Bring a list of what you own and how each asset is titled, copies of any estate planning documents you already have, and your answers to a few questions about who should be in charge and who should inherit. That is enough for a productive first meeting with an estate planning attorney in Utah. You do not need to arrive with a finished plan or the right legal terms.
The sections below cover what to bring, the decisions an attorney will ask you to make, the Utah rules that shape those decisions, and the questions worth asking in return. We also built a free guide that turns your situation into a personalized question list, linked below.
What to Bring
The more complete your picture, the more the attorney can recommend at the first meeting instead of the second. Bring what you can find, and note what you cannot.
Any existing will, trust, power of attorney, or health care directive
Deeds for any real estate you own, or a recent property tax notice
Recent statements for bank, brokerage, and retirement accounts
Life insurance policies and annuity contracts
Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance, if you have them
Business ownership documents, if you own all or part of a business
A list of debts, including mortgages, and a rough sense of total value
If you are married, bring your spouse. Most plans involve both people, and decisions go faster when both are in the room.
The Decisions You Will Be Asked to Make
An estate plan comes down to a handful of choices, and thinking about them before the meeting saves time. Who should manage your finances if you cannot? Who should make medical decisions for you? Who should receive your property, and should they receive it all at once or over time? If you have children under 18, who should raise them if both parents die? Who should carry out your plan after your death?
You do not need final answers. A good attorney will help you work through each one. Having a first instinct for each, along with a backup choice, gives the conversation a starting point.
Some situations deserve a mention up front because they change the plan: a second marriage or blended family, a child or family member with special needs, a business, property in more than one state, or a relationship with a beneficiary that you worry about.
Why Titles and Beneficiary Designations Matter
A will does not control everything you own. Accounts with a named beneficiary, such as retirement accounts and life insurance, pass to that person no matter what your will says. Assets held jointly pass to the surviving owner. Assets titled in the name of a trust pass under the trust. That is why the attorney will ask how each asset is titled and who is named on it, and why the list you bring matters more than the total.
Utah Rules That Shape Your Plan
Two Utah rules explain many of the questions you will hear.
First, a will must be in writing, signed by you, and signed by at least two witnesses under Utah Code § 75-2-502. Utah also recognizes a handwritten will in limited circumstances, but a properly witnessed will is far more dependable.
Second, Utah offers a shortcut for small estates. Thirty days after a death, a successor can collect personal property by affidavit if the entire estate, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $100,000 (Utah Code § 75-3-1201). That procedure covers personal property, not real estate. If you own a home or other land, your family will likely need a different process unless your plan accounts for it, which is why the attorney will ask whether you own real estate and in whose name.
Powers of attorney have their own rules. In Utah, a financial power of attorney must be signed before a notary public. Our guide to the durable power of attorney in Utah explains how to sign one and what authority to give your agent.
Questions Worth Asking the Attorney
The meeting runs both directions. You are deciding whether this attorney is the right fit. Ask what the plan will cost and whether the fee is flat or hourly. Ask who will do the drafting and who you will talk to with questions later. Ask how long the process takes from first meeting to signing. Ask what happens if your circumstances change, and whether the attorney recommends reviewing your plan on a schedule. Ask what your family will need to do after you die under the plan being proposed.
A good first meeting leaves you with a recommended approach, a clear price, and a next step. If you leave without those, ask for them.
A Free Guide That Builds Your Question List
We built a short interactive guide that does some of this preparation for you. You choose your state and tell it whether you are married or partnered, have children under 18, or own a home. It then generates a list of questions to bring to your first meeting. The guide is free. Your answers stay in your browser and are not saved or sent to anyone.
Open the Estate Planning Guide and copy the questions it gives you.
A note on who is behind it: the guide was built with Estate Engine, a software company I started, and it appears under Legacy Peak Estate Planning Law, a name our firm also practices under. Estate Engine is not a law firm, and the guide provides general information rather than legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have all my documents before I meet with an attorney?
No. Bring what you can find and tell the attorney what is missing. Most missing items, such as an old policy or a beneficiary form, can be tracked down after the meeting.
What if I do not know what my assets are worth?
A rough estimate is enough for a first meeting. The attorney mainly needs to know what you own, how it is titled, and whether the total approaches any thresholds that affect your plan.
Should my spouse come to the meeting?
If you are married, yes whenever possible. Estate plans for married couples are usually built together, and both spouses will be asked about their wishes and about who should serve in each role.
What if I own property in another state?
Tell the attorney at the start. Real estate located in another state is often handled under that state's rules, so it affects how the plan is structured.
Does the planning guide replace talking to an attorney?
No. The guide helps you prepare. It provides general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. The advice that fits your family comes from the meeting itself.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you are ready to put a plan in place, Legacy Peak offers a free consultation, and you can schedule it here. You can also read about our estate planning services and pricing before you decide.
This article is general information about Utah law and is not legal advice for your situation.