Wyoming Pour-Over Will

Two. A Wyoming will must be witnessed by two competent witnesses unless it is entirely in the testator's handwriting and signed by the testator, and it can be made self-proved with a notarized affidavit.

Yes. Wyoming allows a self-proving affidavit, which lets a court accept the will without calling the witnesses to testify.

Yes. Wyoming recognizes handwritten (holographic) wills that meet its requirements.

They come from Wyo. Stat. Title 2. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.

A trust controls only the property that has been transferred into it. Anything left in your own name at death needs a separate path, and without a will it passes under your state's intestacy rules. A pour-over will sends that property to your trust and also lets you name an executor and a guardian for minor children.

Generally no. Property that passes under a pour-over will usually goes through probate before it reaches the trust, although many states offer simplified procedures for smaller estates. To keep probate to a minimum, transfer as many assets as possible into the trust during your lifetime.

Many people sign them together, and it is a common practice because the will refers to the trust by name and date. Some states require the trust to exist before or at the same time as the will. If your trust already exists, the will simply identifies it.

In most states, property poured over into a trust is distributed under the trust as it reads at your death, including later amendments. This document states that intent. Check your state's rules, and update your will if you replace the trust with a completely new one.

This document lets you choose a backup: the successor trustee named in your trust (or your executor, if no successor trustee can serve) can hold the property on the same terms as the trust, or it can pass to people you name, or to your heirs under state law. Without a backup clause, the gift to the trust could fail.

Many people name the same person as both executor and successor trustee, since the two roles work closely together. You can choose different people. Some states add requirements for executors who live out of state, so check the rules where you live.

Yes, but most people keep gifts in the trust so all of their instructions are in one place. This document lets you add a few specific gifts if you want, and choose how your personal belongings are handled.

Yes. It must be signed with the same formalities as any other will in your state, which in most states means two adult witnesses. Choose witnesses who do not inherit under the will or trust to avoid complications.