Probate in Niobrara County runs through the District Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Niobrara County, settling their estate runs through the District Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Niobrara County · 8th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Part of the 8th Judicial District covering Converse, Goshen, Niobrara, and Platte counties. Mailing: P.O. Box 1318, Lusk, WY 82225.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
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 Niobrara County, probate runs through the District Court at 424 South Elm Street, 2nd Floor, Lusk. The court sits in the 8th Judicial District. The same 8th Judicial District also serves Converse, Goshen and Platte.
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. The 3 monthsWyo. Stat. § 2-7-703Verified Sep 9, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Niobrara 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 424 South Elm Street, 2nd Floor, Lusk. The court is part of the 8th Judicial District.
Wyoming charges $160 - $165+ (based on estate value)W.S. § 2-2-401(a)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
E-filing is mandatory for attorneys filing at the District Court (https://www.fileandservexpress.com/wyoming/). Self-represented filers can request a paper-filing exemption.
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.
Executor compensation is also statutory in Wyoming. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Wyoming requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%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.
If you're handling probate yourself in Niobrara County, Wyoming, you can file at the District Court in person or by mail. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys but families filing without one are exempt and can use paper forms. The court sits in the 8th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person or by mail. While attorneys are required to e-file in Niobrara County, families handling probate themselves are exempt and can file on paper.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationNot every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the District Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Niobrara County Self-Filing Assessment.
To file at the District Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
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 Niobrara County are recorded with the County Clerk at 424 South Elm Street, Lusk, WY 82225. Phone: 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.
Recording Office Record
Niobrara County
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Recording fees
| Base fee (first page) | $12 |
| Each additional page | $3 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
Wyo. Stat. 18-3-402(a)(xvi)(A) (statewide recording fees collected by county clerks)
Verified September 9, 2026 · Source
Wyoming uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Niobrara 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 Niobrara 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.
Solo PracticeLusk, WY
Estate planning and transactional law firm in Lusk serving Niobrara County and surrounding areas. Anne Wasserburger is the elected Wyoming State Bar commissioner representing the Eighth Judicial District (Converse, Goshen, Niobrara, and Platte counties). Previously practiced insurance defense and natural resource law.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateReal EstateTrusts
FirmCasper, WY
Denver-headquartered Rocky Mountain firm with a full-service Casper office serving Natrona County. Patrick Tolley has practiced from the Casper office since 2009; his trusts and estates work covers drafting estate plans, probating estates, and related advice. Estate Planning & Probate is one of the firm's named practice groups across its 36 attorneys.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateBusiness PlanningEnergy Law
FirmCasper, WY
Casper firm serving Natrona County, with "Probate & Estate Planning" as a named practice area. Stephen R. Winship is the attorney of record. Also handles business organizations, real estate, contracts, insurance, litigation, and bankruptcy.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBankruptcyBusiness Planningand 2 more
FirmWheatland, WY
Hometown firm serving Wheatland and the surrounding Platte, Goshen, and Niobrara county communities for over three decades. Handles wills, trusts, and probate for families settling an estate. Attorneys Brian Artery and Rex Johnson, admitted in 2011 and 1980, carry the practice.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmCheyenne, WY
Cheyenne firm established in 1975, serving Laramie County and statewide. Handles probate and trust administration, will- and trust-centered estate plans built to avoid probate, taxable estate mitigation, and asset protection and digital asset planning. Dedicated trusts and estates attorneys on staff.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTax Planningand 4 more
FirmCheyenne, WY
Cheyenne firm (with a Star Valley office in Afton) serving Laramie County and western Wyoming, with over 175 years of combined experience. Handles probate administration, revocable and irrevocable trusts, will drafting, powers of attorney, gift and estate tax planning, and Medicaid and long-term care planning. Attorneys coordinate with financial advisors and accountants on settlement-side matters.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationTax PlanningMedicaid Planningand 4 more
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.
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Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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This tool provides general information about self-filing probate and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
Step-by-step tools for families in Niobrara County, Wyoming.
Get a personalized plan for settling an estate after someone passes away. Covers trust administration, probate, and intestate estates.
Get a personalized plan for settling a trust after the grantor passes away. Covers beneficiary notification, asset transfers, creditor handling, taxes, and distributions.
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