Utah Probate Code 75-3-311

Utah Probate Code 75-3-311: Informal Appointment Unavailable In Certain Cases

If an application for informal appointment indicates the existence of a possible unrevoked testamentary instrument which may relate to property subject to the laws of this state, and which is not filed for probate in this court, the registrar shall decline the application.

Terms Used In Utah Code 75-3-311
• Probate: Proving a will
• Property: includes both real and personal property.
• State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes a state, district, or territory of the United States.
A Letter of Testamentary sometimes called a “Letter of Administration” or “Letter of Representation” is a document granted by a local court. The document simply states that you are the legal executor for a particular estate and that you have the ability to act as such. Generally, a Letter of Testamentary, along with a legally binding death certificate, are the two documents you’ll need to do the real estate transactions, banking, and asset distribution you were appointed to do. Keep in mind that a Letter of Testamentary is not available online and must be obtained in person. Often, you’ll need to take the official will, also known as a last will and testament, and death certification to your city hall or a local court to obtain one. Also, know that banks and other institutions will sometimes want to keep your Letter of Testamentary, so make sure you get multiple certified copies, just in case. It may be hard to understand the reasoning but there are times when the executor of an estate may not probate the will. While this may not seem like a big deal, especially if the estate is small, it could result in some major problems. However, it is important to note that it’s not illegal to fail to file a petition for probate. Even though the executor may not get in legal trouble for failing to file probate, they could end up with other issues.
Requirement to File a Will

Filing probate isn’t the same as filing a will. When someone dies, their will must be filed with the court if they had one. Even if they had no assets for heirs to inherit, the will must be filed. If the executor of the estate fails to file a will once the person has died, they could get into trouble legally. They may be held liable in civil court and in criminal court. Parties who would have benefited from the decedent’s estate may file a lawsuit for damages sustained because the will wasn’t filed. Most states require a will to be filed within 30 days of the person’s death. To find out what your state requires, you can usually go online to the county website where the person lived or call the probate court to find out specific requirements. Even if a person doesn’t want to serve as executor, they must file the will if it’s in their possession. They can then ask the court to appoint someone else to the task of executor and relieve them of their duties. If there is no will or it can’t be found, the person must make every effort to locate it and show the court you made the attempt. If the will is old and the beneficiaries have passed away or can’t be located, that will still must be filed if a more recent one hasn’t been found.
Legal Title to Assets Clouded
When a person passes away and leaves their assets to a beneficiary, the title of those assets must be transferred to the heir. The exception to this rule is if the beneficiary was named as payable on death. If that’s not the case, the estate will need to go through probate, so the court can provide proper documentation which will allow the executor to transfer ownership of the assets to the heirs. Even though the will may state that an asset should go to an heir, the court must approve the will and allow for any disputes. Title companies and other titling agencies won’t accept the will without the proper paperwork from the court. If an estate doesn’t go through probate and it is a necessary process to transfer ownership of assets, the heirs could sue the executor for failing to do their job. The heirs may not receive what they are entitled to. They may be legally allowed to file a lawsuit to get what they are owed.
Problems with an Existing Will Could Remain Unresolved

There may be issues with an existing will, which can only be resolved legally through the probate court. For instance, someone may believe the decedent created their will under duress. Perhaps they weren’t of sound mind, and the heirs choose to challenge the will’s validity. When someone wants to contest a will, they will need the court to decide if the will stands or if there is evidence to show that it shouldn’t be binding.
Penalties for the Personal Representative
While you may not have to face legal penalties for not filing, a personal representative may be liable for an estate that hasn’t gone through probate. They could face a lawsuit by the heirs or creditors who stood to benefit from the estate. The heirs may sue for damages because of not being given the assets to which they were entitled. In some cases, a personal representative or executor could face criminal charges. In these situations, the prosecutor would claim the executor intended to hide the will or not take the estate through probate because it would provide financial gain for them. A prime example is if someone decided to leave their estate to a family friend. The adult child was the executor of the estate and failed to file a will or go through probate. The estate would naturally fall to them because of state law. If the will is discovered, the executor could face criminal action for fraudulent activity.
Transferring Title to Property
Probate is necessary to transfer the title to property if the deceased person didn’t have a beneficiary set up. There are a few ways they could transfer property without going through probate. The owner of the estate could set up a living trust and put all their assets in the trust. When they die, everything passes to the beneficiary of the trust with no need to go through probate. Another option is to make the assets payable on death to a beneficiary. With life insurance policies, bank accounts, retirement accounts and other assets, you just fill out a form to say who you want the beneficiary to be. With real estate, you can file a quick claim deed that lists the person to receive the property after you die. If the decedent has done none of these things or has property that can’t be transferred until death, they will need a will. When the estate goes through probate, the court provides documentation that allows title companies to transfer the title of the asset to the new owner.

Filing a Will that Does Not Require Probate
If all the assets were placed in a trust, there would be no obvious reason to open probate. In many cases, the executor may not file the will. However, it’s still important to take this step even if there seems to be no assets to distribute. There is always the possibility that in the future a new asset may be discovered. If the asset is found years from the person’s death with no will filed, it can be difficult to distribute them as the decedent would have wished. If the will was filed, the new assets would be distributed according to the terms of the will. The assets would go through probate, which can be opened many years after the person passes away. The file will would still direct how the assets were to be handled.

