Wyoming Executor & Trustee Checklist
You've been named executor or trustee in Wyoming — and probably handed no instructions. This is the ordered list of what to do, in the sequence Wyoming expects it, with the deadlines and terminology that are specific to this state. Work down it, check things off, and nothing important slips.
- Who administers the estate
- Personal Representative (includes executor and administrator)
- Court
- District Court (exclusive original probate jurisdiction; probate is a docket of the district court in each county)
- Appointment document
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Creditor claim window
- 3 months from first publication
- Inventory deadline
- Sworn inventory filed with the district court within 120 days after appointment
- Trustee notice deadline
- 60 days
- State death tax
- No Wyoming estate tax, no inheritance tax, and no state income tax
If you're the Executor / Personal Representative
The probate track — administering the estate through the District Court (exclusive original probate jurisdiction; probate is a docket of the district court in each county).
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This is the document that proves you have authority to act as Personal Representative (includes executor and administrator).
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Publish once a week for 3 consecutive weeks (Wyo. Stat. § 2-7-201). Known creditors get mailed notice not later than 30 days before the 3-month period expires; they file by the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after mailing.
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Sworn inventory filed with the district court within 120 days after appointment (Wyo. Stat. § 2-7-403); a separate appraisal report is due within 120 days after the inventory.
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A copy of the notice of probate must be mailed to the surviving spouse, all heirs at law, and all will beneficiaries not later than one week after first publication (Wyo. Stat. § 2-7-205(a)(i)).
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Get an EIN for the estate from the IRS (free at irs.gov, ~10 minutes) — the estate is its own taxpayer and you'll need it before a bank will open an account.
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Open a dedicated estate bank account — every dollar in or out flows through it; commingling estate money with your own is the fastest way to get into trouble.
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Keep receipts and records of every transaction and decision — not just what you did, but why; your final accounting is built from this and it's your protection if a choice is ever questioned.
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Pay valid claims and taxes before distributing anything, in the statutory order — paying family first can leave you personally liable. No Wyoming estate tax, no inheritance tax, and no state income tax.
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Collect a signed receipt or release from every beneficiary when you distribute.
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Final report and accounting plus petition for distribution (§ 2-7-811), not less than 3 months after first publication (§ 2-7-204); court enters a final decree of distribution (§ 2-7-813), then discharge. Practical minimum just over 3 months.
Celestial Divide keeps the inventory, valuations, creditor claims, and beneficiary distributions organized in one place — so nothing on this checklist slips through the cracks.
14 days, no credit card
If you're the Trustee
The trust track — administering a trust outside of probate.
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Locate and read the entire trust document, including any amendments and restatements — your powers, limits, and timelines live there.
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60 days (default, waivable) — Wyoming UTC (Wyo. Stat. § 4-10-813): unless the instrument directs otherwise, notify qualified beneficiaries within 60 days of accepting trusteeship or of a trust becoming irrevocable (settlor's death).
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Publish once a week for 3 consecutive weeks (Wyo. Stat. § 2-7-201). Known creditors get mailed notice not later than 30 days before the 3-month period expires; they file by the later of 3 months after first publication or 30 days after mailing.
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Get an EIN for the trust from the IRS — the trust becomes irrevocable at death and files its own returns from that point.
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Retitle and gather the trust assets; hunt down anything never moved into the trust — it may need probate.
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Keep trust assets separate from your own, always — separate accounts, separate records, no exceptions.
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Document every decision, valuation, and distribution as you go.
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Account to the beneficiaries at least annually and at termination.
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Distribute according to the terms of the trust and collect signed receipts and releases.
Good to know in Wyoming
Both thresholds now $400,000 (raised from $200,000 effective July 1, 2025): collection by affidavit (§ 2-1-201) and summary decree of distribution (§ 2-1-205), the latter covering real property and mineral interests — filed 30+ days after death.
Final report and accounting plus petition for distribution (§ 2-7-811), not less than 3 months after first publication (§ 2-7-204); court enters a final decree of distribution (§ 2-7-813), then discharge. Practical minimum just over 3 months.
Relatively formal, court-supervised probate — no informal probate track. The $400,000 small-estate/summary-distribution ceiling (eff. 7/1/2025) is among the highest in the nation and uniquely covers real property and mineral interests. A trustee-friendly 'quiet trust' jurisdiction with no state death or income tax.
Sources — investigate further
The steps above are drawn from Wyoming's own statutes and courts. To dig deeper:
We'll email you a copy so it's always one click away. No spam — just the checklist and the occasional estate-settlement tip.
Celestial Divide keeps the inventory, valuations, creditor claims, and beneficiary distributions organized in one place — so nothing on this checklist slips through the cracks.
14 days, no credit card
General information, not legal advice. Laws change and county practice varies. When in doubt, talk to a probate attorney licensed in the relevant state.