Title 02 · WY
2-7-615, 2-7-806, 2-7-807 and 2-7-811 shall be mailed not less
Citation: Wyo. Stat. § 2-7-615
Section: 2-7-615
2-7-615, 2-7-806, 2-7-807 and 2-7-811 shall be mailed not less than ten (10) days prior to the day of hearing, the date for filing objections, or sale, as the case may be, to the surviving spouse, if any, and to all of the heirs of a decedent dying intestate or to all of the beneficiaries named in the will of a decedent dying testate.
(c) Notice of all intended sales of real property not requiring an order of the court shall be mailed or delivered not less than ten (10) days prior to the sale to the surviving spouse, if any, and to the heirs of a decedent dying intestate or to all of the beneficiaries named in the will of a decedent dying testate.
(d) Notice to the agent or attorney of any party entitled to notice under this section is notice to that party.
2-7-206. Proof by affidavit; filing thereof.
(a) The proof of publication of the notices required in W.S. 2-7-201, 2-7-202 and 2-7-203 shall be by affidavit of the publisher.
(b) The proof of mailing or delivery of all notices required in W.S. 2-7-201, 2-7-202, 2-7-203, 2-7-204 and 2-7-205 shall be by affidavit of the personal representative or his attorney.
(c) The affidavits for proof of publication and mailing notices shall be filed with the clerk of court from which the letters were issued.
ARTICLE 3 - TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATION
2-7-301. Appointment of special administrator; when to be made.
When there is delay in granting letters from any cause, or when the letters are granted irregularly, or no sufficient bond is filed as required, or when no application is made for letters, or when a personal representative dies or is suspended or removed, the district court shall appoint a special administrator to collect and take charge of the estate of the decedent in whatever county or counties the estate assets may be found, and to exercise all powers necessary for the preservation of the estate.
2-7-302. Appointment of special administrator; entry of order and issuance of letters.
The appointment may be made at any time without notice. Appointment shall be made by entry upon the minutes of the court specifying the powers to be exercised by the special administrator. Upon entry of the order and filing of the required bond, the clerk shall issue letters to the person in conformity with the order. 2-7-303. Appointment of special administrator; preferences; appeal precluded.
In making the appointment of a special administrator, the court or officer shall give preference to the person entitled to letters but no appeal to the supreme court shall be allowed from the appointment.
2-7-304. Special administrator; surety and oath.
Before any letters are issued to any special administrator, he shall provide such surety as the court or officer directs. He shall take the usual oath and have the oath endorsed on his letters.
2-7-305. Special administrator; powers and duties; no liability to creditors.
The special administrator shall collect and preserve for the personal representative all goods, chattels, debts and effects of the decedent, and all incomes, rents, issues and profits, claims and demands of the estate. He shall take the charge and management of, enter upon, and preserve from damage, waste and injury, the real estate. For any and all necessary purposes he may commence and maintain or defend suits and other legal proceedings as an administrator. He may sell the perishable property as the court or officer may order to be sold, and exercise such other powers as are conferred upon him by his appointment, but in no case is he liable to any creditor on a claim against the decedent.
2-7-306. Special administrator; cessation of powers.
When letters on the estate of the decedent have been granted, the powers of the special administrator cease, and he shall forthwith deliver to the personal representative all the property and effects of the decedent in his hands, and the personal representative may prosecute to final judgment any suit commenced by the special administrator.
2-7-307. Special administrator; rendition of account.
The special administrator shall render an account, on oath, of his proceedings, in like manner as other personal representatives are required to do.
ARTICLE 4 - MARSHALLING ASSETS 2-7-401. Personal representative entitled to possession of all property; duty to repair; actions by heirs for possession or to quiet title.
