For anyone planning an estate in Wyoming or settling one: what a will or trust costs, whether an estate needs probate, what executors and trustees are paid, and the taxes on an inheritance, each answered under Wyoming law.
36 tools for Wyoming
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 authorizes transfer on death deedsWyo. Stat. 2-18-101 to 2-18-106Verified Jul 15, 2026: a recorded, revocable deed that passes real property at death outside probate.
Wyoming allows a transfer-on-death beneficiary designation on a vehicle titleWyo. Stat. 31-2-104.1Verified Aug 26, 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.
Wyoming has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is not availableWyo. Stat. tit. 2 (no UPC informal probate; non-administration transfers via §§ 2-1-201, 2-1-205)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.
In Wyoming, the District Court appoints the personal representative and the Clerk of the district court issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration; every appointment goes through the courtWyo. Stat. tit. 2 (no UPC informal probate; non-administration transfers via §§ 2-1-201, 2-1-205)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.
In Wyoming, creditors have 3 monthsWyo. Stat. § 2-7-703Verified Sep 9, 2026View source from first publication of the creditor notice to present claims; late claims are barred.
When an estate owes more than it holds, Wyoming pays the claims in 10W.S. § 2-7-701(a)Verified Sep 23, 2026View source classes in statutory order, beginning with court costs.
Compare estate-account opening requirements bank by bank: channels, required documents, and steps.
Compare trust-account requirements bank by bank: how a revocable trust account is opened or retitled, and what proves the trust.
See which federal withdrawal rules apply to an inherited IRA, Roth IRA, or employer plan, the deadline year, and the missed-withdrawal tax.
Wyoming has no state income tax, so only the federal final Form 1040 is due for the decedentWyo. Stat. § 39-12-101; Wyo. Const. art. 15, § 18Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.
Estimate the fair market value of household items for probate and see how it affects fees.
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.
Settling an estate in Wyoming: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 120 daysW.S. §§ 2-7-403, 2-7-404, 2-7-410Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 3 monthsW.S. §§ 2-7-201, 2-7-205, 2-7-701, 2-7-702, 2-7-703, 2-7-704Verified Sep 15, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 4 months to 6 months.
Settling a trust in Wyoming happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeWyo. Stat. § 4-10-101 et seq.Verified Jul 15, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 daysW.S. §§ 4-10-813, 4-10-1005Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
After a death in Wyoming, the estate either qualifies for the simplified procedure for estates under $400,000Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-201Verified Sep 9, 2026View source or goes through probate, where creditors have 3 monthsWyo. Stat. § 2-7-703Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to file claims after notice.