Wyoming Statutes

Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-102 (2026)

Rules of construction and applicability.

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a) This code shall be liberally construed and applied, to
promote the following purposes and policies to:

          (i) Simplify and clarify the law concerning the
affairs of decedents, missing persons, protected persons, minors
and incapacitated persons;

          (ii) Discover and make effective the intent of a
decedent in distribution of his property;

          (iii) Promote a speedy and efficient system for
liquidating the estate of the decedent and making distribution
to his successors;

          (iv)    Facilitate use and enforcement of certain
trusts.

     (b) Unless displaced by the particular provisions of this
code, the principles of law and equity supplement the code
provisions.

     (c) This code is a general act intended as a unified
coverage of its subject matter and no part of it shall be deemed
impliedly repealed by subsequent legislation if it can
reasonably be avoided.

     (d) The procedure herein prescribed shall govern all
proceedings in probate brought after the effective date of this
code. It shall also govern further procedure in proceedings in
probate then pending unless the court determines its application
in particular proceedings or parts thereof is not feasible or
will work an injustice, in which event the former procedure
shall apply.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases, 1982–2019 · leading case: In the Matter of the Est. of P. Richard Meyer, Deceased: Miracles Meyer, Pers. Rep. for the Est. of P. Richard Meyer v. Kelly Catherine Fanning, 2016 WY 6 (Wyo. 2016).

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In the Matter of the Est. of P. Richard Meyer, Deceased: Miracles Meyer, Pers. Rep. for the Est. of P. Richard Meyer v. Kelly Catherine Fanning, 2016 WY 6 (Wyo. 2016). · cites it 10× “It enacted Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (LexisNexis 2015), which states: (a) [The Probate Code] shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: (i) Simplify and clarify the law concerning the affairs of decedents, missing persons,…”

Meyer v. Fanning, 367 P.3d 629 (Wyo. 2016). · cites it 9× “It enacted Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (Lexis-Nexis 2015), which states: (a) [The Probate Code] shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: (i) Simplify and clarify the law concerning the affairs of decedents, missing persons,…”

In Re Est. of Seader, 2003 WY 119 (Wyo. 2003). · cites it 16× “We note that Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (a)(ii) (LexisNexis 2003) also emphasizes the importance of testamentary intent: (a) This code shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: .”

Douglas v. Newell, 719 P.2d 971 (Wyo. 1986). · cites it 13× “The applicable provisions include § 2-1-102, W.S. 1977: "Rules of construction and applicability.”

In re Est. of Frank, 432 P.3d 885 (Wyo. 2019). · cites it 4× “]" Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (a)(ii)-(iii) (LexisNexis 2017); see also Lon V.”

In the Matter of the Est. of: Ronald Keith Scherer, Lilyanna B. Knudson, 2014 WY 129 (Wyo. 2014). · cites it 6× “Knudson counters by relying on another provision of the probate statutes, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (b), which provides that "Unless displaced by the particular provisions of this code, the principles of law and equity supplement the code provisions.”

Matter of Est. of Harrington, 648 P.2d 556 (Wyo. 1982). · cites it 4× “1977: "(a) This code shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: "(i) Simplify and clarify the law concerning the affairs of decedents, missing persons, protected persons, minors and incapacitated persons; "(ii) Discover and make…”

In Re Est. of Novakovich, 101 P.3d 931 (Wyo. 2004). · cites it 2× “nd applied to: promote the simplification and clarification of the law concerning the affairs of decedents and other protected persons; discover and effectuate the intent of a decedent in the distribution of his property; promote a speedy and efficient system for liquidating a…”

In Re Est. of Scott, 642 P.2d 1287 (Wyo. 1982). · cites it 4× “) The present Probate Code (effective April 1, 1980) provides in pertinent part: "§ 2-1-102 * * * * * * * * * "(d) The procedure herein prescribed shall govern all proceedings in probate brought after the effective date of this code.”

Matter of Est. of Zelikovitz, 923 P.2d 740 (Wyo. 1996). · cites it 2× “It provided, in Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-102 (1980), with respect to the issue before us: (a) This code shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: ⅜ * * * * * (ii) Discover and make effective the intent of a decedent in distribution of…”

Baker v. Enis, 114 P.3d 1246 (Wyo. 2005). · cites it 2× “We articulated our standards for the construction of wills in In re Estate ofSeader where we stated: We note that Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (a)(ii) (LexisNexis 2003) also emphasizes the importance of testamentary intent: (a) This code shall be liberally construed and applied, to…”

— Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-102(a) — 1 case

In Re Est. of Seader, 2003 WY 119 (Wyo. 2003). “We note that Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (a)(ii) (LexisNexis 2003) also emphasizes the importance of testamentary intent: (a) This code shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: .”

— Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-102(a)(ii) — 4 cases

Meyer v. Fanning, 367 P.3d 629 (Wyo. 2016). “It enacted Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (Lexis-Nexis 2015), which states: (a) [The Probate Code] shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: (i) Simplify and clarify the law concerning the affairs of decedents, missing persons,…”

In the Matter of the Est. of P. Richard Meyer, Deceased: Miracles Meyer, Pers. Rep. for the Est. of P. Richard Meyer v. Kelly Catherine Fanning, 2016 WY 6 (Wyo. 2016). “It enacted Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-1-102 (LexisNexis 2015), which states: (a) [The Probate Code] shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: (i) Simplify and clarify the law concerning the affairs of decedents, missing persons,…”

Douglas v. Newell, 719 P.2d 971 (Wyo. 1986). “The applicable provisions include § 2-1-102, W.S. 1977: "Rules of construction and applicability.”

— Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-102(a)(iii) — 2 cases

Matter of Est. of Harrington, 648 P.2d 556 (Wyo. 1982). “1977: "(a) This code shall be liberally construed and applied, to promote the following purposes and policies to: "(i) Simplify and clarify the law concerning the affairs of decedents, missing persons, protected persons, minors and incapacitated persons; "(ii) Discover and make…”

In Re Est. of Scott, 642 P.2d 1287 (Wyo. 1982). “) The present Probate Code (effective April 1, 1980) provides in pertinent part: "§ 2-1-102 * * * * * * * * * "(d) The procedure herein prescribed shall govern all proceedings in probate brought after the effective date of this code.”

— Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-102(a)(iii)(b) — 1 case

— Wyo. Stat. § 2-1-102(d) — 1 case

Douglas v. Newell, 719 P.2d 971 (Wyo. 1986). “The applicable provisions include § 2-1-102, W.S. 1977: "Rules of construction and applicability.”

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