General Provisions

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 34, ch. 1
in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-101 "Purchaser" defined.

The term "purchaser", as used in this act shall be construed to embrace every person to whom any estate or interest in real estate shall be conveyed for a valuable consideration, and also every assignee of a mortgage or lease, or other conditional estate.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-102 "Conveyance" defined.

The term "conveyance", as used in this act, shall be construed to embrace every instrument in writing by which any estate or interest in real estate is created, alienated, mortgaged or assigned, or by which the title to any real estate may be affected in law or in equity, except wills, leases for a term not exceeding three (3) years, executory contracts for the sale or purchase of lands, and certificates which show that the purchaser has paid the consideration and is entitled to a deed for the lands, and contain a promise or agreement to furnish said deed at some future time.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-103 Letters of attorney; not a conveyance.

The preceding section shall not be construed to extend to a letter of attorney, or other instrument, containing a power to convey lands as agent or attorney for the owner of such lands.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-104 Letters of attorney; recordation; effect as evidence.

Every letter of attorney, or other instrument, containing a power to convey lands as agent or attorney for the owner of such lands, and every executory contract for the sale or purchase of lands, only when acknowledged by such owner, may be recorded by the county clerk of any county in which the lands to which such letter, instrument or contract relates, or any part of such lands, may be situated, and when so acknowledged, and the record thereof when recorded, or a transcript of such record duly certified, may be read in evidence in the same manner and with like effect as a conveyance recorded in such county.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-105 Letters of attorney; recordation; when revocation valid.

No letter of attorney, or other instrument so recorded, shall be deemed to be revoked by any act of the party by whom it was executed, unless the instrument containing such revocation be also recorded in the same office in which the instrument containing the power was recorded.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-106 Form and capacity of conveyances.

Conveyances of land or of any estate or interest therein, may be made by instrument executed and acknowledged by the party from whom or which the estate or interest is intended to pass.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-107 Quitclaim deed.

A deed of quitclaim and release shall be sufficient to pass all the estate which the grantor could lawfully convey by deed of bargain and sale.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-108 Married women; right to convey generally.

A married woman may, by her deed or mortgage, convey her real estate in like manner as she might, if she were an unmarried woman.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-109 Married women; right to convey all interest in land divested from husband; effect of conveyance.

In all cases where the interest of the husband in any tract or parcel of land has been, or shall be, divested by process of law, or by voluntary conveyance or otherwise, the wife may, by her separate deed, release and convey to the purchaser, his heirs or grantees, all her interest in such tract or parcel of land, whether in possession or expectancy, in the same manner as though she were sole and unmarried; and any deed by the wife so executed and acknowledged, shall be a valid and sufficient bar in law and equity to any right or choice of dower, or other interest which she may thereafter assert in such premises.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-110 Married women; conveyance by nonresident.

When any married woman, not residing in this state, shall join her husband in any conveyance of real estate situated within this state, the conveyance shall have the same effect as if she were sole, and the acknowledgment of proof of the execution of such conveyance by her, may be the same as if she were sole.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-111 Conveyance by tenant for life.

A conveyance made by a tenant for life or years, purporting to grant a greater estate than he possessed or could lawfully convey, shall not work a forfeiture of his estate, but shall pass to the grantee all the estate which such tenant could lawfully convey.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-112 Claim of adverse possession not to invalidate conveyance.

No grant or conveyance of lands or interest therein shall be void, for the reason that at the time of the execution thereof, such land shall be in the actual possession of another, claiming adversely.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-113 Acknowledgment of conveyances; generally.

Execution of deeds, mortgages or other conveyances of lands, or any interest in lands, shall be acknowledged by the party or parties executing same, before any notarial officer. The notarial officer taking such acknowledgment shall comply with the requirements of W.S. 32-3-109.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-118 Where conveyance to be recorded.

A certificate of the acknowledgment of any deed, mortgage or conveyance, or proof of the execution thereof, before a notarial officer, shall entitle such deed, mortgage or conveyance, certificate or certificates aforesaid, to be recorded in the office of the county clerk in the county where the land lies.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-119 Duties of county clerk generally.

(a) The county clerk of each county within this state shall receive and record at length all deeds, mortgages, conveyances, patents, certificates and instruments left with him for that purpose, and he shall endorse on every such instrument the day and hour on which it was filed for record. The county clerk shall not record any document until the address of the grantee, mortgagee or assignee of the mortgagee is furnished to the county clerk, but this requirement shall not affect the validity of the recording of any instrument except to the extent provided in W.S. 34-1-142(b). Only instruments which are the originally signed documents, including electronic documents recorded pursuant to the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, W.S. 34-1-401 through 34-1-407, or properly certified or authenticated copies thereof may be properly recorded. A document is properly certified if in compliance with Rule 902 of the Wyoming Rules of Evidence or other applicable rule or statute. (b) Whenever a transfer on death deed is filed with the county clerk pursuant to W.S. 2-18-103, the county clerk shall furnish the following information to the Wyoming department of health, division of healthcare financing within fourteen (14) days of recording the deed: (i) The name of the grantor; (ii) The name of the grantee; (iii) The legal description of the property being transferred.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-120 Unrecorded conveyance void as to subsequent purchasers recording first.

Every conveyance of real estate within this state, hereafter made, which shall not be recorded as required by law, shall be void, as against any subsequent purchaser or purchasers in good faith and for a valuable consideration of the same real estate or any portion thereof, whose conveyance shall be first duly recorded.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-121 Recorded instrument as notice to subsequent purchasers; recordation of instruments issued by United States or state of Wyoming.

(a) Each and every deed, mortgage, instrument or conveyance touching any interest in lands, made and recorded, according to the provisions of this chapter, shall be notice to and take precedence of any subsequent purchaser or purchasers from the time of the delivery of any instrument at the office of the county clerk, for record. Any and all instruments or other documents, or copies of instruments or other documents duly certified by any agency, department or bureau of the United States or the state of Wyoming having charge of the records of the instruments or other documents, conveying, remising or demising, or otherwise affecting: (i) Real estate on any Indian reservation and relating to any period the real estate may be or has been held by the United States in trust for an Indian or Indians or Indian tribe, or restricted against alienation under the laws of the United States, or any interest in the real estate; or (ii) Real estate, or any interest therein, or any assignment thereof, issued by the United States or the state of Wyoming, or any agency, department or bureau of either thereof, including mineral leases and assignments thereof, certificates of purchase or payment for public lands issued by the receiver of the land office, shall be entitled to record under this chapter, and the record of all instruments or other documents shall have the same effect to all intents and purposes as though the same were acknowledged and otherwise executed as required by the provisions of this chapter relating to conveyances.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-122 Force and effect of conveyances prior to act.

All conveyances of real estate heretofore made and acknowledged or proved in accordance with the laws of this state in force at the time of such making, acknowledgment or proof, shall have the same force as evidence, and be recorded in the same manner and with like effect as conveyances executed and acknowledged in accordance with the provisions of this act.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-123 Admissibility of conveyance or record thereof as evidence.