Probate Litigation
Probate litigation occurs when a person has an issue with the will or the way the process is going. An heir may contest the will because they don’t believe it’s valid. They may try to prove that the person wasn’t mentally sound when they made up the will, especially if there had been an earlier will. If the person had been living with someone, the survivor may try to prove common law marriage to give them rights to the estate. The heirs may also file a lawsuit against the executor if they believe they aren’t doing their job correctly. Perhaps the executor is dragging out the process to prevent the heirs from getting their inheritance or just not organized, so the process is taking longer than it should. Heirs may also have a problem with how the executor is handling the details of the estate. They must meet several obligations. If they fail to do so, they may be held responsible. For example, they must sell assets at fair market value. They must protect all assets from damage or theft as much as possible. They may be required to explain any actions they took on behalf of the estate. The process starts with finding all the assets, which may be more difficult than you would expect if property is located in other states or jointly owned by more than one person. Securing the property can be a challenge for property in other states, but it is still the responsibility of the executor to do so. It is critical that an executor of the estate open probate. Even small estates will go through a summary probate or small estate administration. By following this legal process, the executor protects themselves from liability. If they don’t want to serve as the executor, they can let the court know and another person will be appointed. Not filing probate opens them up to liability which could have disastrous consequences. It is critical that executors fill their duty by opening and managing the estate to which they are appointed. If they are unsure of what steps to take or need assistance, they can work with an experienced probate attorney to help them through the process.
When a person dies with a will, they typically name a person to serve as their executor. The executor is responsible for making sure that the deceased’s debts are paid and that any remaining money or property is distributed according to their wishes. It’s not uncommon for wills to be written years before a person die. Once death occurs, the executor should file the will in court to begin the probate process.
State Filing Laws
You aren’t required to serve as the executor of a will, even if you made a promise to the deceased that you would. This doesn’t mean you can stick the deceased’s will in a drawer and forget about it. Most state require any person in possession of an original signed will to deposit it at the court of the county where the deceased resided. Filing deadlines vary by state, range from 30 days to 3 months. Failing to file a will within the time required by the state can have serious consequences. Although failure to file by itself is not a criminal violation, in most states this subjects the person to a lawsuit by someone who was financially hurt by the failure to file. Criminal liability could occur if the failure to file a will is coupled with an intent to conceal the existence of the will for financial gain. For example, your father decided to leave his entire estate to a favorite charity and left you nothing. You decide not to file his will. The laws of intestate succession allow you to inherit your father’s entire estate. In this instance, a failure to file the will would likely expose you to criminal liability.
Creditors’ Claims and Insolvent Estates
When people die, it’s common to have unpaid bills. Opening probate cuts short the amount of time a creditor has to claim against the estate. A creditor must file their claim within four months from the date an executor or personal representative is officially appointed. A creditor’s claim may be rejected by the executor if it is filed late. When probate is not opened, a creditor has one year to file suit against the estate. It is common for a will not to get filed when the deceased’s estate is insolvent, meaning there are more bills that money. In general, relatives and friends have no legal obligation to do anything to pay the debts, to communicate with creditors, or open a probate. So, the simplest solution is to file the will and walk away from the problem by not opening probate.
Transferring Title to Property
Imagine if a friend passed away leaving a prized classic car in her will. Your friends had few other assets. Since the estate is small, it’s likely exempt from probate. Remember, probate is processes that transfer legal title of property from the estate of the person who has died to their beneficiaries. Fortunately for you, most states have a streamline processes for transferring title in small estates. The process is generally referred to as “transfer by affidavit” and may be used to collect personal property of the deceased without probate. State law will set the maximum fair market value of the deceased’s entire estate that can pass in this manner. You will still likely need to produce the will to show your legal right to inherit the car. Probate isn’t always necessary. People frequently don’t bother to file a will if there is no apparent need to open probate because the person left nothing of the value or because all items of value were put into a trust, a joint account or some other form designed to avoid probate. Remember, there is a difference between filing a will and opening probate. Even probate seems unnecessary, the will must be filed. It’s not that unusual to discover property belonging to the deceased years after their death. And some states, allow probate to be opened decades after a person has passed. In such an instance, the will would allow the newly discovered assets to be distributed.

Probate Attorney

When you need a probate attorney in Utah, please call Ascent Law LLC for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Michael Anderson

People who want a lot of Bull go to a Butcher. People who want results navigating a complex legal field go to a Lawyer that they can trust. That’s where I come in. I am Michael Anderson, an Attorney in the Salt Lake area focusing on the needs of the Average Joe wanting a better life for him and his family. I’m the Lawyer you can trust. I grew up in Utah and love it here. I am a Father to three, a Husband to one, and an Entrepreneur. I understand the feelings of joy each of those roles bring, and I understand the feeling of disappointment, fear, and regret when things go wrong. I attended the University of Utah where I received a B.A. degree in 2010 and a J.D. in 2014. I have focused my practice in Wills, Trusts, Real Estate, and Business Law. I love the thrill of helping clients secure their future, leaving a real legacy to their children. Unfortunately when problems arise with families. I also practice Family Law, with a focus on keeping relationships between the soon to be Ex’s civil for the benefit of their children and allowing both to walk away quickly with their heads held high. Before you worry too much about losing everything that you have worked for, before you permit yourself to be bullied by your soon to be ex, before you shed one more tear in silence, call me. I’m the Lawyer you can trust.

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