The personal representative is entitled to possession of all real and personal estate of the decedent, and to receive the rents and profits of the real estate until the estate is settled or until delivery by order of the court to the heirs or beneficiaries. He shall keep in good repair all houses, buildings and fixtures under his control. The heirs or beneficiaries may themselves or jointly with the personal representative maintain an action for possession of the real estate or for quieting title to the same, against anyone except the personal representative, but this section shall not be so construed as requiring them to do so.
2-7-402. Title to decedent's property; subject to administration and payment of debts; priorities.
Except as otherwise provided in this code, when a person dies the title to his property, real and personal, passes to the person to whom it is devised by his last will, or in the absence of such disposition to the persons who succeed to his estate as provided in this code. However all of his property is subject to the possession of the personal representative and to the control of the court for the purposes of administration, sale or other disposition under the provisions of law, and his property, except homestead and other exempt property, is chargeable with the payment of debts and charges against his estate. There is no priority between real and personal property, except as provided in this code or by the will of the decedent.
2-7-403. Return of inventory of estate by representative; failure to comply; disposition of fines.
(a) Every personal representative shall make and return to the court within one hundred twenty (120) days after his appointment a true inventory upon his oath, of all the estate of the decedent, including the homestead, if any, which has come to his possession or knowledge. If the personal representative does not file such inventory within one hundred twenty (120) days, he shall show the court good cause for his delay and the court shall determine whether or not an extension of time shall be allowed. For failure to comply in good faith with the time limitations set forth, the personal representative shall be adjudged in contempt of court, and a fine imposed and other enforcement entered as the court in its discretion determines. Any fine assessed shall be paid into the corpus of the estate.
(b) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in all cases to which W.S. 2-5-101 applies, the inventory shall be filed not more than seventy-five (75) days after the will has been admitted to probate.
2-7-404. Report of appraisal; verification of values of estate assets.
(a) Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the timely filing by the personal representative of the inventory of assets of the estate of the decedent, pursuant to W.S. 2-7-403, the personal representative shall file under oath a report of appraisal of values of estate assets listed in the inventory. The report shall be in compliance with such of the following requirements as may be applicable:
(i) As to all assets listed in the inventory which have a readily determinable market value, the value of each asset as of date of death shall be stated in writing by one (1) disinterested person;
(ii) As to all assets listed in the inventory that do not have a readily determinable market value, the personal representative shall employ disinterested persons to determine the fair market value of each such asset, as of the date of death. A separate written report as to the value of each asset, showing the appraiser's basis for arriving at the value, shall be attached to the report.
(b) Different persons may be employed to appraise or determine the value of different assets included in the estate.
(c) The report, with any attachments required by this section, shall be filed with the clerk of court.
(d) The amount of the fee to be paid to any appraiser, or any person making the required statement, shall be within the discretion of the personal representative, subject only to the provisions of W.S. 2-7-802(a) as to reasonableness and approval at the hearing of the final report and accounting of the personal representative.
2-7-405. Repealed by Laws 1985, ch. 15, § 2. 2-7-406. Repealed by Laws 1985, ch. 15, § 2.
2-7-407. Effect of naming debtor as personal representative.
The naming of a debtor as personal representative does not discharge him from any just claim which the testator has against him. The claim shall be included in the inventory and the personal representative is liable for the same when the debt or demand becomes due.
2-7-408. Discharge or bequest of debt or demand not valid against creditors.
The discharge or bequest in a will of any debt or demand of the testator against the personal representative named or any other person is not valid against the creditors of the decedent, but is a specific bequest of the debt or demand. It shall be included in the inventory and if necessary applied in the payment of the debts. If not necessary for that purpose, it shall be paid in the same manner and proportion as other specific legacies.
2-7-409. Failure to file inventory or appraisement.
If a personal representative neglects or refuses to file either the inventory or appraisement within the time prescribed or within such further time which the court shall for reasonable cause allow, the court or commissioner may, upon notice, in addition to all other remedies and penalties provided in this code, revoke the letters and the personal representative is liable on his bond for any injury to the estate or rights of any person interested therein arising from such failure.
