What to Do When Someone Dies in Crook County, Wyoming

How probate works in Crook County: the District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.

What probate costsHow to fileDeath certificatesTransferring propertyLocal attorneys

Probate Court Record

Crook County District Court

Crook County · 6th Judicial District

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

309 Cleveland Street, Sundance, WY 82729

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

Court forms packet

Open in Google Maps

E-filing

Required for attorneysWyoming-licensed attorneys must e-file through File & ServeXpress after completing training and a proficiency exam. Self-represented filers who are not Wyoming attorneys may not e-file in district court unless the court orders otherwise, and file with the clerk's office instead. An original will filed for the first time is always filed on paper. On paper: Original wills filed for the first time in a matter; Requests for waiver of filing fees in civil cases; Non-paper or oversized exhibits.

Self-represented filing

AllowedWyoming's statewide self-help forms cover small estates: affidavits for collecting personal property, which are filed with the county clerk, and the application and decree for summary distribution, which are filed with this court. A self-represented filer who is not a Wyoming attorney cannot use the e-filing system. The clerk keeps the original of each filing, so the filer brings copies for their own records and for service.

Accepted payment

  • At the counterCash, Check, Credit card.Filing fees are paid in cash or by certified check, and the office takes Visa, MasterCard and Discover for fees.

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

How Probate Works in Crook County

Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Crook County, probate runs through the District Court at 309 Cleveland Street, Sundance. The court sits in the 6th Judicial District. The same 6th Judicial District also serves Campbell and Weston.

The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Wyoming intestacy law when there is no will.

Most Wyoming estates take 6 months to 12 months to move through this process. Creditors have 3 monthsW.S. §§ 2-7-201, 2-7-205, 2-7-701, 2-7-702, 2-7-703, 2-7-704Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.

What Probate Costs in Crook County

What probate costs in Crook County, Wyoming comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the District Court at 309 Cleveland Street, Sundance. The court is part of the 6th Judicial District.

Wyoming charges $160 - $165+ (based on estate value)W.S. § 2-2-401(a)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.

Estimate the costs for this estate:

Wyoming sets attorney fees by statute — a percentage of the estate's gross value. Every attorney charges the same schedule, so the decision to hire one comes down to complexity, not price.

Wyoming sets executor compensation by statute — about $10,350 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.1%Wyo. Stat. § 2-7-803 (10% of first $1K, 5% of next $4K, 3% of next $15K, 2% thereafter; extraordinary fees per § 2-7-803(b), payable only on court order per § 2-7-805)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.

Wyoming requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.

A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under Wyo. Stat. § 2-3-102Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value annually.

Probate in Wyoming typically runs 6 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.

How to File Probate at the District Court

Probate cases in Crook County, Wyoming are filed at the District Court. The court sits in the 6th Judicial District.

Can You File Without an Attorney?

Wyoming has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableWyo. Stat. tit. 2 (no UPC informal probate; non-administration transfers via §§ 2-1-201, 2-1-205)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.

For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Crook County Self-Filing Assessment.

What to Bring

Filed with the opening petition at the District Court: Original will and any codicils (for testate probate; attached to and proved with the petition, § 2-6-201 — and delivered to the clerk in PAPER even where the filer e-files, per Wyo. R. Elec. Filing & Serv. 5(a)(2)(F)); Petition stating jurisdictional facts, heirs/devisees, and probable value and character of the property (§§ 2-6-201 testate / 2-4-205 intestate); Oath of the personal representative (executor/administrator) subscribed before letters issue (§ 2-3-101); Bond unless waived by the will, by statute, or in writing by the distributees (§§ 2-3-102, 2-3-111)Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 2-2-101 (jurisdiction), 2-6-201 (petition to probate will), 2-4-205 (petition for letters of administration), 2-3-101 to 2-3-111 (oath & bond)Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Death Certificates and the Coroner in Crook County

In Crook County certified copies of the death certificate come from Wyoming Department of Health - Vital Records Services; the Local Registrar files the certificate and issues no copies to the public.

Vital Records Office Record

Wyoming Department of Health - Vital Records Services

Crook County · State vital records office

Hours

Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM (Friday by appointment only, except holidays)

Office

2300 Capitol Avenue, 1st Floor, Hathaway Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002

Certified copies

From Wyoming Department of Health - Vital Records Services; the Local Registrar files the certificate and issues no copies to the public

Mail

Vital Statistics Services 2300 Capitol Avenue Cheyenne, WY 82002

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Coroner or Medical Examiner Record

Coroner

Crook County · Crook County Coroner

Verified November 3, 2026 · Source

Transferring Property in Crook County

Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the County Clerk.

