All Roll Calls
Yes: 117 • No: 0
UtahH.B. 1812026 General SessionHouse
Uniform Estate Planning Amendments
Sponsored By: Nelson T. Abbott (Republican)
Signed by Governor
BusinessFiduciaries and TrustsAdvance Health Care DirectiveJudicial OperationsProbateWillsLegislative OperationsUniform Laws
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Electronic estate signatures gain legal support
Beginning May 6, 2026, required notarization, acknowledgment, verification, and oath steps for covered estate documents can be completed electronically. The authorized person must attach or link their electronic signature and include all other information required by law. Required signing, witnessing, and attestation can also happen electronically; real-time communication across locations satisfies physical-presence requirements. A record or signature belongs to a person only when it was that person's act. Any evidence, including security procedures, can establish this; its legal effect depends on the surrounding facts and applicable law. Courts and other proceedings cannot exclude evidence solely because the estate document or signature is electronic. This does not guarantee the evidence's weight or the outcome.
Households can choose electronic estate plans
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah recognizes qualifying electronic estate-planning records and signatures as meeting writing and signature requirements. Covered records include trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, guardian nominations, and other non-will estate-planning records. Records must be readable as text when signed, and the document must not reject electronic use. Other laws that explicitly bar electronic form still apply. Wills, documents within wills, real-property deeds, and vehicle, boat, or aircraft title certificates are excluded. You cannot be forced to create, keep, or sign these documents electronically, even after previously using electronic documents. You cannot give up this protection. The chapter also covers electronic records created, signed, sent, received, or stored before May 6, 2026.
Households can store estate records electronically
Beginning May 6, 2026, electronic records can meet requirements to keep, send, copy, file, or present covered estate documents as originals. The record must accurately reflect the final document and remain accessible as required by law. You can use another person's storage services, but transmission details alone do not replace the document's content. Government agencies can set extra storage requirements for records they oversee. You can also create a certified paper copy of an electronic estate document. To certify it, you must affirm under penalty of perjury that the copy is complete and accurate.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Nelson T. Abbott
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Michael K. McKell
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/19/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 25 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/12/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/12/2026
Senate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
Yes: 8 • No: 0
House vote • 2/6/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 70 • No: 0
House vote • 1/28/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/23/2026House/ to Governor
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
2/25/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
2/25/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
2/23/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
2/23/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
2/19/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
2/19/2026HouseSenate/ to House
2/19/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
2/19/2026SenateSenate/ passed 3rd reading
2/19/2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
2/19/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
2/13/2026SenateSenate/ comm rpt/ placed on Consent Calendar
2/13/2026SenateSenate Comm - Consent Calendar Recommendation
2/12/2026Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
2/12/2026Senate/ to standing committee
2/10/2026SenateSenate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
2/6/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
2/6/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
2/6/2026HouseHouse/ passed 3rd reading
2/6/2026HouseHouse/ 3rd reading
2/6/2026HouseHouse/ 2nd reading
1/29/2026HouseHouse/ committee report favorable
1/29/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
2/25/2026
Introduced
1/7/2026