Estate Planning Forms from the Internet?
Online forms can provide a starting point, but they may not address your family circumstances or explain how your documents interact with property ownership and beneficiary designations.
An attorney can help you identify gaps, understand your choices, and prepare documents suited to your situation. Legal guidance can be particularly useful when you have children from different relationships, own real estate, or want to leave property with specific conditions.
How Much Does Estate Planning Cost?
The cost depends on the documents and legal work your situation requires. A plan involving a trust or more complex family arrangements may require more work than a straightforward will-based plan.
Contact us to discuss your needs and ask about consultation fees, the proposed scope of work, and the cost of preparing your documents.
When Should I Review My Estate Plan?
Consider reviewing your plan after a marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, death in the family, move to another state, or significant change in your finances.
You should also review it if a person you named as a trustee, personal representative, or agent is no longer able or willing to serve. Older documents may need review even when your wishes have not changed.
What if Probate Becomes Necessary?
Probate is a court process for administering a deceased person’s estate. Having a will does not, by itself, eliminate the need for probate.
Stone River Law assists with uncontested probate matters. We can help you understand whether a court proceeding is needed and what steps may be available.
Some estates qualify for simplified procedures. For example, Utah permits a small estate affidavit to collect qualifying personal property when legal requirements are met. This procedure is not a substitute for probate in every estate.
Preparing for an Estate Planning Consultation
You do not need to have every decision made before contacting us. To make the conversation useful, gather:
- Any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or health care directives.
- A general list of your property, accounts, and debts.
- Information about your family and intended beneficiaries.
- Names of people you might choose to handle financial, medical, or estate responsibilities.
- Questions or concerns you want your plan to address.
Talk with a Utah Estate Planning Attorney
Your estate plan should reflect your life and the people who matter to you. Whether you need new documents or want to review an existing plan, Stone River Law can help you understand your next steps.
Our office is in Layton, and we serve clients throughout Utah.
Call 801-448-7451 or request an estate planning consultation.