Based in Clearfield, Utah. Serving families and businesses throughout the state of Utah.

Trust-based estate planning · Statewide

Your family deserves a plan that actually works when it's needed.

We design trust-based estate plans for Utah families, homeowners, and business owners in plain English, and at a flat fee. Based in Northern Utah, available statewide.

Who we work with

We work with people who have something to protect.

Whether you’re a parent thinking about your kids, a business owner planning your exit,
or someone managing a loved one’s estate. We’ll help you find clarity.

Families with children

You own a home and have kids at home or in college. You want to know they’ll be protected, not left to figure it out through probate court.

See how we help familes

Business owners planning ahead

You’ve spent decades building something. Now you’re thinking about retirement or succession. We understand both the legal and human side of that transition.

See business planning options

Families managing a loss

You’ve just lost a parent and everyone is looking to you. Probate, property, siblings, debts. We’ll walk you through it step by step. You don’t have to have it figured out before you call.

Get help after a loss

Executors and trustees

You’ve been named executor and you’re not sure what that means or where to start. We’ll give you a clear roadmap and handle the legal work so you can focus on your family.

Just named executor? Start here

What we do

Estate planning & business law services

We focus on four core areas. All estate planning is trust-based. We do not bill hourly for
planning work.

Estate planning (trust-based)

Revocable living trusts that avoid probate, plus wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and trust funding guidance.

Learn more

Estate plan updates

Life changes. Marriage, divorce, new assets, new business. We review and update existing plans so your documents stay aligned with your life.

Update your plan

Estate administration support

When a trust becomes active after a death, we guide trustees through administration in Utah without unnecessary court involvement.

Get help

Business formation & planning

LLC formation, operating agreements, corporate structuring, and succession alignment coordinated with your estate plan.

Learn more

Planning levels

Structured planning based on complexity — not upselling.

After your planning call, we’ll recommend the right level for your situation. Most families land in the middle tier. 

Legacy Core

For families who need a properly structured trust plan without advanced layering.

Legacy Plus

Everything in Core, plus business coordination, beneficiary structuring, and a built-in update pathway.

Legacy Stewardship

For high-net-worth families or complex estates. Engagement by qualification only.

Your attorneys

You'll work with us directly not a paralegal or a junior associate.

Every client at Sage works with a licensed attorney from the first call through the final
signature. We keep our caseload intentionally manageable so we can be genuinely
present for the people we serve.

Charles Ahlstrom

Founder · Estate & Business Planning Attorney

After 23 years in family law, Charles knows the courtroom is never the best place to resolve what matters most. He founded Sage to give Utah families a better option — and a plan that works before it ever gets that far.

Focuses: Trust-based estate planning · Business law · Trust administration

Gavin [Last name]

Founding Attorney

Lead with why Gavin chose this work, not his resume. If he’s newer to practice, frame it as a strength: he’s fully present, unhurried, and genuinely invested in getting it right for every client

Example: “Gavin joined Sage because he believes most families who need an estate plan have been intimidated out of getting one — by complexity, by cost, or by firms that treat planning like a transaction.”

Focuses: Estate planning · Family trust administration · Plan updates

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions

Plain answers to the questions we hear most often.

Do I need a trust, or will a will work?

If you own real estate or have minor children, a revocable living trust typically avoids probate and gives your family a faster, cleaner path forward. A will alone usually means court involvement.

What does estate planning cost?

We use flat-fee pricing based on planning complexity. Most families fall within a structured range we’ll discuss on your planning call — no hourly billing surprises.

I've just been named executor. What do I do?

Call us. You don’t need to have it figured out first. We’ll explain exactly what’s required, what the timeline looks like, and handle the legal work so you can focus on your family.

Can you update a plan another attorney drafted?

Yes. We offer structured review and update options for existing estate plans, regardless of who drafted them originally.

Do you work with clients outside Northern Utah?

Yes. While we’re based in Clearfield, we serve clients throughout Utah — including the Salt Lake Valley — and can accommodate remote consultations for most planning matters.

What's included in LLC formation?

Entity formation, operating agreement drafting, and structural coordination with your estate plan — so your business and personal planning work together from day one.