All deeds, mortgages, conveyances or instruments of any character, concerning any interest in lands within this state, which shall be executed, acknowledged, attested or proved in accordance with the provisions of this act or the laws of this state, or the local laws of any mining district wherein such real estate is situate, in force at the date of such acknowledgment, attestation or proof, may be read in evidence, without in the first instance additional proof of the execution thereof, and the record of any such deed, mortgage, conveyance or instrument, whether an original record of any mining district, or a copy thereof deposited in the register's [county clerk's] office of any county, in accordance with the laws of this state (as a part of the records of such mining district) or a record of such recorder's office, when the same appears by such record to be properly acknowledged, attested or proved in accordance with the laws of this state, or of the proper mining district in force at the date of such acknowledgment, attestation or proof, or a transcript from any such record, certified by the register [county clerk] of the proper county where such deed, mortgage, conveyance or instrument ought by law to be recorded, may, upon the affidavit of the party desiring to use the same, that the original thereof is not in his possession or power to produce, be read in evidence with like effect as the original of such deed, mortgage, conveyance or instrument properly acknowledged, attested or proved as aforesaid, but the effect of such evidence may be rebutted by other competent testimony.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-124 Federal land office instruments; generally; railway maps and affidavits; recording and recording fees.

Patents heretofore or hereafter issued by the United States, for lands and certificates of purchase or payment for public lands, heretofore or hereafter issued by the receiver of any land office of the United States, shall be entitled to be recorded under the provisions of this chapter, and the record of all such instruments shall have the effect to all intents and purposes, as though same were acknowledged and otherwise executed as required by law; provided, that any railroad company, having a right-of-way or station grounds, acquired in conformity to an act of the congress of the United States, requiring a map thereof, to be approved by the secretary of the interior, shall file with the county clerk, of any county in this state, wherein such right-of-way and station grounds may be, a copy of such map, duly authenticated, together with the affidavit of any officer or agent of such railroad company, describing by quarter sections the lands within such county, affected by such right-of-way, which were public lands when such map was approved, and it shall be the duty of such county clerk to record said affidavit, and file said map, and to note upon the abstract of lands of his office as to each quarter section so described, that a right-of-way across the same is claimed by the company filing said map; provided, further, that the fee for filing said map and recording said affidavit, shall be two dollars ($2.00).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-125 Federal land office instruments; as evidence.

The certificate of purchase or payment issued by the receiver of any land office of the United States, or the record thereof, or if the same be lost or destroyed or beyond the reach of the person entitled thereto, secondary evidence of its contents, is proof of the title to the lands described therein, equivalent to a patent against all except the United States or the holder of a patent from the United States.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-127 Effect on purported absolute conveyance of unrecorded deed of defeasance.

When a deed or mortgage purports to be an absolute conveyance in terms, but is made or intended to be made defeasible by force of defeasance, or other instrument for that purpose, the original conveyance shall not be thereby defeated or affected as against any person other than the maker of the defeasance, or his heirs or devisees, or persons having actual notice thereof, unless the instrument of defeasance shall have been recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county where the lands lie.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-128 Recorded assignment of mortgage.

The recording of the assignment of a mortgage, shall not in itself, be deemed notice of such assignment to the mortgagor, his heirs or personal representatives, so as to invalidate any payment made by them or either of them to the mortgagee.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-129 Husband or wife may appoint each other as attorney-in-fact to control interests.

A husband or wife may constitute the other his or her attorney-in-fact to control or dispose of his or her property, or any inchoate or other interest therein and may revoke the same to the same extent and in the same manner as other persons.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-130 County clerk to discharge mortgage or deed of trust on record when certificate of release recorded.

Any mortgage or deed of trust shall be discharged upon the record thereof, by the county clerk in whose custody it shall be, or in whose office it is recorded, when there shall be recorded in his office a certificate or deed of release executed by the mortgagee, trustee or beneficiary, his assignee or legally authorized representative, or by a title agent or title insurer acting in accordance with the provisions of W.S. 34-1-145 through 34-1-150, acknowledged or proven and certified as by law prescribed to entitle conveyances to be recorded, specifying that such mortgage or deed of trust has been paid or otherwise satisfied or discharged, and the county clerk shall make a reference to such release in the record.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-131 Force and effect of section 34-1-130 on mortgages and deeds of trust executed and deeds of trust discharged prior to act.

The preceding section, as hereby amended, shall apply to all mortgages and deeds of trust, heretofore as well as those which may be hereafter, executed and the release or discharge of any deed of trust heretofore made in accordance with said section, by the trustee named in said deed of trust or his successor, is hereby legalized and declared to be as binding upon all parties in interest as though such release or discharge had been made after the passage of this act.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-132 Liability of mortgagee for failing to discharge; damage limitations; definition.

(a) A mortgagee shall, within thirty (30) days after having received by certified or registered mail a request in writing for the discharge or release of a mortgage, execute and acknowledge a certificate or deed of discharge or release of the mortgage if there has been full performance of the condition of the mortgage and if there is no other written agreement between the mortgagee and mortgagor encumbering the property subject to the mortgage. (b) A mortgagee who fails or refuses to discharge or release a mortgage within the thirty (30) day period required by subsection (a) of this section is liable to the mortgagor or his assignees for: (i) All actual damages resulting from the mortgagee's failure or refusal to discharge or release the mortgage; and (ii) Special damages in the amount of one-tenth of one percent (.10%) of the original principal amount of the mortgage for each additional day after the thirty (30) day period until the mortgage is released or discharged. Special damages authorized by this paragraph shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day. (c) Notwithstanding any assignment of the mortgage, the mortgagee of record is liable for the damages specified in subsection (b) of this section unless, within sixty (60) days after receipt of the request for discharge or release as provided by subsection (a) of this section, he furnishes to the person making the request the name and address of the current assignee or holder of the mortgage who has legal authority to execute the discharge or release. (d) As used in this section "mortgagee" means the mortgagee named in the original mortgage or, if assigned, the current holder of the mortgage or the servicing agent for the current holder of the mortgage.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-133 Release; mortgage of deceased nonresident mortgagee.

Whenever any nonresident of this state shall die without this state, owing, at the time of his death, debts secured by mortgage or other incumbrance upon real or personal property situated in this state, and the debtor shall make voluntary payment of such debt to the executor of the last will and testament of such deceased person, or to the administrator of the estate of such deceased person, whose letters testamentary or of administration, as the case may be, were issued from the proper court of the state or territory of the United States, where such deceased creditor resided at the time of his death, it shall be lawful and competent for such executor or administrator to execute a full and valid release, and acquittance of such debt, and of the mortgage or other incumbrance securing the same; provided, that there shall be attached to such release and acquittance, and made a part thereof, a full and complete transcript of the records of the court issuing such letters testamentary or of administration, as the case may be, certified to by the clerk of such court, or other proper custodian of the records thereof, under his hand and under the seal of such court, fully exhibiting the due appointment and qualification of such executor or administrator, and there shall also be attached to such release and made a part thereof, a certificate under the hand of the presiding judge of such court, or the clerk thereof, that at the date of such release, the person or persons executing the same, was such duly appointed and qualified executor or administrator, as set forth in such release. Any release so executed shall be admitted to record, in this state, in the office of any of the county clerks and upon being recorded in the proper office, the county clerk shall discharge the mortgage or other incumbrance in such release mentioned, in the manner provided by law, but this section shall not be construed to authorize any administrator appointed by the courts of any other state or territory of the United States, to exercise any power, within the state other than the power to receive voluntary payments of debts due to his intestate, and to release mortgages or other incumbrances upon property situate in this state and securing such debts.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-134 Release; mortgage of bankrupt corporation mortgagee.

