Foreign Wills Article 1 in General

Wyo. Stat. Ann. tit. 2, ch. 11

in effect

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-101 Short title and construction.

W.S. 2-11-101 through 2-11-105 may be cited as the "Uniform Foreign Probate Act", and shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of the states which enact it.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-102 Where allowed and recorded.

A will duly proved, allowed and admitted to probate outside of this state may be allowed and recorded in the proper court of any county in this state in which the testator shall have left any estate.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-103 When to be filed.

When a copy of the will and the probate thereof duly authenticated is presented by the executor or by any other person interested in the will with a petition for probate, the same shall be filed.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-104 Admission to probate; effect.

If upon presentation it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the will has been duly proved, allowed and admitted to probate outside of this state and that it was executed according to the law of the place in which the same was made, or in which the testator was at the time domiciled, or in conformity with the laws of this state, it shall be admitted to probate, which probate has the same force and effect as the original probate of a domestic will.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-105 Procedure when foreign law does not require probate; filing, recording and effect.

(a) When a duly authenticated copy of a will from any state or country where probate is not required by the laws of the state or country, with a duly authenticated certificate of the legal custodian of the original will that the same is a true copy and that the will has become operative by the laws of the state or country, and when a copy of a notarial will in possession of a notarial officer in a foreign state or country entitled to the custody thereof (the laws of which state or country require that the will remain in the custody of the notarial officer), duly authenticated by the notarial officer, is presented by the executor or other persons interested to the proper court in this state, the court shall take the proofs as may be appropriate. (b) If it appears to the court that the instrument should be allowed in this state as the last will and testament of the deceased, the copy shall be filed and recorded and the will has the same effect as if originally proved and allowed in the court. ARTICLE 2 ANCILLARY ADMINISTRATION

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-201 Probate of estates of nonresidents.

In case of a nonresident's estate having property in this state not exceeding in value the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00), which estate has been duly probated and settled in another state, the probate of the estate in this state may be dispensed with upon filing with the district judge in the proper county a petition under oath showing the facts in the case together with certified copies of the petition, order of appointment of executor or administrator, inventory and final decree of distribution of estate therein, and a full showing that debts of the estate have been paid and the district judge giving notice by publication for the period of three (3) weeks of the intention of the petitioner to have the probate proceedings admitted in this state as a probate of the estate. If on the day set for hearing the petition no objection is made, the judge shall make an order admitting the certified copies of the proceedings in the estate to record in his court and they shall be considered and treated from that time as original proceedings in his court and shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein shown. If at such hearing any creditor objects to the proceedings and shows that the decedent is indebted to him, his claim not having been presented in the original state, the matter shall be postponed and the creditor or other person shall be allowed to petition for letters of administration as in other cases. This section shall not be construed to prevent the courts of this state from appointing a temporary administrator in this state to collect and preserve the property of the estate of the deceased person which may be located in this state.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-202 Nonresident property in Wyoming; disposition.

(a) In case of a nonresident's estate having property in this state not exceeding in value the sum of four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000.00), which estate is being duly probated and settled in another state, the Wyoming district judge may enter an order for the sale of the property located in this state provided: (i) The petitioner files with the district judge in the proper county a petition under oath showing the facts in the case together with certified copies of the petition, order of appointment of executor or administrator, notice to creditors showing that the time for filing claims has expired, and inventory of the Wyoming estate; (ii) The petitioner files a certified copy of an order authorizing sale or other disposition of Wyoming property issued by the court having jurisdiction over the estate being probated in another state; (iii) The district judge gives notice by publication for three (3) weeks of the intention of the petitioner to have the property located in this state subject to sale or other disposition; and (iv) If on the day set for hearing the petition no objection is made, the judge shall make an order admitting the certified copies of the proceedings in the estate and the order authorizing sale or other disposition of Wyoming property to record in his court and they shall be considered and treated from that time as original proceedings in his court and shall be conclusive evidence of the facts therein shown. (b) If on the day set for hearing the petition any creditor objects to the sale or other disposition of the Wyoming property, his claim not having been presented in the original state, the matter shall be postponed and the petition denied. This section shall not be construed to prevent the courts of this state from appointing a temporary administrator in this state to collect and preserve the property of the estate of the deceased person which may be located in this state. ARTICLE 3 FOREIGN PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-301 Naming of executors and trustees; generally; appointment of agents for service; bond when executor sole legatee; applicability of provisions.

The testator may name in his will as executor or trustee any person or persons who are residents and citizens of the United States, or any bank or trust company organized under the laws of this state or of the United States and doing business in this state. When it appears to the court having jurisdiction that any individual named as an executor or trustee in any will is not a resident of this state or that any bank or trust company named as executor or trustee is not authorized to do business in this state, the court shall require the executor or trustee to designate a resident, bank or trust company of this state as agent or attorney upon whom any order, notice or process issued out of the courts of this state may be served. Service on the agent or attorney has the same effect as if served upon the nonresident executor or trustee in person. If any nonresident executor or trustee fails to appoint an agent or attorney, the court shall revoke his authority to act. When the person named as executor is also the sole legatee, instead of the bond required by other provisions herein of an executor, he may give a bond to the state in a sum and with sureties the court requires, conditioned only to pay within the time fixed by the court all the debts of the testator which are filed or exhibited within the time fixed by the notice to creditors. He shall return an inventory and appraisement as in other cases. Upon execution and approval of the bond, the filing of the inventory and appraisement and the publication of notice to creditors, the estate of the testator vests absolutely in the sole legatee and the debts of the testator so filed or exhibited become charges against the legatee. Upon breach of the condition of the bond, suit may be instituted on the bond by any creditor in the name of the state for the use of the creditor. The provisions hereof apply to all wills hereafter admitted to probate.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-302 Naming of executors and trustees; powers; generally.

A domiciliary foreign personal representative who has complied with W.S. 2-11-301 may exercise as to assets in this state all powers of a local personal representative and may maintain actions and proceedings in this state subject to any conditions imposed upon nonresident parties generally.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-11-303 Naming of executors and trustees; limitations.

The power of a domiciliary foreign personal representative under W.S. 2-11-302 shall be exercised only if there is no administration or application therefor pending in this state. A petition for local administration of the estate terminates the power of the foreign personal representative to act under W.S. 2-11-302 but the local court may allow the foreign personal representative to exercise limited powers to preserve the estate. No person who before receiving actual notice of a pending local administration has changed his position in reliance upon the powers of a foreign personal representative shall be prejudiced by reason of the petition for or grant of local administration. The local personal representative is subject to all duties and obligations which have accrued by virtue of the exercise of the powers by the foreign personal representative and may be substituted for him in any action or proceedings in this state.

Source: WY Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes/compress/title02.pdfFetched: 10/4/2026