How Do I Name a Guardian for My Minor Children in Wyoming?

See how a parent names a guardian for their minor children in Wyoming, what weight the court gives your choice, and your options for temporary care.

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Naming a Guardian in Wyoming

Where you name one: A will
What it takes to sign: Your signature
Official form: None
Age of majority: 18

What the Court Does With Your Choice

Weight given to your nomination: Priority, subject to best interest
Your child's own preference: Child 14+ may choose

Name a guardian alongside the rest of your plan, and set aside how your children's inheritance is managed until they are grown.

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Temporary Care Without Going to Court

Wyoming does not provide a non-court document for delegating a parent's authority over a minor. A court guardianship is the formal route.

Who Cannot Serve as Guardian

provides, or is likely to provide, substantial services to the ward in a professional or business capacity unrelated to the guardianship
is, or is likely to become, a creditor of the ward other than as guardian
has, or is likely to have, interests that may conflict with the ward’s
is employed by a person disqualified under (i)–(iii)
NOTE — a spouse, adult child, parent, or sibling may be appointed despite the above if the conflict is insubstantial and appointment is clearly in the ward’s best interest

This guide summarizes state guardian-designation statutes and is not legal advice. Rules vary by state and locality. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance specific to your family's situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Wyoming, a parent names a guardian for a minor child in a will (Wyo. Stat. § 3-2-107(d), (e)). It needs your signature. You can record it alongside the rest of your 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 finding (Wyo. Stat. § 3-2-107(d), (e)).

No. In Wyoming, a guardian is named in your will or the guardianship petition, not a standalone declaration.

No. Wyoming has no non-court document for delegating a parent's authority over a minor; a court guardianship is the route.

In Wyoming, a child 14 or older may choose their guardian, subject to the court's approval (Wyo. Stat. § 3-2-107(d)(iii) (cf. § 3-2-105)).

Wyoming sets out specific statutory bars to serving as a minor's guardian, and the court can also decline anyone it finds unsuitable. (Wyo. Stat. § 3-2-107(a), (b))

Naming a Guardian in Wyoming

In Wyoming, the age of majority is 18. Until a child reaches it, a parent may name a guardian in a will.

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 finding. A backup guardian named in the same document applies if the first choice cannot serve.

Wyoming makes the guardian nomination through a will or the guardianship petition rather than a standalone declaration. For short-term needs, Wyoming provides no non-court document for delegating a parent's authority over a minor.

A child's own wishes: a child 14 or older may choose their guardian, subject to the court's approval.

A last will is the standard place to name a guardian, and a revocable living trust sets aside how a child's inheritance is managed until they are grown.

SimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 15, 2026

Legal Sources

Data sourced from Wyoming statutes and official state code. How we research.

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