It shall be the duty of any county clerk within the state of Wyoming, upon request of any person and the filing in his office of a certified copy of an order of discharge of any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy of any national or state bank, trust company or building and loan association, to cancel of record any unreleased and unassigned mortgage or deed of trust of record in his office in which such national or state bank, trust company, or building and loan association, is mortgagee by releasing the said mortgage or deed of trust in the record where the same has been placed of record, and said release shall be effective and constitute a discharge of the lien of said mortgage or trust deed upon the real property covered by the same in the same manner and to the same effect as if said release had been made by the mortgagee thereof.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-135 Covenants; not implied in conveyances; exception.

No covenant shall be implied in any conveyance of real estate other than a conveyance of oil, gas or other minerals whether such conveyance contains special covenants or not.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-136 Covenants; not implied for payment of sum secured by mortgage.

No mortgage shall be construed as implying a covenant for the payment of the sum thereby intended to be secured, where there shall be no express covenant for such payment contained in the mortgage, and, if no bond or other separate instrument to secure such payment shall be given, the remedies of the mortgagee shall be confined to the lands mentioned in the mortgage.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-137 Fees tail prohibited; future interests of fees tail; worthier title doctrine abolished.

(a) The creation of fees tail is not permitted. The use in an otherwise effective conveyance of property of language appropriate to create a fee tail, creates a fee simple in the person who would have taken a fee tail. Any future interest limited upon such an interest is a limitation upon the fee simple and its validity is determined accordingly. (b) The doctrine of worthier title is abolished as a rule of law and as a rule of construction. Language in a will, trust agreement, beneficiary designation or other governing instrument describing the beneficiaries of a disposition as "heirs," "heirs at law," "next of kin," "distributees," "relatives" or "family" or language of similar import, does not create or presumptively create a reversionary interest in the transferor.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-139 Perpetuities; time limits for vesting; restrictions on selected lives; legislative intent.

(a) No interest in real property shall be valid unless it must vest not later than twenty-one (21) years after some life in being at the creation of the interest and any period of gestation involved in the situation to which the limitation applies. The lives selected to govern the time of vesting must not be so numerous nor so situated that evidence of their deaths is likely to be unreasonably difficult to obtain. It is intended by this subsection to make effective in this state the American common-law rule against perpetuities for interests in real property. (b) A trust created after July 1, 2003, owning or holding property other than or in addition to interests in real property, shall continue for up to one thousand (1,000) years after the trust's creation, unless some earlier term is expressly set forth in the trust instrument, so long as: (i) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 47, § 2. (ii) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 47, § 2. (iii) The trust is governed by the laws of this state; (iv) The trustee maintains a place of business, administers the trust in this state or is a resident of this state; and (v) The trust terms require that any power of appointment over the trust property, other than interests in real property, terminate and all such interests in trust property vest or terminate no later than one thousand (1,000) years after the trust's creation or such earlier date as is set forth in the trust instrument. (c) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 47, § 2. (d) Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 47, § 2. (e) If a trust owns or holds both interests in real property and interests in property other than real property, subsection (a) of this section shall apply to any real property interests held in the trust and subsection (b) shall apply to the remaining property of the trust.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-140 Establishing joint tenancy or tenancy by entirety in real or personal property.

(a) A joint tenancy or a tenancy by the entirety as to any interest in real or personal property may be established by the owner thereof, by designating in the instrument of conveyance or transfer, the names of such joint tenants or tenants by the entirety, including his own, without the necessity of any transfer or conveyance to or through a third person. (b) Unless the deed specifies another form of ownership, the designation of tenants on an instrument of conveyance or transfer of real property as "husband and wife," "spouses" or similar language, shall be deemed to establish a tenancy by the entirety under subsection (a) of this section.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-141 Easements.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, easements across land executed and recorded after the effective date of this act which do not specifically describe the location of the easement are null and void and of no force and effect. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, agreements entered into after the effective date of this act which grant the right to locate an easement at a later date and which do not specifically describe the location of the easement are null and void. (c) For purposes of this section an easement or agreement which does not specifically describe the location of the easement or which grants a right to locate an easement at a later date shall be valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of execution of the easement or agreement. If the specific description is not recorded within one (1) year then the easement or agreement shall be of no further force and effect. (d) For purposes of this section the specific description required in an easement shall be sufficient to locate the easement and is not limited to a survey. (e) For purposes of this section options to obtain easements at a later date shall not be considered easements or agreements pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this section and shall be for a period not to exceed seven (7) years.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-142 Instrument transferring title to real property; procedure; exceptions; confidentiality.

(a) When a deed, contract or other document transferring legal or equitable title to real property, including instruments conveying ownership of structures on lands not owned by the transferring party, is presented to a county clerk for recording, the instrument shall be accompanied by a statement under oath by the grantee or his agent disclosing the name of the grantor and grantee, the addresses and contact information of the grantor and grantee, the date of transfer, date of sale, a legal description of the property transferred, the actual full amount paid or to be paid for the property, terms of sale and an estimate of the value of any nonreal property included in the sale. (b) No instrument evidencing a transfer of real property may be accepted for recording until the completed sworn statement is received by the county clerk. The validity or effectiveness of an instrument as between the parties is not affected by the failure to comply with subsection (a) of this section. (c) For instruments transferring title as described in this subsection, the presenting party may omit from the statement the amount paid or other consideration exchanged for the property, the terms of the sale and an estimate of the value of any nonreal property included in the sale that would otherwise be required to be included in the statement under subsection (a) of this section: (i) An instrument which confirms, corrects, modifies or supplements a previously recorded instrument without added consideration; (ii) A transfer pursuant to mergers, consolidations or reorganizations of business entities; (iii) A transfer by a subsidiary corporation to its parent corporation without actual consideration or in sole consideration of the cancellation or surrender of a subsidiary stock; (iv) A transfer which constitutes a gift of more than one-half (1/2) of the actual value; (v) A transfer between husband and wife or parent and child with only nominal consideration therefor; (vi) An instrument the effect of which is to transfer the property to the same party; (vii) A sale for delinquent taxes or assessments or a sale or a transfer pursuant to a foreclosure; (viii) Any other transfers which the state board of equalization and department of revenue exempts upon a finding that the information is not useful or relevant in determining sales-price ratios. (d) The sworn statements shall be used by the county assessors and the state board of equalization and the department of revenue along with other statements filed only as data in a collection of statistics which shall be used collectively in determining sales-price ratios by county. An individual statement shall not, by itself, be used by the county assessor to adjust the assessed value of any individual property. (e) The statement is not a public record and shall be held confidential by the county clerk, county assessor, county board of equalization, the state board of equalization and the department of revenue. A statement may be disclosed pursuant to W.S. 39-13-109(a)(i) to any person wishing to review or contest his property tax assessment or valuation. The statement shall not be subject to discovery in any other county or state proceeding. (f) Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 174, § 3. (g) As used in W.S. 34-1-142 through 34-1-144: (i) A "review" is considered the initial meetings between the taxpayer and the county assessor's office pursuant to W.S. 39-13-109(b)(i); (ii) "Contest" means the filing of a formal appeal pursuant to W.S. 39-13-109(b)(i); (iii) "Geographic area" may include any area requested by the property owner or his agent within the boundaries of the county in which the subject property is located. (h) The state board of equalization shall adopt rules and regulations to implement W.S. 34-1-142 and 34-1-143 which shall include forms to be used and which shall be used by county assessors and county clerks.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-143 Information to be furnished to department of revenue and the state board of equalization.

