Wyoming Statutes

Wyo. Stat. § 2-2-101 (2026)

Exclusive jurisdiction conferred on district

✓ current as of May 2026
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courts.

The district courts of the state have exclusive original
jurisdiction of all matters relating to the probate and contest
of wills and testaments, the granting of letters testamentary
and of administration, and the settlement and distribution of
decedents' estates. The court granting the letters has exclusive
jurisdiction of all matters touching the settlement and
distribution of the estates for which letters have been granted.
The jurisdiction over subject matter of the district court
sitting in probate, sometimes referred to in this Title 2 as the
"probate court", is coextensive with the jurisdiction over
subject matter of the district court in any civil action. A
decree of distribution entered by the district court in probate,
pursuant to W.S. 2-7-807 or 2-7-813, shall be a final
determination of title as to assets described therein, as to all
distributees served with notice, or who have waived notice, of
the hearing provided for in W.S. 2-7-807 or 2-7-811, as the case
may be. As to all other parties, an action may be brought and
maintained at any time prior to the entry of final decree of
distribution under W.S. 2-7-813, by or against the personal
representative in the district court, sitting in probate,
seeking any legal or equitable remedy as to any interest in
property, real or personal, in which the estate asserts or
claims any interest. In addition, all causes cognizable in the
district court in any civil action may be brought and
maintained, at any time prior to the entry of final decree of
distribution under W.S. 2-7-813, by or against a personal
representative in the district court sitting in probate which
granted the letters to the personal representative.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1981–2026 · leading case: Est. of Dahlke ex rel. Jubie v. Dahlke, 319 P.3d 116 (Wyo. 2014).
Est. of Dahlke ex rel. Jubie v. Dahlke, 319 P.3d 116 (Wyo. 2014). · cites it 5× “27-807 or 2-7-8183, shall be a final determination of title as to assets described therein, as to all distributees served with notice, or who have waived notice, of the hearing provided for in W.”
Spear v. Nicholson, 882 P.2d 1237 (Wyo. 1994). · cites it 10× “It based its order upon the view that subject matter jurisdiction was vested in the probate court in Hot Springs County and, in addition, venue in Natrona County was improper.”
In Re Est. of Novakovich, 101 P.3d 931 (Wyo. 2004). · cites it 3× “Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-2-101 (Lexis-Nexis 2008).”
Matter of Est. of Harrington, 648 P.2d 556 (Wyo. 1982). · cites it 4× “It is logical that the clear language of § 2-2-101, W.S. 1977, "* * * [t]he court granting the letters has exclusive jurisdiction of all matters touching the settlement and distribution of the estates for which letters have been granted, " (emphasis added) means what it says.”
Burgess v. First Wyoming Bank, 761 P.2d 658 (Wyo. 1988). · cites it 4× “” The statute goes on to provide, however, that: “As to all other parties, an action may be brought and maintained at any time prior to the entry of final decree of distribution under W.”
V-1 Oil Co. v. Ranck, 767 P.2d 612 (Wyo. 1989). · cites it 2× “The action filed in Utah is not one to determine ownership of physical assets of a Wyoming estate; further, the subject matter of the negligence action is not a “probate matter” that can be resolved by the Wyoming district court sitting in its exclusive capacity as the probate…”
Lon V. Smith Found. v. Devon Energy Corp., 403 P.3d 997 (Wyo. 2017). · cites it 2× “3d at 936 ; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-2-101 (LexisNexis 2017).”
Moncrief v. Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Co., 880 F. Supp. 1495 (D. Wyo. 1995). · cites it 2× “Section 2-2-101 (Wyoming probate courts issuing letters testamentary have exclusive jurisdiction over all matters touching on the settlement and distribution of estates).”
In Re Est. of George, 2003 WY 129 (Wyo. 2003). · cites it 2× “" Notably, on appeal (although the appellants appear to confuse the relationship between the two concepts) the appellants specifically discuss "venue" accompanied by citations to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 2-2-102 (probate court venue) and specifically discuss "jurisdiction" accompanied…”
In Re Est. of Scott, 642 P.2d 1287 (Wyo. 1982). · cites it 2× “The statute, § 2-2-101, W.S. 1977, a part of the Wyoming Probate Code recently readopted, but which has been on the books for years, including during the entire period of the administration of the estate we now consider, contains no prohibition that I can see: "The district…”
First Wyoming Bank, N.A. v. First Nat'l Bank & Trust Co., 628 P.2d 1355 (Wyo. 1981). · cites it 2× “[2] The grant of jurisdiction over probate matters is currently found in § 2-2-101, W.S. 1977 (1980 Replacement), and is virtually unchanged from W.”
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