For most Niobrara County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.
For a Niobrara County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the District Court. The two tools that keep a Niobrara County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the County Clerk, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Niobrara County property passes through the District Court — even simple Wyoming probates run 4+ months and start with $160 in filing fees. Wyoming also lets owners name a transfer-on-death beneficiary on vehicle titles, which keeps cars out of the same process.
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Niobrara County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the County Clerk during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.
Before recording, a Wyoming transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentWyo. Stat. 2-18-101 to 2-18-106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathWyo. Stat. 2-18-101 to 2-18-106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Deeds and other real property documents for Niobrara County are recorded with the County Clerk at 424 South Elm Street, Lusk, WY 82225. Phone: 1-307-334-2211. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
Documents submitted by mail go to P.O. Box 420, Lusk, WY 82225-0420.
The County Clerk charges $12 for the first page plus $3 for each additional page. A 2-page transfer on death deed is $15 in recording fees, before any required forms the office charges for. No transfer tax applies to a transfer on death deed.
Recording Office Record
Niobrara County
Phone
Hours
Office
Website
Fax
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
Lusk practice in Niobrara County that Anne K. Wasserburger opened in 2017, focused primarily on estate planning and transactional law. She has also served as Niobrara County and Prosecuting Attorney, and in 2024 was elected the Wyoming State Bar commissioner for the Eighth Judicial District.
Casper office of a Denver and Casper firm, on North Wolcott Street in Natrona County. Its Estate Planning & Probate group advises personal representatives and trustees; Special Counsel Patrick Tolley, in the Casper office since 2009, probates estates, including ancillary probate of Wyoming mineral interests for heirs. The firm also clears title to mineral interests.
Casper practice on South Durbin Street serving Natrona County, with "Probate & Estate Planning" as a named practice area covering wills, trusts and the distribution of property with taxes, insurance and gifts in view. Its litigation side takes on probate disputes. Stephen R. Winship is the practice's one listed attorney.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Data sourced from Wyoming statutes and official state code. How we research.
Free forms for planning your estate in Wyoming: will, living trust, pour-over will, powers of attorney and TOD deed. Prepare each form for Wyoming.
In Wyoming, a will is signed before 2Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyWyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
In Wyoming, a codicil is signed before 2Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, like a will, and the self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyWyo. Stat. § 2-6-114; Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-301(a)(xxxiv)Verified Oct 25, 2026View source.
Wyoming allows a choice for a healthcare power of attorney: 2Wyo. Stat. § 35-22-405 (repealed 2007 Ch. 61, § 2)Verified Oct 15, 2026View source witnesses or a notary.
In Wyoming, a HIPAA release names who may receive your records and, as the state requires, names HIV/AIDS-related information and mental health recordsWyo. Stat. §§ 35-4-130(b), 35-4-132(d)(iii); Wyo. Stat. § 25-10-122(a)Verified Jun 19, 2026View source expressly before a provider releases them.
Wyoming treats a power of attorney as durable by defaultWyo. Stat. §§ 3-9-101 to 3-9-403 (Uniform Power of Attorney Act, eff. Jan 1, 2018; SF0105, 2017 session; repealed former §§ 3-5-101, 3-5-102)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source, and it is signed with no witness or notary requirementWyo. Stat. §§ 3-9-101 to 3-9-403 (Uniform Power of Attorney Act, eff. Jan 1, 2018; SF0105, 2017 session; repealed former §§ 3-5-101, 3-5-102)Verified Oct 21, 2026View source.
In Wyoming, a transfer on death deed is signed before a notaryWyo. Stat. 2-18-101 to 2-18-106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathWyo. Stat. 2-18-101 to 2-18-106Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. Wyoming does not recognize a Lady Bird deed.
Wyoming allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleWyo. Stat. 31-2-104.1Verified Oct 21, 2026View source, filed through the County Clerk (Wyoming vehicle titles are issued by county clerks; WYDOT Motor Vehicle Services provides the forms) using Form MV-308.
In Wyoming, the living will is the Advance Health Care DirectiveWyo. Stat. Title 35, Ch. 22, Art. 4 (Wyoming Health Care Decisions Act), §§ 35-22-401 to 35-22-416Verified Sep 27, 2026View source, a written instruction that is valid with no agent named.
Free tools for planning your estate in Wyoming: will and trust costs, trust or TOD deed, and the signing rules. Run each tool for Wyoming and read its answer.
In Wyoming, a will is signed before 2Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredWyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
Wyoming recognizes a will signed under the law of the place where it was signedWyo. Stat. § 2-6-116Verified Oct 19, 2026View source; a will signed in Wyoming itself needs 2Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and notarization is not requiredWyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
In Wyoming, a will-based plan pays probate attorney fees set by statute as a percentage of the gross estateWyo. Stat. § 2-7-804 (10% of first $1K, 5% of next $4K, 3% of next $15K, 2% thereafter)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source; a funded revocable trust keeps those assets out of probate and off that fee.
An attorney-prepared revocable living trust in Wyoming runs $3,070Estimate: 10 hours at $307, Clio's Wyoming Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $4,605Estimate: 15 hours at $307, Clio's Wyoming Trusts rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source for an individual, against $0 to $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
An attorney-prepared will in Wyoming runs $831Estimate: 3 hours at $277, Clio's Wyoming Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source to $1,662Estimate: 6 hours at $277, Clio's Wyoming Wills and Estates rate; Compare Lawyer Rates, 2025 dataVerified Oct 15, 2026View source, against $0 to $299 up front with an online service, and probate on a $500,000 estate adds about $21,210Wyo. Stat. § 2-7-804 (10% of first $1K, 5% of next $4K, 3% of next $15K, 2% thereafter)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
In Wyoming, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a willWyo. Stat. § 3-2-107(d), (e)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Wyo. Stat. § 14-1-101(a)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
Probate in Wyoming takes 4 months to 6 months for a simple estate and charges attorney fees set by statute as a percentage of the gross estateWyo. Stat. § 2-7-804 (10% of first $1K, 5% of next $4K, 3% of next $15K, 2% thereafter)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source; assets held in a revocable trust skip both.
Estate planning articles for Wyoming.
Estate planning articles for Wyoming.
