Free Wyoming Last Will and Testament

 


 

What is a Last Will and Testament?

A Wyoming Last Will and Testament, if created and signed properly by someone who is an adult of sound mind, is a legal document that defines how your assets or real estate will be used and distributed following your death. The person who passes away is formally called the decedent. The testator may also appoint a guardian for their kids in the last will to ensure that there is somebody who can keep an eye on the children till they become adults or until they reach a certain age.

In a Wyoming Last Will, the testator normally also appoints a personal representative-or co-personal agents (two or more persons acting together in this capacity) to deal with the matters of the estate. A personal representative is a person who collects all of the information regarding the decedent’s debts and possessions, pays any outstanding debts using the assets, and makes certain that the decedent’s property is distributed as written in the will document, making this a duty with quite a bit of responsibility. The personal representative selected is often a friend or relative the will creator genuinely counts on to see through their final wishes.

When someone passes away without having a legitimate Wyoming Last Will (which for most states implies it must be properly witnessed, not only signed), someone will typically be assigned by the court to function as personal agent and cover the decedent’s outstanding debts, utilizing assets as necessary to do so. Consequently, the leftover assets will be spread amongst the decedent’s heirs according to the laws of the state the testator resided in.

In certain states, any time one spouse passes away leaving their significant other, that living spouse will acquire most of the decedent’s assets without a Last Will containing the opposite. Additionally, the decedent could have determined a certain individual to receive a life insurance policy, retirement account, or other asset, and that inheritor designation will ascertain who is given those assets in the absence of a Will document.

The critical thing to take note of is the fact that anybody who would like to define exactly how their possessions will be used after their passing should complete and appropriately sign a Last Will to make certain their wishes are known and respected. Without having a will, you most likely are leaving it up to chance, the laws of the state, or a lawcourt as to how your last matters will be settled.

Wyoming Last Will Papers

In the process of our life, we accumulate certain benefits of civilization — real estate, luxury goods, money. It is quite logical that we think about who will get all this after we die. To get your property into the hands of those you want to take care of or those who deserve it, you can draft a Last Will. In Wyoming State, more and more people are drafting such a document to give instructions on how to distribute their property after death.

A long time ago, the Last Will ceased to be a document only for wealthy people. Anyone who has saved up something in their life or wants to give any instructions can draw up this paper. If you are still thinking about the formation of this document, read below.

Who Should Draw up the Form?

If you want to influence how your property will be distributed after your death, then Last Will is necessary for you. In the absence of this document, your inheritance will be distributed according to the law between your relatives. This is not bad either, but it is far from necessary that such a distribution will coincide with your desires.

Asset allocation is far from the only function of this document in Wyoming. In addition, it is recommended to draw up a document to:

  • Make a charitable gift (you can choose an organization or a person)

  • Appoint a legal guardian for the children who will be able to dispose of the property left for them until they come to a «legal age»

  • Create a trust for children, spouse, or other people

  • Create a trust fund for pets that will be used to provide them with everything they need during their lives

Therefore, you can consider Last Will as an opportunity to take care of your loved ones even after your death.

The Rules Which Should Be Followed When Drawing up the Form

There are not many rules, but they must be followed:

  1. The document must be in writing

  2. The testator must be of sound mind and must be “of legal age”

  3. The form must have three signatures — one must belong to the testator (or a proxy who signed in their presence) and two witnesses

  4. Witnesses cannot act as beneficiaries

  5. The beneficiaries can be any person, at the request of the testator

After the death of the testator, the court needs to accept the terms of the document. For this, the document must be proven in probate court. After the completion of this process, the executor can begin their function — collection and protection of property, payment of debts and taxes, distribution of property.

At the same time, for small estates worth $ 200,000 or less, there are simplified versions of the process:

  1. Skipping the probate procedure and claiming property through an affidavit

  2. Submitting a petition to the court for a simplified small estate process

Exceptions to Ability to Distribute Property

In addition to the rules listed above, there are also exceptions to what can be allocated according to this form. They are:

  • Property in a joint lease with the right of inheritance

  • Elective share of surviving spouse (certain conditions must be applied)

  • Life insurance policy

  • Retirement account

Can I Make Changes After Drafting the Document?

This question worries many because your thoughts and feelings, as well as circumstances, can change over the course of your life. Yes, you can make changes, and you can do it at any time up to your death. To do this, you need to draw up an addendum to the document indicating all the desired changes.

You can also cancel the document. Draw up a new form, indicating to cancel the previous one or destroy the original document.

Last Will Forms for Neighboring States