Why I Publish My Prices
Searching for estate planning costs in Utah should not feel like a guessing game. Most law firm websites list their services but not their fees, which means prospective clients can't evaluate their options without making a phone call first.
I think that's backwards. You deserve to know what you're looking at before you invest time in a consultation. So here are our actual fees — what they cover, and why the investment is almost always worthwhile compared to the alternative.
Complete Estate Plans: Two Flat-Fee Packages
The large majority of my clients who come in for a new estate plan choose one of two packages. Both are flat fees — no hourly billing, no surprises.
Standard Plan
$1,800
- Revocable Living Trust
- Last Will & Testament for each spouse
- Durable Power of Attorney for each spouse
- Advance Health Care Directive for each spouse
- Deed transferring personal residence into the trust
Right for most families with a primary residence and straightforward asset mix.
Comprehensive Plan
$2,500
- Everything in the Standard Plan
- Assistance updating retirement account beneficiary designations
- Additional deeds for rental properties, second homes, or vacation properties
- More hands-on trust funding guidance
Right for families with retirement accounts, multiple properties, or who want comprehensive funding support.
About half of new clients choose each package. Which one is right for you depends on your asset mix and how much funding assistance you need. We'll identify the right fit during your free consultation — no obligation to proceed.
What's Included in Both Plans
Both packages are designed to give your family complete protection — not just a stack of documents, but a coordinated plan that actually works.
Revocable Living Trust
The trust is the foundation. It holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries at death — privately, without going through probate court. If you become incapacitated, your named successor trustee steps in immediately. No court order required.
Wills for Each Spouse
Each spouse receives a pour-over will that works alongside the trust — capturing many assets not transferred into the trust during your lifetime and directing them there at death. The will also names a guardian for minor children, which the trust cannot do.
Powers of Attorney for Each Spouse
Each spouse receives a durable power of attorney authorizing a trusted person to handle financial and legal affairs if they are unable to. This is one of the most important documents in any estate plan — and one that can only be created while you have legal capacity.
Advance Health Care Directives for Each Spouse
Each spouse receives Utah's current official Advance Health Care Directive form, properly completed. This designates a health care agent and records your medical wishes — including end-of-life care preferences.
Deed to Personal Residence
A trust only protects what's in it. Both plans include a deed that formally transfers your primary residence into the trust — one of the most important funding steps and one many attorneys leave to the client to figure out on their own. We handle it as part of the plan.
Additional Funding — Comprehensive Plan
The $2,500 plan adds hands-on assistance with the remaining funding steps: updating beneficiary designations on retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, and similar), and preparing deeds for additional properties — rental homes, vacation properties, or second homes. These steps are critical to making the trust work as intended, and we walk you through each one.
Not sure which plan fits your situation?
A free 30-minute consultation will give you a clear answer. No obligation, no pressure.Trust Amendments: Flat-Fee Updates
Life changes, and your estate plan should reflect those changes. When a trust needs to be updated — new trustees, new beneficiaries, or both — we handle amendments at straightforward flat fees:
| Amendment Type | What It Covers | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee Update | Change who manages the trust — your successor trustee or co-trustee | $350 |
| Beneficiary Update | Change who receives assets from the trust and in what shares | $400 |
| Trustee & Beneficiary Update | Both changes in a single amendment | $450 |
Common reasons clients come in for an amendment include the death of a named trustee or beneficiary, a change in family circumstances such as a divorce or new child, a shift in who they trust to manage their affairs, or a change in how they want assets distributed.
In some situations, life changes require more than a trust amendment — new or updated powers of attorney, health care directives, or other documents may be needed as well. We discuss that during the review appointment.
Free Estate Plan Reviews
If you already have an estate plan — whether it was drafted here or elsewhere — I offer free reviews. No charge, no obligation.
About half of the people who bring in their existing plan for a review don't need to make any changes. Their documents still accomplish what they intended, and I'm happy to tell them that.
The other half typically need some level of update — most commonly because:
- The law has changed
- Their family situation has changed — a death, a birth, a marriage, a divorce
- Their wishes have changed and the documents no longer reflect what they want
- Named trustees or beneficiaries are no longer appropriate
- The trust was never properly funded and assets are still outside it
When updates are needed, the cost is usually a trust amendment at the flat fees listed above — sometimes with additional documents if other circumstances have changed.
When did you last have your estate plan reviewed? If it's been more than five years, or if your life has changed significantly, a free review is worth your time. Bring your documents and we'll tell you honestly whether anything needs to change.
How These Fees Compare to Not Planning
The most useful cost comparison isn't between different attorneys — it's between planning and not planning.
Utah probate for a modest estate commonly runs several thousand dollars in court fees, attorney fees, publication costs, and appraiser fees. The process can take months or even years, during which estate assets may be frozen. And unlike the flat fee for a trust, probate costs are difficult to predict in advance.
For many Utah families, the total cost of probate — for an estate that could have been settled in weeks with a trust — exceeds the cost of the $1,800 or $2,500 plan that would have avoided it entirely. The trust is not just an estate planning choice. For most homeowners, it is a financially sound one.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Most families pay either $1,800 or $2,500. Both are flat-fee packages that include a revocable living trust, wills for each spouse, powers of attorney for each spouse, health care directives for each spouse, and a deed for the personal residence. The $2,500 package adds assistance updating retirement account beneficiary designations and deeds for additional properties.
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Both plans include the same core documents. The $2,500 Comprehensive Plan adds more hands-on trust funding help: assistance updating beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and preparing deeds for rental properties, second homes, or vacation properties. If you own multiple properties or have significant retirement accounts, the $2,500 plan ensures everything is properly coordinated.
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Amendments are flat-fee: $350 to update the trustees, $400 to update the beneficiaries, and $450 to update both in a single amendment.
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Yes — free, with no obligation. About half of the people who bring in their existing plan don't need to make any changes. When updates are needed, they're usually a trust amendment at the flat fees listed above. Bring your documents and we'll give you an honest assessment.
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For most Utah families who own a home, yes. A properly funded living trust avoids probate — which can cost several thousand dollars and take months or years. The trust also protects you if you become incapacitated, keeps your affairs private, and gives your family a clear, court-free path to settling your estate. For many families, the trust pays for itself many times over in probate costs avoided.