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Utah Last Will and Testament

Quick answer: a Utah will must be signed by the testator and two witnesses (Utah Code 75-2-502); notarization is not required for validity, and a self-proving affidavit (Utah Code 75-2-504) eases probate. Details below.

A last will and testament lets you name an executor, a guardian for minor children, and the people who inherit your estate. In Utah, a will generally must be signed by the testator and two witnesses; notarization is not required for the will to be valid (Utah Code 75-2-502). Utah also recognizes self-proving affidavits (Utah Code 75-2-504), which let the will enter probate without tracking down the witnesses.

This template walks you through your executor, your beneficiaries, and any specific gifts, then produces a Utah will ready to print and sign following the requirements below, in Word and PDF.

Create your Utah last will and testamentRead the full Last Will and Testament guide

Utah will signing requirements

Utah last will and testament requirements at a glance
WitnessesTwo witnesses
NotarizationNot required for the will to be valid; a notary comes in only for the optional self-proving affidavit
Self-proving affidavitRecognized (Utah Code 75-2-504)
Holographic (handwritten) willsRecognized (Utah Code 75-2-502(2))
StatuteUtah Code 75-2-502

Verify before you rely on it

Wills statutes change, and probate courts apply them strictly. Confirm the current Utah requirement in the statute cited above (or with your state's self-help resources) before signing your will.

Last will and testament requirements in Utah

The formalities come first, because probate courts apply them strictly. In Utah, a will must be signed by the testator and two witnesses (Utah Code 75-2-502). Choose witnesses who take nothing under the will: it keeps the execution clean and unchallengeable on that ground.

A common misconception is that wills must be notarized. In Utah, notarization is not what makes the will valid: the witnesses do that work. The notary enters the picture only for the optional self-proving affidavit (Utah Code 75-2-504), which is about probate convenience rather than validity.

Utah recognizes self-proving wills (Utah Code 75-2-504): the testator and witnesses sign a sworn affidavit, usually before a notary at the same sitting, and the will can later enter probate without tracking anyone down. Years or decades can pass between signing and probate, and witnesses move, forget, or die; the affidavit removes that entire risk for the cost of a few extra signatures.

Utah recognizes holographic (handwritten, unwitnessed) wills (Utah Code 75-2-502(2)). Treat that as an emergency option, not a plan: handwritten wills invite disputes over handwriting, completeness, and intent that a properly witnessed, typed will never faces.

Substance matters too: name an executor and a backup, designate a guardian for minor children, and describe who takes what in terms a stranger could apply without guessing. Remember that beneficiary-designated assets such as life insurance and retirement accounts pass outside the will entirely; reviewing those designations is part of writing a coherent Utah estate plan.

Step by step: preparing your Utah last will and testament

Here is the path from first draft to a will a Utah probate court will accept without friction.

  1. Inventory what the will controls. List your assets and mark which pass by beneficiary designation (life insurance, retirement accounts, transfer-on-death titles) rather than by will. The will governs the rest, and knowing the boundary prevents contradictory instructions.
  2. Choose the executor and guardians. Name an executor you trust with paperwork and deadlines, plus an alternate. If you have minor children, name a guardian and a backup: this designation alone is reason enough for many parents to write a will.
  3. Decide the distribution. Set out beneficiaries and shares in plain terms, including what happens if a beneficiary does not survive you. Specific gifts (a vehicle, an heirloom, a sum of money) come first, then the residuary clause sweeps up everything else.
  4. Complete the will with the guided form. The questionnaire on the main page walks through executor, guardians, beneficiaries, and specific gifts, and assembles the will as you answer. Download it in Word and PDF, then read the whole document once before the signing.
  5. Hold the signing ceremony. Sign it in the presence of two witnesses as Utah Code 75-2-502 requires, and have them sign in your presence. Use disinterested witnesses who inherit nothing under the will.
  6. Add the self-proving affidavit and store the will. Sign the self-proving affidavit (Utah Code 75-2-504) at the same sitting, then store the original will where your executor can find it and tell them where it is. Do not lock the only copy where nobody can reach it.

How this template works in Utah

Answer guided questions about your executor, guardians for minor children, and beneficiaries, and the will writes itself in front of you. Then print it and sign it with your witnesses following the Utah requirements above; a will has no effect until it is properly signed.

The form, the live preview, and the full guide live on the main Last Will and Testament page.

Utah last will and testament FAQ

How many witnesses does a will need in Utah?

A Utah will must be signed by two witnesses (Utah Code 75-2-502). Choose disinterested witnesses who take nothing under the will.

Does a will have to be notarized in Utah?

No. Validity in Utah comes from the testator's signature and the witnesses, not from a notary. Notarization appears only in the optional self-proving affidavit (Utah Code 75-2-504), which simplifies probate but is not required for the will to be valid.

Is a handwritten will valid in Utah?

Yes, Utah recognizes holographic wills (Utah Code 75-2-502(2)). They remain an emergency option: a typed, witnessed will is far harder to challenge.

What happens if I die without a will in Utah?

Your estate passes under the Utah intestacy statutes, which distribute property to relatives in a fixed order that may not match your wishes, and the probate court chooses the administrator and any guardians without your input. A valid will replaces that default scheme with your own decisions, which is the core reason to write one.

Last Will and Testament in other states