Estate Planning Lawyer Utah
Craig has litigated dozens of high-conflict inheritance cases in Utah courts involving parties ranging from hostile fiduciaries and second marriage parties to entitled beneficiaries.
Craig has translated this experience into high-conflict full-proof estate planning. Craig is the author of three Utah Bar Journal articles, which relate to high-conflict prevention planning.
- “Stop Wasting Time: Client Engagement Procedures,” Utah Bar Journal, Volume 24, No. 2 March/April 2011(estate fraud);
- “Utah Incapacity Law and Powers of Attorney,” Utah Bar Journal, Volume 35, No. 2 March/April 2022 (individual right to define incapacity);
- “Vacating Arbitration Awards—What is the Standard?” Utah Bar Journal, Volume 36, No. 3 May/June 2023 (“exceeding authority standard” favored).
Craig has authored four Utah statutes passed by the Utah State legislature designed to prevent and contain high-conflict inheritance disputes:
Utah Code § 75-1-312
Utah Code § 75-9-108(4)(b)
Utah Code § 75-9-108(2)
Utah Code § 75-9-110(7)(a)
Craig is the creator of Utah’s only known inheritance arbitration agreement, arguably the most powerful document available in preventing and containing inheritance disputes.
In addition, Craig represents wealthy individuals in managing their complex estate planning, including the planning of his parents, Eugene and Kristine Hughes, founders of Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. Craig has saved his clients over $24 million in estate taxes.
Craig focuses on conflict-prevention estate planning; estate tax law; trust administration, and probate litigation. Craig partners with Greg Misener regarding closely-held businesses; special needs situations; and guardians and conservators.
Craig has been married for 39 years to Karen Jonsson Hughes. He has four adult children and three grandchildren. He loves to ski, bike, swim, and backpack. He is a lifelong serious book collector.
Review Craig Hughes.