How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children in Wyoming?
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.
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. It needs your signature, and the nomination covers the child until the age of majority, 18Wyo. Stat. § 14-1-101(a)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source. It can be recorded alongside the rest of an estate plan when you create a revocable living trust.
When a parent has named a guardian, the parent's nominee has appointment priority, but the court can still decline them on a best-interest findingWyo. Stat. § 3-2-107(d), (e)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source. A backup guardian named in the same document applies if the first choice cannot serve.
No. Wyoming makes the guardian nomination through a will or the guardianship petition rather than a standalone declarationWyo. Stat. § 3-2-107(d), (e)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source; a guardian is named in the will or in the guardianship petition.
Yes. Wyoming allows a Special Power of Attorney for a Child of a Military Family (Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children), under which any adult can be authorized for a limited time (no fixed statutory time limit) without transferring custodyWyo. Stat. § 21-24-106(a)(i) (cf. §§ 21-24-102, 21-24-103)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
In Wyoming, a child 14 or older may choose their guardian, subject to the court's approvalWyo. Stat. § 3-2-107(d)(iii) (cf. § 3-2-105)Verified Sep 16, 2026View source.
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New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
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Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
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New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
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Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate in Wyoming
Free forms for planning your estate in Wyoming: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Last Will and Testament
In Wyoming, a will is signed before 2Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Sep 16, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyWyo. Stat. § 2-6-112Verified Sep 16, 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.
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 Sep 20, 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 Aug 24, 2026, then recorded with the county before the owner's deathWyo. Stat. 2-18-101 to 2-18-106Verified Aug 24, 2026.
Vehicle Transfer on Death
Name a beneficiary to inherit your vehicle at death without probate. Available in 26 states and the District of Columbia.
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: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
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.
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.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
An attorney-prepared revocable 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 and a simple will $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 $549 up front plus a subscription with an online service.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
In Wyoming, four years at a public university cost about $60,976NCES Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 330.20, public 4-year in-state tuition, fees, room and board, academic year 2022-23Verified Oct 3, 2026View source and the cost of living is 7% below the U.S. averageBEA Regional Price Parities, all items, by state, 2024Verified Oct 3, 2026View source; no state estate or inheritance tax appliesNo state estate or inheritance tax is payable. Wyoming never repealed its death tax: Wyo. Stat. § 39-19-103(a) still imposes "a tax... on the transfer of property constituting the Wyoming gross estate of every decedent," but § 39-19-103(b) sets the amount at "the maximum state death tax credit allowed to a Wyoming estate as a credit against federal estate taxes under the laws of the United States." That federal credit (former IRC § 2011) was phased out by EGTRRA 2001 and terminated for deaths after Dec 31, 2004 (IRC § 2011(g)), so the Wyoming tax computes to $0 for every death on or after January 1, 2005. Despite the chapter caption "Inheritance Taxes," Chapter 19 is a pick-up estate tax — Wyoming has no relationship-class inheritance tax and no state gift or generation-skipping transfer tax.Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Are My Beneficiary Designations Protected?
Wyoming automatically revokes an ex-spouse as beneficiary at divorceWyo. Stat. § 2-6-125 (§ 2-6-118 repealed by Laws 2023, ch. 140, § 2)Verified Sep 15, 2026View source; employer plans under ERISA follow federal rules either way, so a 401(k) beneficiary changes only by a new designation.
How Do I Sign Estate Documents?
Find witness, notary, and remote signing requirements for all 50 states.
Will My Estate Documents Transfer?
Check if estate planning documents signed in one state are valid in another.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Wyoming costs an estimated $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. Attorney fees are statutory (set by law)Wyo. Stat. § 2-7-804 (10% of first $1K, 5% of next $4K, 3% of next $15K, 2% thereafter)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.
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Wyoming Estate Planning Resources
In-depth guides covering Wyoming probate laws, trust requirements, and estate planning strategies.