The county clerk shall place the recording data on the statement of consideration paid and deliver the statement to the county assessor. The county assessor shall furnish information from the statements of consideration to the state board of equalization and department of revenue as the board or department shall require, and when disclosed under W.S. 34-1-142(g) and 39-13-109(b)(i), any person or his agent wishing to review or contest his property tax assessment or valuation and the county board of equalization. The county assessor may furnish information from the statements of consideration to a county assessor in another county in this state to be used as provided by law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-144 Penalty for falsifying statement.

It is a misdemeanor for a person to willfully falsify or publicly disclose, except as specifically authorized by law, any information on the statement of consideration required by W.S. 34-1-142 and 34-1-143. Upon conviction the offender is subject to a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, or both.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-145 Definitions.

(a) As used in W.S. 34-1-145 through 34-1-150: (i) "Beneficiary" means the record owner of the beneficiary's interest under a trust deed, including successors in interest; (ii) "Mortgage" means as described in W.S. 34-2-107; (iii) "Mortgagee" means the record owner of the mortgagee's interest under a mortgage, including a successor in interest; (iv) "Satisfactory evidence of the full payment of the obligation secured by a trust deed or mortgage" means the original cancelled check or a copy of a cancelled check, showing all endorsements, payable to the beneficiary, servicer or mortgagee and reasonable documentary evidence that the check was to effect full payment under the trust deed or an encumbrance upon the property covered by the trust deed or mortgage; (v) "Servicer" means a person or entity that collects loan payments on behalf of a beneficiary or mortgagee; (vi) "Title agent" means a title insurance agent licensed as an organization under W.S. 26-23-316 and bonded as a title abstractor under W.S. 26-23-308 or 33-2-101; (vii) "Title insurer" means a title insurer authorized to conduct business in the state under the Wyoming Insurance Code; (viii) "Trust deed" means as described in W.S. 34-3-101.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-146 Reconveyance of trust deed or release of mortgage; procedures; forms.

(a) A title insurer or title agent may reconvey a trust deed or release a mortgage in accordance with the provisions of subsections (b) through (f) of this section if: (i) The obligation secured by the trust deed or mortgage has been fully paid by the title insurer or title agent; or (ii) The title insurer or title agent possesses satisfactory evidence of the full payment of the obligation secured by a trust deed or mortgage. (b) A title insurer or title agent may reconvey a trust deed or release a mortgage under subsection (a) of this section regardless of whether the title insurer or title agent is named as a trustee under a trust deed or has the authority to release a mortgage. (c) No sooner than thirty (30) days after payment in full of the obligation secured by a trust deed or mortgage, and after notice is given pursuant to W.S. 34-1-132, the title insurer or title agent shall deliver to the beneficiary, mortgagee or servicer, or send by certified mail to the beneficiary, mortgagee or servicer, at the address specified in the trust deed or mortgage or at any address for the beneficiary or mortgagee specified in the last recorded assignment of the trust deed or mortgage a notice of intent to release or reconvey and a copy of the release or reconveyance to be recorded as provided in subsections (d) and (e) of this section. (d) The notice of intent to release or reconvey shall contain the name of the beneficiary or mortgagee and the servicer if loan payments on the trust deed or mortgage are collected by a servicer, the name of the title insurer or title agent, the date and be substantially in the following form: NOTICE OF INTENT TO RELEASE OR RECONVEY Notice is hereby given to you as follows: 1. This notice concerns the (trust deed or mortgage) described as follows: (Trustor or Mortgagor):________________________________ (Beneficiary or Mortgagee):____________________________ Recording Information: ________________________________ Book Number:___________________________________________ Page Number: __________________________________________ 2. The undersigned claims to have paid in full or possesses satisfactory evidence of the full payment of the obligation secured by the trust deed or mortgage described above. 3. The undersigned will fully release the mortgage or reconvey the trust deed described in this notice unless, within thirty (30) days from the date stated on this notice, the undersigned has received by certified mail a notice stating that the obligation secured by the trust deed or mortgage has not been paid in full or that you otherwise object to the release of the mortgage or the reconveyance of the trust deed. Notice shall be mailed to the address stated on this form. 4. A copy of the (release of mortgage or reconveyance of trust deed) is enclosed with this notice. (Signature of title insurer or title agent) (Address of title insurer or title agent) (e) If, within thirty (30) days from the day on which the title insurer or title agent delivered or mailed the notice of intent to release or reconvey in accordance with subsections (c) and (d) of this section, the beneficiary, mortgagee or servicer does not send by certified mail to the title insurer or title agent a notice that the obligation secured by the trust deed or mortgage has not been paid in full or that the beneficiary, mortgagee or servicer objects to the release of the mortgage or reconveyance of the trust deed, the title insurer or title agent may execute, acknowledge and record a reconveyance of a trust deed or release of a mortgage: (i) A reconveyance of a trust deed under this subsection shall be in substantially the following form: RECONVEYANCE OF TRUST DEED (Name of title insurer or title agent), a (title insurer or title agent) authorized to conduct business in the state does hereby reconvey, without warranty, the following trust property located in .... County, state of Wyoming, that is covered by a trust deed naming (name of trustor) as trustor, and (name of beneficiary) as beneficiary and was recorded on ...., ....(year), as document number ...., or, if applicable, in Book .... at Page...., (insert a description of the trust property): The undersigned title insurer or title agent certifies as follows: 1. The undersigned title insurer or title agent has fully paid the obligation secured by the trust deed or possesses satisfactory evidence of the full payment of the obligation secured by the trust deed. 2. No sooner than thirty (30) days after payment in full of the obligation secured by the trust deed, the title insurer or title agent delivered or sent by certified mail to the beneficiary or servicer at the address specified in the trust deed and at any address for the beneficiary specified in the last recorded assignment of the trust deed, a notice of intent to release or reconvey and a copy of the reconveyance. 3. The title insurer or title agent did not receive, within thirty (30) days from the day on which the title insurer or title agent delivered or mailed the notice of intent to release or reconvey, a notice from the beneficiary or servicer sent by certified mail that the obligation secured by the trust deed has not been paid in full or that the beneficiary or servicer objects to the reconveyance of the trust deed. ____________________________ ____________________________ (Notarization) (Signature of title insurer or title agent) (ii) A release of a mortgage under this subsection shall be in substantially the following form: RELEASE OF MORTGAGE (Name of title insurer or title agent), a (title insurer or title agent) authorized to conduct business in the state does hereby release the mortgage on the following property located in .... County, state of Wyoming, that is covered by a mortgage naming (name of mortgagor) as mortgagor, and (name of mortgagee) as mortgagee and was recorded on ...., ....(year), as document number ...., or, if applicable, in Book .... at Page...., (insert a description of the trust property): The undersigned title insurer or title agent certifies as follows: 1. The undersigned title insurer or title agent has fully paid the obligation secured by the mortgage or possesses satisfactory evidence of the full payment of the obligation secured by the mortgage. 2. No sooner than thirty (30) days after payment in full of the obligation secured by the mortgage, the title insurer or title agent delivered to the mortgagee or sent by certified mail to the mortgagee or servicer at the address specified in the mortgage and at any address for the mortgagee specified in the last recorded assignment of the mortgage, a notice of intent to release or reconvey and a copy of the release. 3. The title insurer or title agent did not receive, within thirty (30) days from the day on which the title insurer or title agent delivered or mailed the notice of intent to release or reconvey, a notice from the mortgagee or servicer sent by certified mail that the obligation secured by the mortgage has not been paid in full or that the mortgagee or servicer objects to the release of the mortgage. ___________________________ ___________________________ (Notarization) (Signature of title insurer or title agent) (iii) A release of mortgage or reconveyance of trust deed that is executed and notarized in accordance with paragraph (i) or (ii) of this subsection is entitled to recordation in accordance with W.S. 34-1-119 and 34-1-130. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a reconveyance of a trust deed or release of a mortgage that is recorded under this paragraph is valid regardless of any deficiency in the release or reconveyance procedure. If the title insurer's or title agent's signature on a release of mortgage or reconveyance of trust deed recorded under this paragraph is forged, the release of mortgage or reconveyance of trust deed is void. (f) A release of mortgage or reconveyance of trust deed under this section does not discharge an obligation that was secured by the trust deed or mortgage at the time the trust deed was reconveyed or the mortgage was released.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-147 Objections to reconveyance or release.

