Hiring a Wills, Trusts or Probate Lawyer in Wyoming
What Wyoming requires for a valid will, when probate applies, how estate lawyers charge, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Wyoming: fee rules
| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Wyoming State Bar offers fee arbitration for fee disputes over $500 (disputes of $500 or less are not eligible). Generally you must file within one year after the later of the end of the lawyer-client relationship or the final bill; if the lawyer sues over the fee, you have 30 days after service of the required notice. Complete the Petition for Fee Arbitration and upload copies of bills and supporting documents. The bar sends it to the attorney, who has 21 days to respond; the Fee Arbitration Committee chair tries informal resolution, and if that fails within 30 days a panel holds a hearing and issues a written decision. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The Wyoming State Bar's Client Protection Fund reimburses clients who lose money or property through a lawyer's dishonest conduct (such as theft, embezzlement or conversion, including failure to refund advance fees), or when a lawyer dies or becomes incapacitated while holding client money, within a lawyer-client relationship. It does not cover negligence, business or investment losses, interest, or losses covered by insurance or bonds; awards are discretionary. The maximum is $15,000 per claimant per calendar year. File within four years after you knew or should have known of the dishonest conduct, using the notarized Statement of Claim (fill out online, then print, sign and mail) with proof of loss; a lawyer is not required. Questions: (307) 432-2104. |
Wyoming rules to know first
| Requirements for a valid will | Any person of legal age and sound mind may make a will. Except for a holographic will, a will must be in writing (or typewritten), signed by the testator (or by someone in the testator's presence and at his or her express direction), and witnessed by two competent witnesses. Witnesses may appear in person or by real-time audio-video technology if they can see and hear the testator, judge the testator's competency, securely sign electronically, and confirm the testator is signing freely. A witness who benefits under the will generally cannot take that benefit unless there are two other disinterested witnesses (but may still receive up to his or her intestate share). Source: W.S. 2-6-101; W.S. 2-6-112 |
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| Small estate affidavit | Not earlier than 30 days after the death, the distributees (or their attorney) may collect money owed to the decedent, tangible personal property, and instruments such as stock by affidavit stating that the value of the entire Wyoming estate subject to administration, less liens and encumbrances, is not more than $400,000; that 30 days have passed; that no application to appoint a personal representative is pending or granted in Wyoming; and the facts showing who is entitled to the property. The affidavit must be filed with the county clerk, and a certified copy is presented to the holder of the property. The county clerk where a vehicle is registered must transfer its title on the affidavit. Real property is handled through the summary distribution procedure instead. The limit was raised from $200,000 to $400,000 effective July 1, 2025 (2025 Wyo. Sess. Laws, Enrolled Act No. 85, SF0104). Government creditors may collect by a similar affidavit after 90 days (W.S. 2-1-204). Source: W.S. 2-1-201; W.S. 2-1-202 |
| How probate works | 1) File a petition in the district court of the county where the decedent lived (for a will, a petition for probate; without a will, a petition for letters of administration). The court or clerk may admit a will without notice upon proof of due execution. 2) The personal representative takes the oath, posts any required bond, and receives letters. 3) Publish a notice of probate and notice to creditors once a week for three consecutive weeks and mail it to the spouse, heirs and beneficiaries within one week of first publication, and to reasonably ascertainable creditors. 4) File a sworn inventory within 120 days after appointment. 5) Handle creditor claims filed with the clerk. 6) File a final report, accounting and petition for distribution; after notice and hearing, the court enters a final decree of distribution. Any action to set aside the probate of a will must be brought within three months after first publication of the notice of probate. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Wyoming State Bar runs a Lawyer Referral Service. Its Lawyer Referral Directory lists only attorneys who are part of the referral program and is searchable by practice area; you can also request a referral online. Wyoming State Bar phone: 307-632-9061. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Wyoming State Bar's Member Directory lets you search all lawyers licensed in Wyoming. It is separate from the bar's Lawyer Referral Directory, which lists only attorneys in the referral program. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Wyoming lawyers go to the Wyoming State Bar's Office of Bar Counsel. Complete the Ethical Violations Complaint Form, sign and date it (complaints are sworn under penalty of perjury; anonymous complaints are not accepted), and mail the original with copies of supporting documents to Office of Bar Counsel, P.O. Box 109, Cheyenne, WY 82003-0109; questions (307) 432-2104. Bar Counsel looks at possible violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct, such as missed deadlines, abandoning a case or mishandling client funds, but not the quality of a lawyer's advice or strategy alone, fee disputes (handled by fee arbitration) or rudeness. The lawyer receives a copy of the complaint; the complaint and investigation stay confidential unless a Formal Charge is filed, and you are notified before that happens. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Legal Aid of Wyoming provides free civil legal help to low-income individuals in Wyoming. Apply online or call 1-877-432-9955. LSC lists Legal Aid of Wyoming as its Wyoming grantee. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Wyoming · Do I need a lawyer?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.