PROBATE COUNSEL IN UTAH
Grief is hard enough.
Let David handle the rest.
Many probate lawyers bill by the hour and focus primarily on court proceedings. David offers a flat fee that includes — at no extra charge — a practical estate settlement software toolkit to help you locate assets, automate routine tasks, and keep your family informed throughout the process.
MEET YOUR ATTORNEY
David G. Wood, Esq.
David is a partner at York Howell in South Jordan, Utah, with nearly three decades of experience as an attorney and businessman. He works with families, business owners, and retirees across Utah on estate planning, probate, asset protection, tax planning, and Medicaid planning.
His unique background — including time as a financial advisor and as owner of an award-winning asset recovery firm — means he sees clients’ situations from both sides of the table: as legal counsel and as someone who has navigated complex financial matters firsthand.
WHAT CLIENTS & COLLEAGUES SAY
Trusted by Utah families and professionals.
“He is the most trustworthy guy I’ve met in the industry. Very straight forward, explained the process entirely, and has a knack for thinking outside the box in complex situations. I highly recommend him.”
— Mindy A., Utah client
David and his team are exceptional. They are extremely knowledgeable, dedicated, and efficient.
Isabel Cueva, JD
Immigration Attorney
My wife and I went to David to start putting some estate plans into place. He is very knowledgeable in the areas of estate planning and is a pleasure to work with. We feel comfortable recommending him to our friends and family.
Ryan Cooper
CPA
IF YOU’RE SETTLING A LOVED ONE’S ESTATE
Three things keep you up at night.
Where do I even start?
Probate filings, asset gathering, tax returns, creditor notices, family updates — most people are settling a loved one's estate for the first time. The terminology is unfamiliar, the to-do list is long, and there's no obvious first step.
What if I mess up?
Mismanaging a parent's legacy, harming relationships with siblings, falling short of your fiduciary duties, ending up on the wrong side of the court — it's a lot to worry about alone.
Where are all the assets?
Bank accounts, investment accounts, life insurance, real property, unclaimed funds — finding every asset by hand can take months and still leave money on the table.
FROM CONSULTATION TO COURT APPOINTMENT
David makes probate simple.
Probate is unfamiliar territory for most families. Here are the concrete tasks David and his team carry from your first call through your formal appointment by the court.
PHASE 1
Consultation & path confirmation
- Review the will, the estate situation, and the family circumstances
- Confirm whether formal or informal probate is the right path — vs. a small-estate affidavit or no probate at all
- Identify who has priority to serve as Personal Representative under Utah law
PHASE 2
Application & required notices
- Identify all heirs, devisees, and interested parties entitled to notice
- Send the required pre-filing notice to heirs and devisees
- Draft the Application for Probate of Will and Appointment of Personal Representative
- Prepare your Acceptance of Appointment and Statement of Informal Probate
PHASE 3
Filing, appointment & court order
- File the application in the correct Utah district court, along with the original will and death certificate
- Coordinate with the court clerk and resolve any issues
- Address any bond requirement (if not waived by the will)
- If the court requires a hearing, David represents you
- Secure your formal appointment — a court order called Letters Testamentary (or Letters of Administration if there is no will) — your legal authority to act on behalf of the estate
- Order certified copies for use with banks, brokerages, and government agencies
INCLUDED FREE OF CHARGE
The TurboTax of estate settlement.
Bundled with David's probate services is a modern software toolkit designed to help families wind down a loved one's estate.
FIND ASSETS
Maximize your inheritance.
- Search for your loved one's assets across 120 billion public records and 6,000+ databases — property, businesses, UCC filings, etc
- Search life-insurance databases and unclaimed property registries
- Connect email and bank accounts (with your consent) to find statements, recurring payments, and accounts that don't show up anywhere else
SAVE TIME
A personalized roadmap.
- Get a step-by-step plan to estate settlement in Utah
- Upload documents once — the toolkit extracts the details automatically
- Track every deadline so nothing slips through the cracks
- No more wondering what's next
REDUCE STRESS
Plain-English guidance.
- Ask questions and get answers in plain English
- Follow interactive walkthroughs that make complex tasks simple
- Share progress with heirs and family through the beneficiary portal so they stop calling you for updates
- One source of truth for documents, messages, and milestones
HOW IT WORKS
Three easy steps.
Step 1
Meet the Team
Share a few details about your loved one and the situation. David walks you through the plan, the flat fee, and the timeline — and if you proceed, intake kicks off the same day.
Step 2
Get Court Appointment
David files the petition and represents you at the hearing. The court formally appoints you, granting you legal authority to act on behalf of the estate.
Step 3
Off to the Races
The Executor Toolkit guides you through everything that comes next — finding assets, hitting deadlines, filing forms, paying creditors, and keeping family informed.
PRICING
One flat fee.
For uncontested Utah probates, the work to take you from intake through your court appointment is covered — no hourly surprises along the way.
$3,500
+ ~$375 Utah court filing fee paid directly to the court
Legal Work (David)
- Initial consultation with David to confirm your path forward
- Drafting and filing the probate petition with the Utah court
- Representation at the probate hearing
- Securing your formal appointment by the court (Letters Testamentary)
Executor Toolkit$199Free
- Asset discovery across 120 billion records and 6,000+ databases
- Personalized executor guide for Utah estate settlement
- Client portal to upload docs, manage tasks, and message David's office
- Beneficiary portal to keep family in the loop
- Time and expense tracking for executor reimbursement
After your court appointment: Many families want help with the rest of estate administration — notifying institutions, settling debts, filing tax returns, and distributing assets. That ongoing work is billed separately, so you only pay for the help you actually need.
WHITE-GLOVE OPTION
Want David to handle the entire process?
Beyond the flat-fee probate, David offers a Managed Service for families that want soup-to-nuts handling. A dedicated specialist owns the process for you — from probate through estate closure.
- Ongoing legal guidance after your appointment
- Tax filings and coordination (1040, 1041, 706, K-1s)
- Asset transfers, account closures, and selling property
- Creditor notices, beneficiary distributions, and court closure
PRIVACY & SECURITY
Built to protect your family's information
Your privacy & security always comes first
We only collect what's necessary
Your data is encrypted and stays under your control
We never sell your information
Encrypted
SOC II (in progress)
Encrypted
SOC II (in progress)
