Cottonwood Heights Estate Planning Lawyers

Hi! I have been an attorney for over 18 years and have practiced in a wide variety of areas. Now, I have narrowed down my areas of practice to help individuals with their estate planning to minimize conflict as the estate is administered as they want it done without any unnecessary expenses or hassle to their beneficiaries. I also offer business transaction services to individuals or businesses whether just starting out or well established. Find more at wattslawutah.com

Todd is dual qualified as both a business, tax & estate planning attorney and also tax accountant. Todd earned a Bachelor & Master of Accountancy in Taxation from BYU and has experience with the Big 4 accounting firms Ernst & Young and Deloitte. He enjoys helping business owners and individuals with their business, asset protection and estate planning needs.

Deborah works with clients to craft estate plans to carry out their succession goals, while also protecting them in the event they lose capacity. She guides individuals through the probate and trust administration process. She is ready to assist in all disputes that arise in the context of estates and probate.   She is also an experienced appellate attorney.

Deborah graduated from the University of Utah College of Law in 2011, Order of the Coif.  She then served a clerkship for the Honorable Carolyn B. McHugh at the Utah Court of Appeals.  Before entering private practice, Deborah was an assistant attorney general in the...

Ephraim Olson is a Harvard Law School graduate and an admitted NYU LL.M candidate. Ephraim has been practicing tax law since graduating.

Ryan E. Simpson is a partner with Ascent Law. He’s a native of Utah, and he’s licensed to practice law in both State and Federal Courts in Utah. Ryan graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from University of Utah. After completing his undergraduate studies, he went on to obtain his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law. Ryan’s area of expertise is in bankruptcy, asset protection, real estate transactions, construction law, collection law, and estate planning. He has helped thousands of Utah residents obtain debt relief through Bankruptcy.

Eric lives and works in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where he focuses his practice on Estate Planning, Bankruptcy, Business Planning and Formation, and Real Estate Law. Eric also contracts with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to provide representation in Juvenile Court matters in the Western Service Area.

Using Trusts (including Asset Protection Trusts), LLCs, and other legal tools I help people protect their assets from lawsuits, eliminate estate and capital gains taxes, avoid probate, and prevent family feuds that often arise when planning documents are not clear, concise, and thorough. Then, I help them identify the legacy they want to leave to their family and their community. My practice focuses exclusively on the following four areas: estate planning, asset-protection planning, business-succession planning, and elder law.

JEFF D. RIFLEMAN, Attorney at Law, Mediator Mr. Rifleman holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree (J.D.) from St. Mary's University School of Law of San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Rifleman completed his undergraduate work by earning his Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) in Consumer and Community Studies from the University of Utah. Additionally, Mr. Rifleman received training and certificates in Mediation and is qualified as a court appointed mediator in Texas courts, trained in peer-school mediation, family dispute/divorce mediation, domestic violence, and has volunteered time mediating small claims cases in Utah courts. Admitted: Utah Supreme Court U.S. District Court for the District of...

Mr. Laird practices in several areas of law including civil litigation, contract drafting, business law, bankruptcy and probate (i.e., wills and trusts). His clients benefit from the breadth of his experience. He provides excellent service and advocacy for his clients, while also giving them honest and practical advice. Away from law, Mr. Laird enjoys time with his family, participating in church activities and sports.

Daren J. Harris is a Utah-located lawyer practicing in trademarks with an emphasis on business development and contract law. A member of the Arizona, Oregon, and Utah Bar Associations, he’s facilitated in the protection of thousands of brands since his 2011 graduation from Gonzaga University School of Law. Daren has managed the trademark crew at Northwest’s law firm, Law on Call, since its 2021 formation. When away from work, he enjoys reading, playing sports, and perfecting his craft as an amateur woodworker.

My passion in my career is helping families and small business owners, like myself, understand the legal issues that can create contention and misunderstanding between family members and business partners. When I can help my clients gain a solid understanding of these issues, and establish legal solutions to avoid such problems, I can leave work each day feeling satisfied.

With a broad range of experience working in wills, trusts, probate, and estate planning, Daniel Ybarra is equipped to handle your case and will take it as seriously as you do. Daniel is a founder and partner of Woodbury & Ybarra, and has an extensive background in the law. Coming from a family full of attorneys and having attended law school at the prestigious J. Reuben Clark law School, Daniel has a lifetime of exposure to the legal profession and a powerful network of people and resources from which he draws support.

Kristal Bowman-Carter is an experienced attorney licensed in California since 1996 and Utah since 2011. She practices in the areas of estate planning, LLC formation, probate, and probate and trust administration. She assists clients in planning their estates with revocable or irrevocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, as well as other estate and tax planning strategies. She also helps clients with the administration of the estate of their loved ones. Kristal received her Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California, and her undergraduate degree in French with a minor in Political Science from California State University, Northridge....

Lonn is a Utah native who became a lawyer when he realized that well-meaning, well-trained lawyers could be forces for good in the world. Lonn earned his B.S. from the University of Utah in geography with a minor in mathematics. He earned his law degree (cum laude) from Brigham Young University in 1997. Lonn then earned a master of laws degree (with merit) from the London School of Economics and Political Science in international business law. Lonn has had many opportunities to help clients with situations that are unusual and complex—including bankruptcy disputes, brain injuries, breach of contract, business relationship liability, business...