A title insurer or title agent may not record a reconveyance of trust deed or release of mortgage if, within thirty (30) days from the day on which the title insurer or title agent delivered or mailed the notice of intent to release or reconvey in accordance with W.S. 34-1-146(c) and (d), the beneficiary, mortgagee or servicer sends a notice by certified mail that the obligation secured by the trust deed or mortgage has not been paid in full or objects to the release of the mortgage or reconveyance of the trust deed under W.S. 34-1-146(e).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-148 Liability of title insurer or title agent.

(a) A title insurer or title agent purporting to act under the provisions of W.S. 34-1-146 who reconveys a trust deed or releases a mortgage is liable for the damages suffered as a result of the reconveyance if the obligation secured by the trust deed or mortgage has not been fully paid and: (i) The title insurer or title agent failed to comply with the provisions of W.S. 34-1-146 and 34-1-147; or (ii) The title insurer or title agent acted with gross negligence or in bad faith in reconveying the trust deed.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-149 Application of provisions.

The provisions of W.S. 34-1-145 through 34-1-148 apply to any obligation secured by a trust deed or mortgage that was paid prior to, on or after July 1, 1999.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-150 Other sections not affected.

W.S. 34-1-145 through 34-1-149 do not excuse a beneficiary, mortgagee, trustee, secured lender or servicer from complying with the provisions of W.S. 34-1-132.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-151 Property disclosure statement.

(a) Unless disclosure is waived as provided in subsection (b) of this section, every seller of vacant land shall provide to any prospective buyer a property disclosure statement that includes, but is not limited to, the following information: (i) Whether the property is being offered as a unified estate; (ii) If fee ownership of the underlying mineral estate has in any way been severed in the chain of title from the surface estate; (iii) The availability and location of public utilities; (iv) The name of the entity that maintains the roads and the level of maintenance available; (v) The availability of water and sewer infrastructure; (vi) The availability of fire protection services; and (vii) The existence and location of any easements across the land known to the seller or recorded in the records of the county clerk. (viii) Repealed By Laws 2012, Ch. 45, § 2. (b) A buyer may waive disclosure of the information required under subsections (a) and (e) of this section. (c) No transfer subject to this section shall be invalidated solely because of the failure to comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. However, any person who willfully or negligently violates or fails to perform the duties prescribed by subsection (a) of this section shall be liable in the amount of actual damages suffered by the buyer. (d) For purposes of this section, "vacant land" means land: (i) With no habitable dwelling; (ii) Not within the boundaries of a platted subdivision, or city or town; and (iii) Less than one hundred forty (140) acres. (e) Unless disclosure is waived as provided in subsection (b) of this section, every seller of land not within the corporate boundaries of any city or town shall disclose in writing to any prospective buyer whether fee ownership of the wind estate has in any way been severed in the chain of title from the surface estate, including the existence of a wind energy agreement as defined in W.S. 34-27-102(a)(i).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-152 Ownership of pore space underlying surfaces.

(a) The ownership of all pore space in all strata below the surface lands and waters of this state is declared to be vested in the several owners of the surface above the strata. (b) A conveyance of the surface ownership of real property shall be a conveyance of the pore space in all strata below the surface of such real property unless the ownership interest in such pore space previously has been severed from the surface ownership or is explicitly excluded in the conveyance. The ownership of pore space in strata may be conveyed in the manner provided by law for the transfer of mineral interests in real property. No agreement conveying mineral or other interests underlying the surface shall act to convey ownership of any pore space in the stratum unless the agreement explicitly conveys that ownership interest. (c) No provision of law, including a lawfully adopted rule or regulation, requiring notice to be given to a surface owner, to an owner of the mineral interest, or to both, shall be construed to require notice to persons holding ownership interest in any pore space in the underlying strata unless the law specifies notice to such persons is required. (d) As used in this section, the term "pore space" is defined to mean subsurface space which can be used as storage space for carbon dioxide or other substances. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to change or alter the common law as of July 1, 2008, as it relates to the rights belonging to, or the dominance of, the mineral estate. For the purpose of determining the priority of subsurface uses between a severed mineral estate and pore space as defined in subsection (d) of this section, the severed mineral estate is dominant regardless of whether ownership of the pore space is vested in the several owners of the surface or is owned separately from the surface. (f) All instruments which transfer the rights to pore space under this section shall describe the scope of any right to use the surface estate. The owner of any pore space right shall have no right to use the surface estate beyond that set out in a properly recorded instrument. (g) Transfers of pore space rights made after July 1, 2008 are null and void at the option of the owner of the surface estate if the transfer instrument does not contain a specific description of the location of the pore space being transferred. The description may include but is not limited to a subsurface geologic or seismic survey or a metes and bounds description of the surface lying over the transferred pore space. In the event a description of the surface is used, the transfer shall be deemed to include pore space at all depths underlying the described surface area unless specifically excluded. The validity of pore space rights under this subsection shall not affect the respective liabilities of any party and such liabilities shall operate in the same manner as if the pore space transfer were valid. (h) Nothing in this section shall alter, amend, diminish or invalidate rights to the use of subsurface pore space that were acquired by contract or lease prior to July 1, 2008.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-153 Ownership of material injected into geologic sequestration sites; liability for holding interests related to a sequestration site or giving consent to allow geologic sequestration activities.

