Will Attorney in Herriman

Plan Your Will With Confidence and Protect The People You Love

Thinking about a will often brings up difficult questions, but it also offers real peace of mind. A clear, up-to-date will can make things much easier for your family if something unexpected happens, and it can help protect the assets you have worked hard to build. When you work with a will attorney Herriman families trust, you can move from worrying about the future to having a thoughtful plan in place.

At Sandberg, Stettler, & White, we help individuals and families in Herriman and across Utah create wills that reflect their wishes and fit with their broader estate and benefits planning. Our attorneys have been focused on estate planning and elder law in Utah for more than 30 years. We understand how Utah law, public benefits, and family dynamics come together, and we work with you to create a plan that matches your real-life concerns.

Our goal is to make the process understandable and manageable. You do not need to have every decision figured out before you call us. We guide you through each choice, explain your options in plain language, and help you put a will in place that you can feel good about today and adjust as life changes.

Get comprehensive legal guidance from a will lawyer in Herriman you can trust. Call (385) 481-5276 or contact us promptly to schedule your consultation.

Planning Your Will So Your Family Is Protected

Many of our clients in Herriman reach out after a major life event, such as the birth of a child, a new marriage, a serious diagnosis, or the loss of a parent. Others simply realize that they have put off planning for too long and want to be sure their spouse, children, or other loved ones are protected. No matter what brought you here, the concern is often the same. You want to avoid confusion, conflict, and court delays for your family.

Without a valid will, Utah intestacy laws control who receives your property. These default rules may not match your wishes, especially if you have a blended family, a partner who is not a legal spouse, or particular people or causes you want to support. Even in more straightforward families, dying without a will can mean extra paperwork, more time in court, and difficult decisions left to loved ones who are already grieving.

A carefully prepared will gives you the chance to decide who will manage your estate, who will inherit your property, and who you wish to care for minor children. It can also help reduce the risk of family disagreements later. We work with you to think through these decisions in a structured way, so your will is not just a form on a screen but a document that genuinely reflects your values and priorities.

Why Families Choose Our Firm For Wills and Estate Planning

When you select a will lawyer whom Herriman residents often look for more than someone who can fill in a template. They want a firm that understands how a will fits into the bigger picture of aging, health care, and public benefits. At Sandberg, Stettler, & White, our attorneys have spent more than three decades focused on estate planning and elder law in Utah, and that experience shapes every recommendation we make.

Our work extends beyond drafting documents. We regularly help clients secure and preserve Medicaid, Social Security, and Veterans Administration benefits, and we understand how those programs interact with wills and other planning tools. This perspective is especially important if you or a spouse may need long-term care in the future, or if you already receive public benefits that must be protected while planning for your family’s future.

Our attorneys are VA-accredited, and we have advocated for veterans and their spouses when benefits were at risk. We have also litigated against the state in cases involving public benefit eligibility and asset protection. This history means we are familiar with how agencies apply the rules in practice, not just how the statutes are written, and we bring that knowledge into our estate planning work.

Clients also choose us because of how we work with them. We strive to make complex legal and benefits issues understandable, using everyday language and concrete examples. Our firm focuses on building lasting relationships, not one-time transactions, so you have a trusted team to turn to as your life or the law changes.

How A Well Crafted Will Works In Utah

Your will is a central part of your estate plan, but it is only effective if it follows Utah law and reflects your actual situation. In its simplest form, a will sets out who should receive your property after you pass away and who should be in charge of managing your estate. It can also nominate a guardian for minor children, which is a key reason many younger families in Herriman decide to prepare a will.

If you die without a will, Utah intestacy statutes set out who receives your assets. For some people, this might line up with their wishes, but for many, it does not. For example, the law may divide property in ways that surprise a surviving spouse, or leave out people you feel responsible for supporting. A will allows you to make those choices yourself instead of relying on a default formula.

Most estates in Utah go through some form of probate in the state court system. A clear, legally sound will can help make that process more straightforward and can give your chosen personal representative better guidance when handling your affairs. Because our firm also works with probate and estate administration, we see how wills function in real cases, and we draft them intending to avoid unnecessary confusion or conflict later.

How Your Will Fits Into A Broader Estate Plan

A will is only one part of comprehensive planning. Many clients also need powers of attorney, health care directives, or sometimes a trust. We discuss these tools with you so that your will fits into a coordinated estate plan, rather than standing alone and leaving gaps that could create problems for your family. By looking at your full situation, we help you see how each document supports the others and how the overall plan can give your loved ones clearer direction.

Coordinating Your Will With Medicaid, VA, and Other Benefits

For many families in Herriman and throughout Utah, planning for the future is not only about who will inherit property. It also involves questions about how to pay for possible long-term care without exhausting everything you hoped to pass on. This is where the connection between your will and public benefits, such as Medicaid and VA programs, becomes especially important.

Medicaid can help cover the cost of nursing home or other long-term care, but eligibility often depends on how income and assets are structured. Certain transfers or gifts may affect eligibility, and failing to consider these rules when planning your estate can lead to unintended consequences. Our attorneys work to align your will and other planning tools with Medicaid guidelines so that you have a clearer path if care is needed later.

