Cheyenne firm on Central Avenue in Laramie County, formed in 2013. Administers estates through probate or the non-probate distribution options, and revises existing wills and trust documents; L. Cooper Overstreet's practice includes estate planning and probate matters. Its business and real estate side works with ranch families planning to expand their holdings.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Laramie County, Wyoming
How probate works in Laramie County: the District Court record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Laramie County District Court
Laramie County · 1st Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
309 West 20th Street, Suite 3205, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Website
E-filing
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
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, Money order.The office takes only cash, certified checks and money orders for filing fees.
County forms
- Creditor's ClaimPresenting a claim against an estate
P.O. Box 787
Cheyenne, WY 82003
Fax
1-307-633-4277
Departments
- Jury excusal1-307-633-4279 · Suite 3206
About the court
- The 1st Judicial District covers Laramie County alone. Court records date back to 1890.
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
How Probate Works in Laramie 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 Laramie County, probate runs through the District Court at 309 West 20th Street, Suite 3205, Cheyenne. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District.
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 Laramie County
What probate costs in Laramie 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 West 20th Street, Suite 3205, Cheyenne. The court is part of the 1st 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 Laramie County, Wyoming are filed at the District Court. The court sits in the 1st Judicial District.
Beside the filing office, the court lists a separate line for Jury excusal.
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 Laramie County Self-Filing Assessment.
Laramie County Filing Requirements
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
Before You File
Summary distribution for estates of $400,000 or less
An estate whose real and personal property, less liens and encumbrances, does not exceed $400,000 may pass by a decree of summary distribution (W.S. 2-1-205), filed in district court no earlier than 30 days after death. The limit rose from $200,000 to $400,000 on July 1, 2025. Personal property alone may pass by a small estate affidavit (W.S. 2-1-201), filed with the county clerk rather than the court.
SourceE-filing is mandatory for attorneys
Wyoming-licensed attorneys file through File & ServeXpress after completing training and passing a proficiency exam. A self-represented filer who is not a Wyoming attorney may not e-file in district court unless the court orders otherwise.
Source30-day waiting period after death
Both the small estate affidavit (W.S. 2-1-201) and the application for summary distribution (W.S. 2-1-205) wait until at least 30 days after the decedent's death.
SourceDocument Requirements
The clerk witnesses signatures
The clerk witnesses a signature on court documents for a filer who shows government-issued ID.
SourceWhat 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 Laramie County
In Laramie 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
Laramie County · State vital records office
Phone
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
Website
Certified copies
From Wyoming Department of Health - Vital Records Services; the Local Registrar files the certificate and issues no copies to the public
Vital Statistics Services
2300 Capitol Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Certified copy fees
| First certified copy | $25 |
| Each additional copy ordered at the same time | $20 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Coroner
Laramie County · Laramie County Coroner's Office
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
3964 Archer Parkway, Cheyenne, WY 82009
Website
Mail and offices
Fax
1-307-633-4524
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Transferring Property in Laramie 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 Laramie County are recorded with the County Clerk at Laramie County Governmental Complex, 309 West 20th Street, Suite 1600, Cheyenne, WY 82001. Phone: 1-307-633-4350. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 608, Cheyenne, WY 82003-0608.
The County Clerk charges $12 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page.
Laramie County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, ePN and Indecomm.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Laramie County
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Office
Laramie County Governmental Complex, 309 West 20th Street, Suite 1600, Cheyenne, WY 82001
Website
P.O. Box 608
Cheyenne, WY 82003-0608
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $12 |
| Each additional page | $3 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | No transfer tax applies to TOD deeds |
Wyo. Stat. 18-3-402(a)(xvi)(A) (statewide recording fees collected by county clerks)
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Forms that put a death on the title
- Free forms: Affidavit of Death Form · Affidavit of Heirship Form
Probate Attorneys Serving Laramie County
Wyoming uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Laramie 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 Laramie 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.
Cheyenne firm founded in 1975 on Warren Avenue in Laramie County. Its estate administration team handles validating the will, appointing an executor or administrator, legal notices, estate taxes and will contests, plus trust administration and trust and estate litigation. Planning runs from revocable trusts and wills to Wyoming asset protection trusts and digital-asset planning.
Cheyenne solo practice on East Eighth Avenue in Laramie County, with a second office in Lander. Handles estate administration and probate and trust litigation, and settles real estate after a death by affidavit of survivorship and summary distribution. Scott W. Meier, a Lander native, has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1985 and brings that to the estate and tax side of a plan.
Cheyenne firm founded in 2023 by father and son John and Robert Walker, with a combined fifty years of practice in Wyoming. Takes a personal representative from the petition for probate through creditor notice, inventory and the final decree of distribution, reopens closed estates when assets surface, and files guardian and conservator reports. Free initial consultation, by Zoom or phone.
Regional firm with Wyoming offices in Casper, Cheyenne, Evanston, and Jackson. It represents personal representatives, trustees, family members and beneficiaries in probate and trust administration, handles guardianships and conservatorships, and litigates trust and probate disputes. Also forms private trust companies and handles elder law and Medicaid planning.
Casper firm with offices in Cheyenne and Jackson, tracing its roots to Bill Wehrli's Casper practice founded in 1936. Its Estate Planning, Wealth Security & Elder Law practice develops estate plans and provides legal assistance with the administration of estates and trusts after a death. The family-law side handles guardianships and conservatorships.
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.
Legal Sources
(9)·
- W.S. § 2-2-401(a)
- W.S. §§ 2-7-201, 2-7-205, 2-7-701, 2-7-702, 2-7-703, 2-7-704
- 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)
- 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)
- Wyo. Stat. tit. 2 (no UPC informal probate; non-administration transfers via §§ 2-1-201, 2-1-205)
- Wyo. Stat. 18-3-402(a)(xvi)(A) (statewide recording fees collected by county clerks)
- Laramie County District Court, official page
- Laramie County Clerk, official page
- Laramie County vital records and death investigation offices, official page
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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