Wyoming Probate Timeline: Key Deadlines for Personal Representatives

Wyoming Probate Deadline Reference Table

Task	Deadline	Statutory Basis	Notes
File Application for Informal Probate	ASAP	W.S. § 2-7-201	No strict deadline, but all other deadlines run from your appointment date — delays here delay everything.
Notify heirs and devisees of appointment	Hard — 30 days from appointment	W.S. § 2-7-205	Mail notice to all heirs and beneficiaries. Keep proof of mailing for Closing Statement.
Publish creditor notice (2 consecutive weeks)	ASAP after appointment	W.S. § 2-7-404	60-day claim period starts at first publication. Publish as early as possible after receiving Letters Testamentary.
Mail notice to known creditors	ASAP after appointment	W.S. § 2-7-404	Known creditors have 30 days from mailing or the 60-day publication period — whichever is later.
File Inventory with the court	Hard — 3 months from appointment	W.S. § 2-7-307	List all probate assets with date-of-death values. Includes real estate, vehicles, and mineral rights — get appraisals early.
60-day creditor claim period closes	60 days from first publication	W.S. § 2-7-404	Do not make final distributions until this period closes and all claims are resolved.
Federal estate tax return (if required)	9 months from death	IRC § 6075	Only if gross estate exceeds ~$13.99 million (2025). Wyoming has no state estate tax — no state return required.
Federal final income tax return (Form 1040)	April 15 of the following year	IRC § 6072	No Wyoming income tax return required. Wyoming has no state income tax.
File Closing Statement	After 6 months from appointment	W.S. § 2-7-1003	Certifies estate is fully administered. Must complete all distributions, resolve all claims, and file all taxes first.

Phase-by-Phase Timeline

Phase 1 — Immediate Actions (Days 1–14)

Secure all estate assets — real estate, vehicles, mineral lease documents, valuables
Order death certificates — request 8–10 certified copies from Wyoming Department of Health Vital Records
Locate the original will and any mineral rights or oil and gas lease documents
Forward the deceased's mail to your address
Notify Social Security Administration of the death
Notify VA if the deceased was a veteran
Cancel recurring subscriptions and automatic payments

Phase 2 — Opening Probate (Days 14–30)

Gather required documents: original will, certified death certificate, heirs' information
File Application for Informal Probate with the District Court probate registrar
Pay filing fee (~$75–$150 depending on county)
Receive Order Appointing Personal Representative and Letters Testamentary
Request 6–10 certified copies of Letters Testamentary

Phase 3 — Notification (Days 30–45)

Notify all heirs and devisees within 30 days of appointment (W.S. § 2-7-205)
Contact local newspaper to publish creditor notice for 2 consecutive weeks
Mail notice directly to all known creditors
Apply for estate EIN from IRS (free, instant online)
Open estate bank account with Letters Testamentary and estate EIN

Phase 4 — Inventory (Months 1–3)

Inventory all probate assets with date-of-death values
Order real estate appraisal
Obtain mineral rights valuation (contact petroleum landman or oil and gas appraiser)
Search Wyoming unclaimed property database (treasurer.wyo.gov) for assets in decedent's name
File Inventory with District Court within 3 months of appointment (W.S. § 2-7-307)

Phase 5 — Creditor Period (Months 1–3)

Track the 60-day claim period from the first publication date
Review creditor claims as they arrive — pay valid claims, dispute questionable ones
Do not make final distributions until the 60-day period closes
Pay priority claims in statutory order if estate assets are insufficient

Phase 6 — Asset Transfer and Taxes (Months 3–6)

Record Personal Representative's Deed for real estate with county clerk and recorder
Record mineral rights assignment with county clerk; notify operators and update royalty payment records
Transfer vehicle titles at county clerk's office using Letters Testamentary
Transfer financial accounts and investment accounts
File deceased's final federal Form 1040 (no Wyoming income tax return required)
File federal Form 1041 (estate income tax) if estate earns income during administration

Phase 7 — Closing (Month 6 and Beyond)

Make all final distributions to heirs and devisees
Obtain signed receipts from all beneficiaries for all distributions
File Closing Statement (W.S. § 2-7-1003) — not before 6 months from appointment
Personal Representative is discharged after the Closing Statement period passes without objection
Close the estate bank account after all checks have cleared

Wyoming's 60-day creditor period vs. other states: Wyoming's 60-day creditor period matches Alaska, Idaho, and Montana — faster than California's 4-month period or Oregon's 4-month period. Combined with Wyoming's relatively low filing fees and no state taxes, Wyoming informal probates tend to move through administration efficiently for straightforward estates.

No Wyoming state taxes — the simplest tax scenario in the region: Wyoming has no state income tax and no state estate tax. Wyoming Personal Representatives only need to track federal obligations. Compare: Oregon executors must file both Form OR-40 (income) and potentially Form OR-706 (estate tax); Hawaii executors must file Form M-6 (estate tax) and Hawaii N-11 (income). Wyoming executors file only federal returns — and federal estate tax only applies to gross estates exceeding ~$13.99 million (2025).

Mineral rights add time: Wyoming is one of the nation's top energy-producing states. If the estate includes active mineral interests — oil, gas, coal bed methane, uranium — the Inventory requires specialized valuation, the transfer requires coordinating with operators and the county clerk, and royalty income during administration must be tracked for federal Form 1041. Start the valuation process immediately after appointment to stay within the 3-month Inventory deadline.

Factors That Can Extend the Timeline

Mineral rights requiring specialized appraisal: Oil and gas valuations can take 4–8 weeks for a proper written appraisal.
Real estate that must be sold: Finding a buyer, completing title work, and closing can add 2–4 months.
Disputes among heirs: Any contested issue moves the estate toward formal probate and court hearings.
Federal estate tax return: If the estate exceeds the federal threshold (~$13.99M), Form 706 is due 9 months from death and extends the estate's open period.
Missing heirs: If an heir cannot be located, the Personal Representative may need to seek court direction.
Outstanding creditor disputes: Formally disallowed claims that become court disputes extend the timeline until resolved.

More Wyoming Probate Guides

Ready to File Wyoming Probate Yourself?

Our Wyoming guide includes a deadline calendar, creditor notice checklist, Inventory worksheet, mineral rights transfer instructions, and step-by-step Closing Statement walkthrough — all in plain English.

Get Your Wyoming Guide for $37.99 →

or all 50 states for $299 →

One-time payment · Every future state added free · Access from any device