How much does probate cost in Wyoming?

The short answer

Wyoming is one of the states where the core probate fees are set by statute — fixed by law rather than negotiated. Here’s how those fees work, what else gets added on top, and the ways many families avoid full probate entirely.

Attorney fees

Statutory under Wyo. Stat. §2-7-804, using the same schedule as the personal representative: 10% of the first $1,000, 5% of the next $4,000, 3% of the next $15,000, and 2% above $20,000. The court may allow more for extraordinary services, and the parties may negotiate lower.

Executor / personal representative fees

The personal representative's commission is statutory under Wyo. Stat. §2-7-803, on the same schedule as the attorney. Both fees apply separately, so full ordinary fees are roughly double the schedule; family executors often waive their share.

What the fee is based on

Wyo. Stat. §2-7-803 allows the personal representative, and §2-7-804 the attorney for the estate, the same schedule on the probate estate accounted for, each separately: 10% of the first $1,000, 5% over $1,000 to $5,000, 3% over $5,000 to $20,000, and 2% of all sums over $20,000. Each section lets the court allow an additional fee for unusual circumstances, and requires the allowance unless a written waiver is filed. Separately, Wyo. Stat. §2-1-205(a) sets summary distribution at an entire estate, including personal property, of $400,000 or less after liens and encumbrances.

Court filing fees

Wyo. Stat. §5-3-206(a)(i) directs the clerk of each district court to charge an original filing fee of $160.00 for filing instruments or documents in each civil action, payable by the plaintiff, of which $40.00 is for court automation and $10.00 for indigent civil legal services. Title 5 sets no separate probate filing fee. The estate also pays the cost of publishing the notice to creditors.

Appraisal / probate referee

Not used. Wyoming does not appoint a state appraiser; the personal representative files an inventory and appraisement and may hire private appraisers for some assets.

How long probate takes in Wyoming

We found no published source for how long probate takes in Wyoming as of September 2026. No Wyoming court publishes case-duration data, and the ranges that circulate come from law firms and from sites paid to refer customers to them, so none is cited here. The statutory floor is the creditor period: Claims must be filed with the clerk of court within three months after the date of the first publication of the notice of probate, under Wyo. Stat. §§2-7-201 and 2-7-703(a). A creditor whose identity is reasonably ascertainable must also be mailed a copy of that notice, and that creditor's own deadline is the later of the three months or 30 days after the mailing (§§2-7-205(a)(ii), 2-7-703(a)).

Creditor claim period

Claims must be filed with the clerk of court within three months after the date of the first publication of the notice of probate, under Wyo. Stat. §§2-7-201 and 2-7-703(a). A creditor whose identity is reasonably ascertainable must also be mailed a copy of that notice, and that creditor's own deadline is the later of the three months or 30 days after the mailing (§§2-7-205(a)(ii), 2-7-703(a)). In practice, this window is often the real floor on how quickly an estate can close, because the personal representative usually waits it out before making final distributions.

How to skip full probate (or shrink the bill)

• Small-estate procedure. Wyo. Stat. §2-1-201(a)(i) measures on "the value of the entire estate located in Wyoming subject to administration, either testate or intestate, less liens and encumbrances" and sets it at four hundred thousand dollars, with (a)(ii) requiring thirty days since the death. §2-1-205(a) allows a decree of summary distribution covering personal or real property, including mineral interests, where "whose entire estate including personal property does not exceed four hundred thousand dollars, less liens and encumbrances", on an application filed not earlier than thirty days after the death. The session law raising the figure was not read at source.
• Real-property shortcut. Real property can pass through the summary distribution decree under Wyo. Stat. §2-1-205 for estates of $400,000 or less.
• Transfer-on-death deed. Wyoming allows a transfer-on-death deed under the Nontestamentary Transfer of Real Property on Death Act, Wyo. Stat. §2-18-101 through §2-18-106 (see §2-18-103). §2-18-101 states that short title. Owners can record a TOD deed naming a beneficiary; the property passes at death without probate.
• A funded living trust. Assets in a properly funded revocable living trust skip probate entirely. The successor trustee distributes them privately, usually in a month or two.
• Beneficiary designations and joint ownership. Life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death (POD) accounts, and jointly held property pass directly to the named person and never enter probate.
• Family member as executor. When a relative serves as executor, they can often waive the commission — meaningfully cutting the total bill.