Veterans and surviving spouses face additional planning questions. VA benefits, including pension and other programs, may provide significant support, and these should be considered when designing your estate plan. As VA-accredited attorneys, we help you think through how your will and related documents interact with existing VA benefits and potential claims so that your plan supports, rather than undermines, those important resources.

We also look at how Social Security income, retirement accounts, and other resources fit into your broader picture. Our goal is to help you create a will and estate plan that balances providing for your loved ones with preserving eligibility for benefits whenever possible. Each situation is different, so we take time to understand your circumstances and explain how different choices may affect both your family and your access to public programs.

Our Process For Creating Or Updating Your Will

Starting or updating a will can feel daunting, especially if you have not worked with an attorney before. Our process is designed to be clear and manageable, so you always know what comes next. We begin with a conversation about your goals, your family, and any concerns you have about health, long-term care, or current benefits.

During our initial meeting, we typically review your family structure, a general outline of your assets, and any existing planning documents you may have, such as older wills or powers of attorney. We also discuss whether you or a spouse currently relies on Medicaid, VA benefits, or other public programs, or whether you expect that might be needed in the future. This helps us see how your will should fit within a broader estate and benefits plan.

What To Expect When You Work With Us

After we understand your situation, we explain the available planning options in everyday language. We may discuss different ways to structure inheritances, how to choose a personal representative, and what to consider when naming guardians for minor children. If additional documents, such as powers of attorney or health care directives, would support your goals, we explain how those work and why they might be helpful.

We then draft your will and any related documents, and review them with you in detail. You have the opportunity to ask questions and request changes. Once everything is ready, we guide you through the signing process, following Utah requirements so your documents are valid. Our relationship does not end there. We encourage clients in Herriman and the surrounding area to check in with us when major life events occur or when they simply want to be sure their plan still fits their circumstances.

Reach out to a will attorney in Herriman for experienced legal support. Complete our online form to start the process promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens in Utah if I die without a will?

If you die without a will in Utah, state intestacy laws generally decide who receives your property. The court will look to those statutes to determine your heirs, which might include a spouse, children, or other relatives, depending on your family situation. This process may not match how you would have chosen to distribute your assets, and it can create surprises in blended or non-traditional families. A court-appointed personal representative will still need to manage your estate, but they will have less guidance about your intentions. Creating a will gives you more control over who inherits and who is responsible for handling your affairs.

How can my will affect Medicaid or nursing home planning?

Your will is one piece of the picture when it comes to Medicaid and nursing home planning. Medicaid eligibility often depends on your assets and certain transfers that may have taken place in the years before you apply, and a will alone does not change those facts. However, the way you plan to leave assets to a spouse, child, or disabled family member can influence their financial security and their own eligibility for benefits. Our attorneys look at how your will, potential gifts, and other planning tools may affect Medicaid so that your estate plan supports, rather than unintentionally harms, long-term care options.

I am a veteran. Do I need to plan my will differently?

Veterans often have additional benefits and resources to consider when planning a will. VA pension and other programs may provide important monthly support, and some benefits have rules that interact with income, assets, or care arrangements. While the basic structure of a will is similar for veterans and non-veterans, it is wise to coordinate your estate plan with any VA benefits you receive or may apply for. As VA-accredited attorneys, we help veterans and surviving spouses understand how their will, survivor benefits, and other planning choices work together so that their service-related benefits remain part of a stable plan for the future.

How long does it usually take to create or update a will?

The time it takes to complete a will varies, but many clients can finalize their documents within several weeks of the first meeting. The timeline depends on how quickly decisions are made about beneficiaries, personal representatives, and guardians, as well as whether additional planning tools are included. More complex family or financial situations may require extra discussion and careful drafting. During our initial consultation, we explain the steps involved and give you a clearer sense of what to expect based on your circumstances. Our goal is to move at a pace that feels comfortable while still helping you put a solid plan in place without unnecessary delay.

Can you help update an existing will that no longer fits my situation?

Yes, we regularly work with clients who already have wills that no longer reflect their lives or goals. During our review, we look at your current document in light of your family, assets, health, and any public benefits you receive. We identify areas where the existing will may be outdated, incomplete, or inconsistent with your current wishes. Based on that review, we discuss whether targeted changes are appropriate or whether a new will would serve you better under Utah law. Our goal is to make sure your planning documents support your present situation, not a version of your life from many years ago.

How involved do my adult children need to be in the will planning process?

The level of involvement for adult children is a personal choice, and it can vary widely. Some clients prefer to meet with us alone and then share decisions with their children later, while others invite one or more family members to be part of certain discussions. We talk with you about your goals and any family dynamics that may affect how information is shared. When appropriate, we can help you think through how and when to involve children in a way that supports understanding and reduces the risk of conflict. Our role is to support your decisions and provide guidance about communication, not to dictate who must be present.

How often should I review my will with your firm?

As a general guideline, it is wise to review your will when major life events occur, such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child or grandchild, death of a beneficiary, or a significant change in health or finances. Many people also find it helpful to take a fresh look every few years, even without a major change, to confirm that everything still fits. Laws and benefits programs can evolve, and a periodic review gives us a chance to consider whether any updates would be helpful. We are available to discuss these questions with you so that your will continues to reflect your wishes and current circumstances.

Our knowledgeable will lawyer in Herriman is prepared to guide you. Call (385) 481-5276 to book your initial consultation without delay.