How to Make a Will in Wyoming

If you're a resident of Wyoming and thinking about making a will, you should understand what a will is and how to create one. A will, also called a "last will and testament," can help you protect your family and your property.

You can use a will to:

• leave your property to people or organizations
• name a personal guardian to care for your minor children
• name a trusted person to manage property you leave to minor children, and
• name an executor, the person who makes sure that the terms of your will are carried out.

Below you'll find an overview of what a will can do for you, what Wyoming laws require for making a valid will, and what the process looks like.

Steps to Create a Will in Wyoming

Here's a quick checklist for making a will in Wyoming:

1. Decide what property to include in your will.
2. Decide who will inherit your property.
3. Choose an executor to handle your estate.
4. Choose a guardian for your children.
5. Choose someone to manage children's property.
6. Make your will.
7. Sign your will in front of witnesses.
8. Store your will safely.

What Happens If I Die Without a Will in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, if you die without a will, your property will be distributed according to Wyoming's intestacy law, which gives your property to your closest relatives beginning with your spouse and children. If you have neither a spouse nor children, your grandchildren or your parents will get your property. This list continues with increasingly distant relatives. If the court exhausts this list to find that you have no living relatives by blood or marriage, the state will take your property.

Can I Make My Own Will in Wyoming?

Yes. You can make your own will in Wyoming, using Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust. However, you might want to consult a lawyer in some situations. For example, if you think that your will might be contested or you have especially complicated goals, you should talk with an attorney. See Do I Need an Attorney to Make My Estate Plan?

Legal Requirements for a Valid Will in Wyoming

To make a will in Wyoming, you must be:

• 18 years of age or older, and
• of sound mind.

(Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-101 (2025).)

You must make your will on actual paper. It can't be on audio, video, or a digital file. (Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112 (2025).)

How to Sign and Execute My Wyoming Will

To finalize your will in Wyoming:

• you must sign or acknowledge your will in front of two witnesses, and
• your witnesses must sign your will.

(Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112 (2025).)

Wyoming allows witnesses to witness the will signing or acknowledgment in real time through the use of audio-video communication technology. The remote witnesses also can sign the will electronically. (Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112 (2025).)

Wyoming does permit handwritten ("holographic") wills, but they are usually not a good idea. A holographic will in Wyoming doesn't need to be witnessed if the signature and will are entirely in the will maker's handwriting. (Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-113 (2025).)

It's best to have "disinterested" witnesses who don't stand to inherit from you rather than "interested" witnesses who do, since interested witnesses can lose the gift you gave them. (Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-112 (2025).)

Do I Need to Have My Will Notarized?

No, in Wyoming, you don't need to notarize your will to make it legal. However, Wyoming allows you to make your will "self-proving," and you'll need to use a notary if you want to do that. A self-proving will speeds up probate because the court can accept the will without contacting the witnesses who signed it. (Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-114 (2025).)

To make your will self-proving, you and your witnesses will use a notary. Notaries traditionally are physically present during the will signing. But Wyoming also allows notaries to remotely notarize a will in real time using audio-video technology. Whether you're using a remote notary or have a notary physically present, you and your witnesses will sign an affidavit that states who you are and that each of you knew you were signing the will. (Wyo. Stat. §§ 2-6-114; 32-3-102 (2025).)

Can I Make a Digital or Electronic Will?

Wyoming currently doesn't allow electronic wills (also called "e-wills"). In a handful of states, you can make a legal will digitally—that is, you can make the will, sign it, and have it witnessed without ever printing it out. Such e-wills are currently available in only a minority of states, but many other states are considering making e-wills legal.

Although Wyoming doesn't allow e-wills, it does allow witnesses to sign with an electronic signature and for witnesses and notaries to appear remotely (discussed above).

Can I Choose and Appoint an Executor in My Wyoming Will?

Yes. In Wyoming, you can use your will to name an executor who will ensure that the provisions in your will are carried out after your death. Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust produces a letter to your executor that generally explains what the job requires. If you don't name an executor, the probate court will appoint someone to take on the job of winding up your estate.

Can I Revoke or Change My Will in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, you may revoke or change your will at any time. You can revoke your will by:

• burning, tearing, canceling, obliterating, or destroying your will with the intent to revoke it
• ordering someone else to burn, tear, cancel, obliterate, or destroy your will in front of you with the intent to revoke it, or
• making a new will that says it revokes the old one or has contradictory terms to the old will.

(Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-117 (2025).)

If you and your spouse divorce (or your marriage is annulled), Wyoming law revokes any language in your will that leaves property to your spouse or spouse's relative or names your spouse or spouse's relative to be your executor. This rule doesn't apply if you remarry your spouse or you specifically state in your will (or a court order or contract dividing the marital property states) that divorce won't affect the provisions in your will. (Wyo. Stat. § 2-6-125 (2025).)

If you have any concerns about the effects of divorce on your will, see an estate planning attorney for help. If you need to make changes to your will, it's best to revoke it and make a new one. However, if you have only very simple changes to make, you could add an amendment to your existing will—this is called a codicil. In either case, you will need to finalize your changes with the same formalities you used to make your original will (see above).

Next Steps

You can find Wyoming's laws about making wills here: Wyoming Statutes, Title 2 Wills, Decedents' Estates and Probate Code, Chapter 6 Wills.

To make your own will—as well as other estate planning documents, such as powers of attorney, advance health care directives, and living trusts—try Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're still looking for information, check out these answers to frequently asked questions on Wyoming wills.

Can a will help me avoid probate?

No. A will doesn't avoid probate. Instead, it acts as instructions to the probate court. If you want to avoid probate in Wyoming, consider other estate planning strategies like a living trust or joint tenancy.

What's the cost of making a will in Wyoming?

The cost for a lawyer to make a will depends on several factors, including the complexity of your finances, where you live in Wyoming, and whether you want an entire estate plan with multiple documents. A simple will without other estate planning documents likely will cost at least a few hundred dollars—and potentially more than $1,000. DIY resources, like Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust, will cost significantly less than hiring an attorney.

Where should I store my will after it's signed?

There are several options for places to store your will, and each has pros and cons. Some options are your home, your lawyer's office, or a safe deposit box (but ensure the bank will let your executor or other trusted people access it after your death). Wherever you store it, make sure the right people know where it is, so the probate process can start as soon as possible without confusion or delay. For more information, read How to Safely Store Your Will.

Do I need to file my will with the court or government after making it?

No. Your will doesn't need to be filed with the court or government until after your death.

Can a will help me avoid estate taxes?

No. A will won't help you avoid estate taxes. The good news is that Wyoming doesn't have an estate tax, and very few people need to worry about federal estate taxes. Only people with estates worth several million dollars need to think about federal estate taxes, but a will won't help them avoid taxes. For more information on estate taxes, read Estate Tax: Will Your Estate Have to Pay?

Can someone challenge my will?

Yes, it's theoretically possible that someone could challenge your will. But very few wills are challenged in court because it's difficult to challenge a will.