2-7-410. Appraisement of after-discovered property; filing; enforcement.
Whenever property not mentioned in any inventory comes to the possession or knowledge of the personal representative, he shall cause the same to be appraised in the manner prescribed and an appraisement thereof filed within one (1) month after the discovery. The making of the appraisement may be enforced, after notice, by any and all remedies provided by this code.
2-7-411. Liability for embezzlement or alienation of monies before letters granted. If any person, before the granting of letters embezzles or alienates any of the monies, goods, chattels or effects of a decedent he is chargeable therewith and liable to an action by the personal representative of the estate for double the value of the property embezzled or alienated, for the benefit of the estate.
2-7-412. Citation to persons suspected of having concealed monies; generally.
If any personal representative or other person interested in the estate of a decedent complains to the court in writing, verified by oath, that any person is suspected of having concealed, embezzled, smuggled, conveyed away or disposed of any monies, goods or chattels of the decedent or in which he had an interest, or has in his possession or knowledge any deeds, conveyances, bonds, contracts or other writings which contain evidence of or tend to disclose the right, title, interest or claim of the decedent to any real or personal estate or any claim or demand, or any lost will, the court shall cite the person to appear before the court and shall examine him on oath upon the matter of the complaint. If the person is not in the county where the decedent died or where letters have been granted he may be cited and examined either before the court of the county where he is found or before the court of the county where the decedent died or where letters have been granted. But if in the latter case he appears and is found innocent his necessary expenses shall be allowed him out of the estate.
2-7-413. Citation to persons suspected of having concealed monies; failure to appear or answer; disclosure order; proceedings generally.
(a) If the person cited refuses to appear and submit to an examination or to answer interrogatories put to him touching the matters of complaint, the court may commit him to the county jail until he submits to the order of the court or is discharged according to law. If upon examination it appears that he has concealed, embezzled, smuggled, conveyed away or disposed of any monies, goods or chattels of the decedent or has in his possession or knowledge any deeds, conveyances, bonds, contracts or other writings containing evidence of or tending to disclose the right, title, interest or claim of the decedent to any real or personal estate, claim or demand, or any lost will of the decedent, an order may be made requiring the person to disclose his knowledge thereof to the personal representative and he may be committed to the county jail until the order is complied with or he is discharged according to law.
(b) All interrogatories and answers shall be in writing, signed by the party examined and filed in the court. The order for disclosure made upon the examination is prima facie evidence of the right of the personal representative to the property in any action brought for the recovery thereof. Any judgment recovered shall be for double the value of the property as assessed by the court, or for return of the property and damages in addition thereto equal to the value of the property. In addition to the examination of the party, witnesses may be produced and examined on either side.
2-7-414. Citation of persons entrusted with monies for accounting.
Upon the complaint on oath of any personal representative, the court shall cite any person who has been entrusted with any part of the estate of the decedent to appear before the court and require him to render a full account of any monies, goods, chattels, bonds, accounts or other property or papers belonging to the estate which have come to his possession in trust for the personal representative, and of his proceedings thereon. If the person cited refuses to appear and render the account he shall be proceeded against as provided in W.S. 2-7-413.
ARTICLE 5 - PROPERTY ALLOWANCE FOR SURVIVING SPOUSE AND MINOR CHILDREN
2-7-501. Right to homestead and support; "homestead" defined.
(a) When a person dies leaving a spouse or minor children, the spouse or minor children are entitled to remain in possession of the homestead, all wearing apparel of the family, and all household furniture of the decedent until letters are granted and the inventory is returned. The widow or minor children are also entitled to a reasonable provision for their support, to be allowed by the court.
(b) When any person dies seized of a homestead, leaving a spouse or minor children, the spouse or minor children are entitled to the homestead. If there is neither spouse nor minor children the homestead is liable for the debts of the decedent. (c) "Homestead" includes that property referred to in W.S.