Buffalo firm of Barry and Kristen Crago serving Buffalo, Gillette, Sheridan, and the surrounding area. Assists executors named in a will through probate and prepares wills, trusts, and powers of attorney; also handles civil litigation, corporate law, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Offers free initial consultations in the office or over the phone.
Estate Planning for Sheridan County, Wyoming Property Owners
For most Sheridan 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 Sheridan 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 Sheridan 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, Sheridan 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.
Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Sheridan County
A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Sheridan 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.
Where to Record Property Documents
Deeds and other real property documents for Sheridan County are recorded with the County Clerk at 224 South Main Street, Suite B-2, Sheridan, WY 82801. Phone: 1-307-674-2500. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM.
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.
Sheridan County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC, Indecomm and ePN.
Recording Office Record
County Clerk
Sheridan County · Recording and Land Division
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
Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Sheridan County
Sheridan's senior law firm, established in 1890, with eight attorneys and "Estate Planning & Probate" among its named practice areas. It handles probate and the estate matters that arise on the incapacity or death of a loved one, and plans from a simple will and power of attorney to a complex trust. It also practices oil, gas and minerals and real estate law.
Buffalo practice of Chris Wages with a second office in Sheridan, serving Johnson and Sheridan counties and Gillette. Handles probate, trust administration, and heir and beneficiary disputes, and prepares wills, living trusts, and agricultural and family-business succession plans. Wages has practiced since 1999 and served two terms as Johnson County Attorney.
Sheridan firm with a Gillette office, practicing in northern Wyoming since 1938. Takes personal representatives from the probate petition through inventory, creditor notice, distribution, and the final accounting, and assists trustees with accountings and trust tax filings. Also handles Medicaid crisis planning and represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in will contests and trust disputes.
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.
Cody partnership on Beck Avenue, founded in 2005 by M. Jalie Meinecke and Alex H. Sitz III. Its probate work covers collecting the decedent's property, paying the estate's debts, claims and taxes, and settling disputes, and Meinecke represents beneficiaries protecting their rights under a will. She drafts wills, living, irrevocable, testamentary and special needs trusts.
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
(2)·
- Wyo. Stat. 2-18-101 to 2-18-106
- Wyo. Stat. 18-3-402(a)(xvi)(A) (statewide recording fees collected by county clerks)
Data sourced from Wyoming statutes and official state code. How we research.
Forms for Planning Your Estate in Wyoming
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.
Last Will and Testament
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.
Codicil to a Will
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.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
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.
HIPAA Release
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.
Financial Power of Attorney
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.
Transfer on Death Deed
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.
Vehicle Transfer on Death
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.
Living Will
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.
Tools for Planning Your Estate in Wyoming
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.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
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.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
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.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
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.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
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.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
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.
How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children?
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.
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
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.
Wyoming Estate Planning Articles
Estate planning articles for Wyoming.