Deeds and other real property documents for Crook County are recorded with the County Clerk at 309 Cleveland Street, Sundance, WY 82729. Phone: 1-307-283-1323. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 37, Sundance, WY 82729.

The County Clerk charges $12 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.

Crook County accepts electronic recording through CSC and Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

County Clerk

Crook County

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM

Office

309 Cleveland Street, Sundance, WY 82729

Open in Google Maps

Mail

P.O. Box 37 Sundance, WY 82729

Fax

1-307-283-3038

Verified October 17, 2026 · Source

Forms that put a death on the title

Probate Attorneys Serving Crook County

Wyoming uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Crook County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.

Probate attorney fees in Wyoming are set by statute as a percentage of the estate's value, so every Crook County attorney charges the same schedule. Price isn't the variable — experience with the District Court and responsiveness are.

A probate attorney files the petition with the District Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.

FirmSundance, WY

Sundance Law, P.C.

Serves 2 counties

Sundance practice serving Crook County, with a Gillette office open the second Thursday of each month by appointment. Its probate work covers collecting assets, handling creditor claims, court filings, and distribution to beneficiaries; it also prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Patrick E. Carpenter is a former Wyoming State Bar Commissioner.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness PlanningReal Estateand 2 more

Office
313 E Main StSundance, WY 82729

FirmCasper, WY

Chapman, Valdez & Lansing

Serves 2 counties

Casper firm with a second office in Sheridan, where attorney Mikole Bede Soto practices trusts and estates, trust litigation, and guardianships and conservatorships for minors and adults. Prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, and handles probate. The wider firm practices criminal defense, personal injury, and family law.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrust LitigationConservatorshipand 3 more

Office
125 W. Second StreetCasper, WY 82601

FirmCheyenne, WY

Davis & Johnson Law Office

Serves the whole state

Cheyenne office filing probates mostly in the First Judicial District for Laramie County, with appearances in district courts statewide. Handles probate petitions, notices to creditors and final accountings, guides successor trustees through inventories, accountings and distributions, and takes on will contests. Kelly S. Davis has practiced since 1979.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 10 more

Office
1807 Capitol Ave, Suite 200Cheyenne, WY 82001

FirmCheyenne, WY

Bailey | Stock | Harmon | Cottam | Lopez LLP

Serves the whole state

Cheyenne firm with a second office in Afton for Star Valley. Represents personal representatives, trustees and beneficiaries from opening the estate to final distribution, in formal probate and trust administration, and prepares estate tax returns. Offers free in-person and virtual consultations to those handling an estate in the Cheyenne area.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 6 more

Office
6234 Yellowstone RoadCheyenne, WY 82009
Free consultationVirtual consultations

FirmCheyenne, WY

Woodhouse Roden Ames & Brennan, LLC

Serves the whole state

Cheyenne firm on Capitol Avenue serving Laramie County and clients throughout Wyoming, with seven attorneys and over eighty years of combined experience. Handles wills and probate, trusts and estates, and guardianship and conservatorship matters alongside civil litigation and business representation. Offers a free consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateConservatorshipGuardianshipand 4 more

Office
1912 Capitol Avenue, Suite 500Cheyenne, WY 82001
Free consultation

FirmCheyenne, WY

Olsen Crecelius Legal Group, LLC

Serves the whole state

Cheyenne firm on East 22nd Street serving clients in all 23 Wyoming counties, with flat-fee billing on probate whenever possible. Handles formal probate, summary probate and small estate administration, and guides trustees through securing trust assets, notifying beneficiaries, paying debts and taxes, accounting and distribution. Also funds trusts after signing.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateConservatorshipand 6 more

Office
204 E 22nd StCheyenne, WY 82001
Free consultation
See all 16 firms serving Crook County →

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

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Data sourced from Wyoming statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.

Tools for Settling an Estate in Wyoming

Free tools for settling an estate in Wyoming: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Wyoming.

How Do I Settle an Estate?

Settling an estate in Wyoming: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysW.S. §§ 2-7-403, 2-7-404, 2-7-410Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsW.S. §§ 2-7-201, 2-7-205, 2-7-701, 2-7-702, 2-7-703, 2-7-704Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.

See the Steps

How Do I Settle a Trust?

Settling a trust in Wyoming happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeWyo. Stat. § 4-10-101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysW.S. §§ 4-10-813, 4-10-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.

See the Steps

Can I Self-File Probate?

Wyoming has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableWyo. Stat. tit. 2 (no UPC informal probate; non-administration transfers via §§ 2-1-201, 2-1-205)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.

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