Whether representation is required in Wyoming

Wyoming does not require an estate to be represented by counsel in every proceeding; the court’s self-help materials set out where a personal representative may file without an attorney. Full probate carries formal filing requirements and statutory deadlines, and estates qualifying for a small-estate or summary procedure follow a shorter track with lower filing costs. Legal document preparers operate in some states at a flat fee, subject to state rules on unauthorised practice.

What the record shows

Probate cost in Wyoming is the sum of separately-set components: statutory or court-approved attorney fees, executor commissions, court filing fees, and appraisal costs. Each is documented above with its citation.

Assets that pass outside probate — by beneficiary designation, joint ownership with survivorship, transfer-on-death instrument, or a funded living trust — are not part of the estate these fees are calculated on. Wyoming’s small-estate threshold, above, determines which estates can use the simplified procedure.

Frequently asked questions about probate cost in Wyoming

How much does probate cost in Wyoming?

Wyoming sets probate fees by statute — both the personal representative and the attorney can each charge on the same sliding scale (10% of the first $1,000, 5% of the next $4,000, 3% of the next $15,000, 2% above $20,000) — so full probate on a $200,000 estate runs about $4,350 each, roughly $8,700 combined, plus court costs. Wyo. Stat. §2-1-205(a) provides a summary distribution procedure where the decedent's entire estate, including personal property, does not exceed $400,000 less liens and encumbrances; a person claiming to be a distributee may apply no earlier than thirty days after the death.

What is the small-estate limit in Wyoming?

Wyo. Stat. §2-1-201(a)(i) measures on "the value of the entire estate located in Wyoming subject to administration, either testate or intestate, less liens and encumbrances" and sets it at four hundred thousand dollars, with (a)(ii) requiring thirty days since the death. §2-1-205(a) allows a decree of summary distribution covering personal or real property, including mineral interests, where "whose entire estate including personal property does not exceed four hundred thousand dollars, less liens and encumbrances", on an application filed not earlier than thirty days after the death. The session law raising the figure was not read at source.

Who pays the probate costs in Wyoming?

The estate does. Attorney fees, the executor’s commission, court filing fees, and any appraisal costs are all paid out of the estate’s assets before anything is distributed to the beneficiaries — so in practice the heirs bear the cost through a smaller inheritance rather than paying out of pocket.

Can you avoid probate costs in Wyoming?

Wyoming sets probate fees by statute. §2-1-205(a) allows a decree of summary distribution where the entire estate, including personal property, does not exceed $400,000 less liens and encumbrances, and that route reaches real property and mineral interests as well. The transfers that pass property outside probate are a transfer on death deed under §2-18-103, joint ownership with right of survivorship, and beneficiary designations. Wyoming has no state estate or inheritance tax.

How long does probate take in Wyoming?

We found no published source for how long probate takes in Wyoming as of September 2026. No Wyoming court publishes case-duration data, and the ranges that circulate come from law firms and from sites paid to refer customers to them, so none is cited here. The statutory floor is the creditor period: Claims must be filed with the clerk of court within three months after the date of the first publication of the notice of probate, under Wyo. Stat. §§2-7-201 and 2-7-703(a). A creditor whose identity is reasonably ascertainable must also be mailed a copy of that notice, and that creditor's own deadline is the later of the three months or 30 days after the mailing (§§2-7-205(a)(ii), 2-7-703(a)). The deadlines that run alongside it: How Long Does Probate Take in Wyoming?.

Related reading

• What Is Probate and How Does It Work? — the full plain-English explanation of how probate works in the US.

• How to Avoid Probate in Wyoming — the state-specific avoidance playbook.

• Executor Deadlines in Wyoming — the statutory dates the executor works to, quoted from Wyo. Stat. §§2-7-201, 2-7-205(a)(ii), 2-7-703(a).

• How Long Does Probate Take in Wyoming? — the companion timeline guide for Wyoming.

• Will vs. Trust: How They Differ — the documented differences between the two instruments.

• Estate Planning Checklist: Everything in One Place — the documents and decisions that determine what passes through probate.

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This page explains Wyoming probate costs in general terms as of 2026. It is not legal advice, and fee schedules, thresholds, and court costs change and depend on your specific situation. Confirm current figures with the Wyoming courts or a licensed Wyoming attorney. Sources: Wyo. Stat. §2-7-803, Wyo. Stat. §2-7-804, Wyo. Stat. §2-1-201, Wyo. Stat. §2-1-205, Wyo. Stat. §2-18-103.