(a) All carbon dioxide, and other substances injected incidental to the injection of carbon dioxide, injected into any geologic sequestration site for the purpose of geologic sequestration shall be presumed to be owned by the injector of such material subject to W.S. 35-11-318 and 35-11-319 and all rights, benefits, burdens and liabilities of such ownership shall belong to the injector. This presumption may be rebutted by a person claiming contrary ownership by a preponderance of the evidence in an action to establish ownership. (b) Except as provided in W.S. 35-11-318 and 35-11-319, no owner of pore space, other person holding any right to control pore space or other surface or subsurface interest holder, shall be liable for the effects of injecting carbon dioxide for geologic sequestration purposes, or for the effects of injecting other substances for the purpose of geologic sequestration which substances are injected incidental to the injection of carbon dioxide, solely by virtue of their interest or by their having given consent to the injection.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-154 Removal of restrictive covenants in violation of law.

(a) Any person who holds an ownership interest of record in real property in this state, or any attorney, title insurance company or title insurance agent authorized to do business in this state and acting on behalf of a person with an ownership interest in real property in this state, may record a new instrument to remove any restrictive covenant contained in any conveyance encumbering or otherwise affecting the transfer or sale of, or any interest in, real property that: (i) Is held to be void and unenforceable by a final determination of the supreme court of Wyoming or the supreme court of the United States of America; or (ii) Is in violation of the acts prohibited by W.S. 40-26-103 through 40-26-109. (b) Except as provided in W.S. 34-1-156, any person who, in good faith, delivers or records any instrument pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be immune from civil liability. The immunity provided in this subsection shall not be available to any person who: (i) Represents or attempts to represent that the restrictive covenants pertaining to paragraphs (a)(i) or (ii) of this section, which are void and unenforceable or prohibited by law, are valid and enforceable; or (ii) Honors or exercises or attempts to honor or exercise restrictive covenants pertaining to paragraphs (a)(i) or (ii) of this section, which are void and unenforceable or prohibited by law.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-155 Process for removing restrictive covenants in violation of law.

(a) In accordance with W.S. 34-1-154, a new instrument removing a restrictive covenant that is in violation of law may be recorded by filing the new instrument with the county clerk for the county in which the real property is located. (b) A new instrument filed and recorded under this section shall contain all of the following: (i) The title of the filed and recorded prior instrument to which the new instrument pertains; (ii) The name and mailing address of the person filing and recording the new instrument; (iii) The name and mailing address of any owner of record of the real property on whose behalf the new instrument is being filed; (iv) The legal description of the real property subject to the provisions in violation of law as specified in W.S. 34-1-154(a); (v) A clear reference to the provisions in the prior instrument that are in violation of law as specified in W.S. 34-1-154(a) and have been stricken from the new instrument. (c) Upon receiving a new instrument that complies with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section, the county clerk for the county in which the real property is located shall file and record the new instrument.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-156 Civil action for removing enforceable covenants.

(a) Any person whose real property is subject to, or is benefitted by, a restrictive covenant that was removed under W.S. 34-1-155 and who believes the restrictive covenant is valid, may petition the court having jurisdiction over the property. The petition shall state the grounds upon which relief is requested, and shall be supported by the affidavit of the petitioner or his attorney setting forth a concise statement of the facts upon which the petition is based. The clerk of court shall assign a case number to the petition and obtain from the petitioner a filing fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00). Upon the filing of the petition the following shall apply: (i) The court may enter its order, which may be granted ex parte, directing the person who filed and recorded the instrument to appear before the court at a time no earlier than six (6) nor later than fifteen (15) days following the date of service of the petition, and order the person to show cause, if any, why the relief provided in this subsection should not be granted. Service under this section shall be made in accordance with the rules of civil procedure; (ii) If, following a hearing on the matter the court determines that the restrictive covenant under subsection (a) of this section is valid and enforceable, the court shall issue an order so stating and awarding damages of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) as determined by the court or actual damages, whichever is greater, costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the petitioner to be paid by the person who filed and recorded the instrument; (iii) If the court determines that the restrictive covenant is void and unenforceable, the court shall issue an order so stating and shall award costs and reasonable attorneys' fees to the person who filed and recorded the instrument to be paid by the petitioner.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-157 Ownership of fossils and artifacts.

(a) The ownership of any fossil, artifact or non-fossilized animal remains discovered in the strata below the surface lands and waters of the state is vested in the owner of the surface estate, unless otherwise governed by W.S. 7-4-106. (b) When used in any instrument, the term "minerals" does not include fossils, artifacts or non-fossilized animal remains. (c) As used in this section: (i) "Fossil" means any fossilized remains, traces or imprints of organisms, preserved in or on the earth's crust, that are of paleontological interest and that provide information about the history of life on earth, but does not include coal, oil, gas or other hydrocarbons; (ii) "Artifact" means any material remains of past human life or human activities that are of archaeological interest.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-158 Prescriptive easement for water conveyance.

(a) A prescriptive easement for a water conveyance may be established if a water user has used and maintained a water conveyance under a claim of right for a period of ten (10) years during which the use has been: (i) Continuous and uninterrupted consistent with the historical and traditional use by the water user of the water conveyance system. A temporary change of use under W.S. 41-3-110 or a cessation of use, so long as the water rights are not abandoned under W.S. 41-3-401, shall not be deemed an interruption under this paragraph; (ii) Open and notorious; and (iii) Adverse. (b) If a water user establishes paragraphs (a)(i) and (ii) of this section, there is a rebuttable presumption that the use has been adverse under paragraph (a)(iii). (c) The holder of a prescriptive easement for a water conveyance established as provided in subsections (a) and (b) may: (i) File a notice describing the prescriptive easement consistent with the requirements of W.S. 34-1-141 in the office of the county clerk in which the prescriptive easement or a portion of the easement is located; (ii) Access, use, maintain and repair the water conveyance located within the easement in accordance with law. Maintenance, as used in this section, shall include the right of the holder of the prescriptive easement to temporarily remove infrastructure in or spanning the water conveyance system provided that: (A) Before the temporary removal for maintenance purposes of infrastructure that a landowner uses for ingress or egress, the holder of the prescriptive easement shall provide reasonable written notice given the extent and estimated time for maintenance but in no case shall notice be provided less than seventy-two (72) hours before any temporary removal; (B) Any temporary removal of a landowner's infrastructure for the purpose of water conveyance system maintenance shall be reasonable and minimize any burden on the landowner. The holder of the prescriptive easement for a water conveyance shall replace the landowner's infrastructure in a timely manner in consultation with the landowner. (d) As used in this section: (i) "Water conveyance" means a man made canal, ditch, drain ditch or pipeline that conveys water for agricultural purposes including any appurtenant headgates and diversion structures; (ii) "Water user" means a water user or the water user's predecessor who owns an adjudicated or valid unadjudicated water right being conveyed in a water conveyance. (e) The width of a prescriptive easement for a water conveyance shall be based on the size of the water conveyance and the volume of water in the water conveyance system and shall: (i) Be of a reasonable width sufficient to utilize equipment suitable for the operation and maintenance of the water conveyance; (ii) Be from the center line of the water conveyance system but may vary from each side of the center line to reasonably facilitate the size of equipment, placement of dredge material and the topography that the water conveyance system traverses. (f) The state engineer's office shall post to its website an informational document regarding legal aspects related to water conveyance easements. This document shall not constitute legal advice. All real estate transactions involving property through which a water conveyance passes through shall include notice of this document.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-159 Prescriptive easements for electricity delivery and distribution.