Terrell R. Lee has been practicing law in the State of Utah since 2007. As an attorney, he has shown genuine devotion and commitment to the well-being of his clients and has developed a reputation for his professionalism and acute attention to detail. Before founding his own law practice, Terrell worked for several years at a mid-size Utah law firm with offices throughout Utah. He developed experience in a variety of practice areas, with an emphasis on Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate, and Litigation. Terrell also served as a clerk in the Third District Court...

Mr. Ahlstrom is a member of the firm’s commercial litigation group. He has handled a broad range of litigation matters before federal and state courts including construction disputes (including mechanics’ lien defense and foreclosure actions), landlord/tenant disputes (including unlawful detainer actions), contract disputes, land use and zoning disputes, real property/real estate disputes, government and regulatory issues, and debtor/creditor relations.

In addition, Mr. Ahlstrom has specialized experience in issues that involve professional employer organizations, traditional employee leasing companies, and secured transactions (Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code). He also has resolved disputes regarding non-competition and non-solicitation agreements and general aspects of...

With 20 years of tax and transaction planning for corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and individuals, Mr. Rock advises new and established business on tax matters as well as corporate governance operations and transactions, new business formations, mergers and acquisitions, transfers, employment matters, contracts, joint ventures and real estate transactions.

Kent Collins has extensive tax planning experience counseling high net worth clients and small to mid-sized businesses. Mr. Collins is also experienced in the area of aviation law, having worked as in-house General Counsel for Morris Air. He is currently counsel for SkyWest, Inc.

Mr. Collins has taught classes at the Brigham Young University Law School on Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning, is a past Chair of the Tax Section of the Utah State Bar, and is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. He is a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Mr. Collins has...

John W. Mann practices business and commercial law focused primarily on the needs of the construction industry. John has significant litigation and transactional experience and is uniquely qualified to advise businesses on a wide range of matters before and after disputes arise.

Practice is focused on Elder Law issues with a special focus on probate and trust litigation, including the appointment of a guardian and conservator - contested and uncontested - and Medicaid consultations, including guardianship and conservator appointments; personal representative appointments in a probate estate; drafting a will or a trust; drafting power of attorney; drafting advance health care directive, general estate documents.

Mr. Geoff N. Germane earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University's nationally ranked School of Accountancy. During school and after graduation, Geoff gained valuable experience as a financial analyst and representative for Northwestern Mutual. While there, he ranked in the Top 10 of all College Agents in the USA for volume production, and was the top College Agent in the Western Region. Geoff then pursued a legal education at Brigham Young University's well respected J. Reuben Clark Law School. While in school he worked as a legal extern for the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie in...

Roger Henriksen employs his background in accounting and over thirty-five years in law to help clients achieve their business objectives. Specializing in real property, land use planning and zoning, and construction law, he is continuously recognized by his peers and clients for outstanding customer service and innovative solutions.

Roger has extensive experience representing public and private owners, developers and contractors in a variety of industries in matters involving acquisition and development, construction, partnering relationships, contract negotiation, and dispute resolution. His extensive experience with real estate development, land use planning and entitlements, service, supply and transportation contracts, joint ventures, acquisitions and...

I have practiced in Park City, Utah for 23 years, always maintaining strong relationships with colleagues and professionals in the courts and community.

DAVID P. HIRSCHI is a manager and owner of HIRSCHI STEELE & BAER, PLLC. Mr. Hirschi’s practice emphasizes general business transactions, residential and commercial real estate acquisitions, sales, and land use planning; negotiation and documentation of project, construction, permanent and lease financing; the preparation and interpretation of commercial, industrial, office and retail leases; title insurance litigation; foreclosures and workouts of troubled loans and developments; real estate investment and land use planning strategies; and general estate and trust planning. Mr. Hirschi is the current Chair and member of the Board of Directors of the Utah Land Use Institute and...

I became an attorney so I could help others transform complex business, estate, or dispute issues into practical and straightforward solutions. I intentionally work on both the transactional (writing contracts, drafting wills, organizing businesses) and litigation (lawsuits, mediations, demands) sides of the law in order to best understand how to prevent and solve problems. In my estate planning and business law practice, I help families, individuals, and businesses. I represent clients with the development of an estate plan which might include trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents. I also counsel clients in probate and trust administration matters. Outside...

Bruce Nelson
Principal Attorney

Bruce Nelson is the founder and principal attorney of The Nelson Law Firm, PLLC. Bruce focuses his practice on business & civil litigation, family law, alternative dispute resolution, business and corporate matters, personal injury and many others.

Bruce works closely with clients to achieve their desired legal solutions. Such results are frequently obtained through negotiation as opposed to litigation although each matter has its own unique characteristics.

Before founding Nelson Law in 2004, Bruce utilized his extensive business and corporate experience in new product and new business development, training, along with conducting needful discovery for mergers and...

Scott advises companies and individuals regarding business transactions and personal planning. Representative transactions include formation and operation of various business entities, private placement memorandums for fundraising, exempt securities, public company reporting and compliance, formation and qualification of charitable organizations, real estate transactions, asset protection strategies for individuals and businesses, wills, trusts and death tax planning, and settling and administering estates and trusts. Scott has represented natural resource companies, construction companies, multi-level marketing companies, small and large private estates, publicly supported charities with foreign operations, and clients with substantial offshore assets.