When you are creating an estate plan, it is important to choose an individual you trust to serve as the executor, personal representative, or trustee of your estate. This can be one of the most important decisions you make in your estate plan and in protecting your loved ones.
In order to serve as an executor of an estate in Utah, the individual must be 21 years of age or older and fit to serve. The court will decide if a person is fit to serve, but it typically must find that he or she is of sound mind. It must also be established that the individual does not have a conflict of interest with administrating the estate which would inhibit his or her ability to act fairly and impartially.
If nobody has been appointed to serve as the executor and more than one qualified person desires to serve, the court will appoint in the following order:
- the deceased’s surviving spouse
- children of the decedent, with equal priority
- other heirs or named beneficiaries of the decedent
- a creditor, if no other individual or interested party is appointed with 45 days after the death of the decedent
You should ask yourself if you want to leave it to chance and the discretion of the court and your children or spouse. If you have questions regarding creating a comprehensive estate plan or who to appoint as the executor of your estate, we can help. The Astill Law Office has provided high quality legal services for over 30 years. We specialize in wills, trusts, estate planning, and asset protection. If you have any questions about creating a Trust, Will, or estate planning in general, contact The Astill Law Office at 801-438-8698.