(a) As used in this section: (i) "Delivery" means the distribution or transmission of electricity; (ii) "Electric utility" means as defined by W.S. 37-3-401(a)(ii); (iii) "Electricity user" means a person, or the person's predecessor, that receives or received electricity from a public utility, that is or was a member or customer of a public utility or whose land is crossed by an electric utility's system; (iv) "Public utility" means as defined by W.S. 37-1-101(a)(vi); (v) "System" means the physical structures, including overhead power lines and appurtenant structures, that convey electricity from a public utility to an electricity user. (b) An electric utility shall be granted a nonexclusive easement under this section for a system, and the ability to reattach any existing pole attachments, if: (i) The electric utility has installed a delivery system; (ii) The delivery system, or a portion of the system, is visibly installed so as to provide any successors-in-interest to the electricity user constructive notice or actual notice that the delivery system exists on the property; (iii) The delivery system was installed on the property on or before January 1, 2006; (iv) The delivery system's use is continuous and uninterrupted. A change of use, cessation of use or de-energization for a period not exceeding one (1) year shall not be deemed an interruption for purposes of this paragraph; and (v) There is no valid existing written agreement between the electric utility and the landowner establishing any other easement regarding the delivery system or a portion of the delivery system. (c) Upon the establishment of an easement under this section: (i) The electric utility shall have the right to reconstruct, re-phase, maintain and repair the existing system and the right to trim and remove trees and other vegetation that is hazardous or that is reasonably likely to become hazardous to the delivery system; (ii) Access to the easement and ingress and egress shall be limited to the easement to the extent necessary to permit the reasonable enjoyment of the rights and privileges granted by this section unless access or ingress and egress to parts of the easement would be hazardous to or materially encumbered for the electric utility. If access or ingress or egress to parts of the easement would be hazardous or materially encumbered, the easement granted under this section may include other reasonable access that minimizes impacts on the landowner to the extent reasonably possible. (d) The width of an easement granted under this section shall be consistent with the historical and traditional use by the electric utility of the delivery system but shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in any direction from the location of the existing line or other physical components of the system. (e) An easement created under this section shall be deemed abandoned if the electric utility fails to use the delivery system for greater than three (3) consecutive years without an agreement with the landowner or the landowner's predecessor allowing the lack of use. (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to: (i) Interfere with, impair, modify or alter any rights or duties established by any existing easement or other agreement, including an easement for electricity delivery established by written instrument or other law; (ii) Expand the electric utility's use of the easement beyond adjustments consistent with historic uses or normal development of the dominant and servient estate in a way that would materially increase the burden of the servient estate, except when needed to serve a reasonable expansion of use for neighboring or local land uses. Such exception shall not include industrial and manufacturing related increases in wattage; (iii) Expand or modify the prescriptive easement laws of this state. (g) Before an electric utility is granted a nonexclusive easement under this section, the electric utility shall publish a notice prior to the easement's enactment date in a local newspaper or customer newsletter.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-201 Short title; definitions.

(a) This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Uniform Conservation Easement Act". (b) As used in this article, unless the context requires otherwise: (i) "Conservation easement" means a nonpossessory interest of a holder in real property imposing limitations or affirmative obligations the purposes of which include retaining or protecting natural, scenic, or open space values of real property, assuring its availability for agricultural, forest, recreational or open space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or enhancing air or water quality, or preserving the historical, architectural, archeological or cultural aspects of real property; (ii) "Holder" means: (A) A governmental body empowered to hold an interest in real property under the laws of this state or the United States but does not include the Wyoming board of land commissioners after the effective date of 2008 House Enrolled Act 15; or (B) A charitable corporation, charitable association or charitable trust, a primary purpose or power of which includes retaining or protecting the natural, scenic or open space values of real property, assuring the availability of real property for agricultural, forest, recreational or open space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or enhancing air or water quality, or preserving the historical, architectural, archeological or cultural aspects of real property. (iii) "Third-party right of enforcement" means a right provided in a conservation easement to enforce any of its terms granted to a governmental body, charitable corporation, charitable association or charitable trust, which, although eligible to be a holder, is not a holder; (iv) "This act" means W.S. 34-1-201 through 34-1-207.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-202 Creation; conveyance; acceptance and duration.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, a conservation easement may be created, conveyed, recorded, assigned, released, modified, terminated or otherwise altered or affected in the same manner as other easements. The provisions of W.S. 34-1-141 shall apply to this article. (b) No right or duty in favor of or against a holder and no right in favor of a person having a third-party right of enforcement arises under a conservation easement before its acceptance by the holder and a recordation of the acceptance. (c) Except as provided by W.S. 34-1-203(b), a conservation easement is unlimited in duration unless the instrument creating the easement provides otherwise. (d) An interest in real property and any interest in minerals including any leasehold interests are not impaired in any way by a conservation easement unless the owners of those interests consent to the conservation easement. (e) This act shall not alter the law of Wyoming regarding the primacy of the mineral estate and any easement created hereunder shall not limit the right of a mineral owner or his lessee to reasonable use of the surface for the purpose of mineral exploration and production unless the owners and lessees of the entire mineral estate and geologic sequestration right are a party to the conservation easement or consent to the conservation easement.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-203 Judicial action; modification; termination.

(a) An action affecting a conservation easement may be brought by: (i) An owner of an interest in the real property burdened by the conservation easement; (ii) A holder of the conservation easement; (iii) A person having third-party rights of enforcement, as named in the instrument creating the conservation easement. (b) This article shall not affect the power of a court to modify or terminate a conservation easement in accordance with the principles of law and equity.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-204 Validity.

(a) A conservation easement is valid even though: (i) It is not appurtenant to an interest in real property; (ii) It can be or has been assigned to another holder; (iii) It is not of a character that has been recognized traditionally at common law; (iv) It imposes a negative burden; (v) It imposes affirmative obligations upon the owner of an interest in the burdened property or upon the holder; (vi) The benefit does not touch or concern the real property; or (vii) There is no privity of estate or of contract.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-205 Applicability.

(a) This article shall apply to any interest created after its effective date which complies with the requirements of this article, whether designated as a conservation easement or as a covenant, equitable servitude, restriction, easement or otherwise. (b) This article shall apply to any interest created before its effective date if it would have been enforceable had it been created after the effective date of this article unless retroactive application contravenes the constitution or laws of this state or the United States. (c) This article does not invalidate any interest whether designated as a conservation or preservation easement, a covenant, equitable servitude, restriction, easement or other designation that is enforceable under any other law of this state.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-206 Uniformity of application and construction.

This article shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the laws with respect to the subject of the article among the states enacting it.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-207 Eminent domain; taxation.

(a) Conservation easements shall be subject to the state's power of eminent domain in the same manner as any other real property interest. (b) The real property tax imposed upon real property subject to a conservation easement shall not be less than the amount of the ad valorem tax for the property had it been levied and assessed based upon the taxable value of agricultural land of similar productive use and value under W.S. 39-13-101(a)(iii) and 39-13-103(b)(x).

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-301 Definitions.

(a) As used in this article: (i) "Historic preservation right" means a nonpossessory property right stated in the form of a restriction, easement, covenant or condition or, with or without limitation, in any other form in any deed, will, plat or in any other instrument executed by or on behalf of the owner, or in any condemnation order of taking, appropriate to preserving the significant physical character and visual characteristics of structures having architectural, historical or cultural significance, together with any associated real property, whether or not improved, as determined eligible to the national register of historic places by the Wyoming state historic preservation office; (ii) "Owner" means any person possessing a fee simple title to real property and any person possessing any other interest in the property including a contract purchaser, a lessee and a tenant.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-302 Conveyance; acceptance by grantee.

(a) An owner may convey a historic preservation right in real property to the state, any city, town, county, joint powers board or other political subdivision of the state or to a nonprofit corporation or trust whose primary purpose includes the preservation of buildings, structures or sites of historical, architectural or cultural significance. (b) The conveyance of a historic preservation right pursuant to this section shall not take effect until the conveyance is accepted by the grantee. Acceptance of the right may be conditioned upon any requirements imposed by the grantee including compensation by the grantor for the management of the right. (c) Any conveyance of a historic preservation right shall bind only the interest of the grantor. Any conveyance of a historic preservation right by a person with limited interest in the property shall only be valid to the extent it does not violate the provisions of the instrument under which such grantor holds his limited interest.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-303 Historic preservation rights specified; release, transfer or assignment restricted.

(a) An instrument conveying or reserving a historic preservation right may require, prohibit, condition, limit or control any of the following with respect to the grantor or grantee: (i) Access or public visitation; (ii) Affirmative acts of alteration, restoration, rehabilitation, repair, maintenance, investigation, documentation, payment of taxes or compliance with law or local ordinance or resolution; (iii) Conditions of operation or use; (iv) Acts detrimental to preservation; (v) Any other acts or uses relating to the preservation of structures or improvements or appurtenances. (b) A historic preservation right: (i) Includes any preservation restriction imposed by agency rule or regulation or by local ordinance or resolution and is not unenforceable because of lack of privity of estate or contract, lack of benefit to specific property or because of the benefit assigned; (ii) Shall be enforced in accordance with its terms and transferred, recorded and indexed in the same manner as fee simple interests in real property subject only to limitations provided in this article; (iii) May be transferred or assigned only to the state, any city, town, county, joint powers board or other political subdivision of the state or to a nonprofit corporation or trust; (iv) Shall not affect a restriction, easement, covenant, third party right of enforcement or condition otherwise valid under law nor diminish the acquisition of real property and the historic preservation right by purchase, gift, grant, eminent domain or otherwise in accordance with law or the lawful use of the property for public purposes.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-304 Enforcement by civil action.

The state, any city, town, county, joint powers board or other political subdivision of the state or any nonprofit corporation or trust holding a historic preservation right may enforce the right by initiating a civil action seeking injunctive relief, specific performance or damages.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-402 Definitions.

(a) As used in this act unless the context otherwise requires: (i) "Document" means information that is: (A) Inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and retrievable in perceivable form; and (B) Eligible to be recorded in the real property records maintained by the county clerk. (ii) "Electronic" means as defined in W.S. 40-21-102(a)(v); (iii) "Electronic document" means a document received by the county clerk in an electronic form; (iv) "Electronic signature" means an electronic sound, symbol or process attached to or logically associated with a document and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the document; (v) "Person" means as defined in W.S. 40-21-102(a)(xii); (vi) "State" means as defined in W.S. 40-21-102(a)(xv); (vii) "This act" means W.S. 34-1-401 through 34-1-407.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-403 Validity of electronic documents.

(a) If a law requires, as a condition for recording, that a document be an original, be on paper or another tangible medium or be in writing, the requirement is satisfied by an electronic document satisfying this act. (b) If a law requires, as a condition for recording, that a document be signed or originally signed, the requirement is satisfied by an electronic signature. (c) A requirement that a document or a signature associated with a document be notarized, acknowledged, verified, witnessed or made under oath is satisfied if the electronic signature of the person authorized to perform that act, and all other information required to be included, is attached to or logically associated with the document or signature. A physical or electronic image of a stamp, impression or seal need not accompany an electronic signature.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-404 Recording of documents.

(a) A county clerk who implements any of the functions in this section shall do so in compliance with rules promulgated by the department of enterprise technology services pursuant to W.S. 34-1-405. (b) A county clerk may: (i) Receive, index, store, archive and transmit electronic documents; (ii) Provide for access to, and for search and retrieval of, documents and information by electronic means; (iii) Convert paper documents accepted for recording into electronic form; (iv) Convert into electronic form information recorded before the county clerk began to record electronic documents; (v) Accept electronically any fee that the county clerk is authorized to collect; (vi) Agree with other officials of a state or a political subdivision thereof or of the United States on procedures or processes to facilitate the electronic satisfaction of prior approvals and conditions precedent to recording and the electronic payment of fees. (c) A county clerk who accepts electronic documents for recording shall continue to accept paper documents as authorized by state law and shall place entries for both types of documents in the same index. (d) As used in this section, “paper document” means a document received by the county clerk in a form that is not electronic.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-405 Administration and standards.

(a) The department of enterprise technology services shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act to implement this act. (b) The department of enterprise technology services in adopting rules pursuant to this section shall consider: (i) Standards and practices of recording offices in other jurisdictions that enact substantially this act; (ii) Technology used by recording offices in other jurisdictions that enact substantially this act; (iii) The most recent standards promulgated by national standard setting bodies, including the Property Records Industry Association; (iv) The views of interested persons and governmental officials and entities; (v) The needs of counties of varying size, population and resources; and (vi) Standards requiring adequate information security protection to ensure that electronic documents are accurate, authentic, adequately preserved and resistant to tampering.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-406 Uniformity of application and construction.

In applying and construing this act, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-407 Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

This act modifies, limits and supersedes the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, section 7001 et seq. of title 15 of the United States Code but does not modify, limit or supersede section 7001(c) of title 15 of the United States Code or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 7003(b) of title 15 of the United States Code.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-501 Home based child care limitations.

For residential property subject to a covenant that does not clearly and expressly prohibit child care, the provision of child care in a family day care home is a residential use of property and is a residential purpose. For purposes of this section "family day care home" means a private residence or other structure in which day care is provided to not more than ten (10) children on a regular basis.
Source: Public.Resource.Org WY StatutesURL: https://unicourt.github.io/cic-code-wy/transforms/wy/ocwy/r78/gov.wy.code.title.34.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026

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