Wheatland Estate Planning Lawyer

Estate Planning Lawyer Wheatland, WY

If you don’t have a will or trust in place, Wyoming law will decide what happens to your assets when you die. The state’s intestacy rules may not match what you would have chosen. A surviving spouse doesn’t automatically inherit everything. Children from different relationships and multiple marriages create complications. These outcomes catch families off guard.

Davis & Johnson Law Office works with individuals and families throughout Platte County to create estate plans that reflect their wishes. Our attorneys bring over 50 years of combined experience to wills, trusts, probate, and related matters. Our Wheatland, WY estate planning lawyers offer consultations to discuss what you want to accomplish and how to achieve those goals.

Why Choose Davis & Johnson Law Office for Estate Planning in Wheatland, WY?

Decades of estate planning experience

Kelly S. Davis founded this firm in 1979. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma and his law degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law. Kelly belongs to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a professional organization serving seniors and people with special needs. Before practicing law, he investigated Medicare fraud in Wyoming. That work gave him firsthand exposure to the challenges elderly clients face and shaped his focus on estate planning, elder law, Medicaid planning, asset protection, and special needs trusts.

Jason Johnson joined the firm after graduating from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2014. He’s a member of the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association and handles estate planning alongside his personal injury practice. Jason brings clear communication to every client meeting. Clients regularly mention how he explains legal concepts without jargon. Together, Kelly and Jason serve as estate planning lawyers in Wheatland, WY.

Transparent flat-fee pricing

We charge flat fees for wills, trusts, and most estate planning documents. You’ll know exactly what the work costs before we start. Formal probate runs 2% plus $350 of the estate value. Summary probate bills hourly. Knowing the numbers upfront lets you plan your legal expenses the same way you plan your estate.

Personalized plans for every client

Generic documents downloaded from the internet don’t protect families. We sit down, learn about your assets, understand your family situation, and hear what matters to you. Maybe you need a straightforward will. Maybe your situation calls for a trust with specific provisions for a child with special needs. Securing your legacy takes thoughtful planning, not templates.

What our clients say

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“I am pleased to share our will writing experience working with estate lawyer Jason. From the beginning to the end of the process Jason was professional, and knowledgeable. He made it easy for us to understand. Jason took the time to listen to us and made recommendations that we hadn’t thought of. He used clear communication to where we could understand without the legal mumbo-jumbo other lawyers tend to use. He also recommended we did living wills and power of attorneys. The entire process was efficient, and all documents were prepared and executed without unnecessary delay. We highly recommend Jason to anyone seeking trustworthy and reliable guidance for their estate planning.” — Twyla Evans

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Estate Planning Services We Provide in Wheatland

Estate planning goes beyond writing a will. A complete plan covers asset distribution, decision-making authority if you become incapacitated, and strategies to minimize stress for your family after you’re gone. We handle all of these matters for clients throughout Platte County.

• Wills: Your will controls how property passes at death and names guardians for minor children. Without one, Wyoming intestacy law takes over. Surviving spouses often assume they’ll inherit everything. That’s not always true. Blended families create even more complications. A properly drafted will puts you in control instead of the state.

• Trusts: Wills have limits. Trusts don’t. A revocable living trust lets your estate skip probate entirely. An irrevocable trust shields assets from creditors and can reduce estate taxes. Special needs trusts allow you to provide for a disabled family member without jeopardizing their government benefits. 
• Powers of attorney: A financial power of attorney names someone to handle money matters on your behalf. A healthcare power of attorney does the same for medical decisions. Skip these documents and your family may end up in court seeking guardianship.

• Living wills and advance directives: End-of-life decisions are difficult enough without guessing what someone would have wanted. A living will spells out your preferences. Life support? Feeding tubes? Pain management? Your family won’t have to wonder.

• Probate: Death triggers a court process called probate. The will gets validated. Debts get paid. Assets get distributed. We guide executors through each step and help families navigate disputes when they arise. Probate questions usually involve how long it takes, what it costs, and what to do when beneficiaries disagree. We address every concern so you can move forward confidently.

Wyoming Legal Requirements for Estate Planning

Wyoming has specific rules about what makes estate planning documents valid. Cut corners and your carefully made plans might not hold up in court.

Will requirements

A valid Wyoming will must be written, signed by the person making it, and witnessed by two competent adults. Those witnesses need to sign while the person making the will is present. Holographic wills exist too. These are handwritten entirely by the person making them. Wyoming accepts them without witnesses as long as they’re signed and dated. But holographic wills invite challenges. Delaying meeting with a will lawyer creates unnecessary risk.

Probate thresholds

Not every estate goes through full probate. Wyoming offers a streamlined process for estates worth less than $200,000 under Wyoming Statute 2-1-205. This summary administration moves faster and costs less. Larger estates require formal probate with more court involvement.

Trust validity

Wyoming has become a destination for trust creation. The Wyoming Uniform Trust Code lays out the rules. A valid trust needs clear intent to create a trust relationship, identifiable beneficiaries, and a trustee with actual duties.

Power of attorney formalities

Both financial and healthcare powers of attorney require signatures and notarization in Wyoming. Mental capacity matters at the moment of signing. If someone lacks capacity when they sign, the document is invalid. Choosing the right agent deserves serious thought because that person gains significant authority over your affairs.

Important Aspects of a Wheatland Estate Planning Case

An estate plan involves several moving pieces. Miss one and you’ve left a gap your family will have to deal with later.

Asset inventory

Assets include real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement funds, life insurance, business interests, and personal property with value. Some assets pass through your will. Others pass automatically to named beneficiaries or joint owners. We need the full picture before drafting anything. Estate planning errors often trace back to assets nobody remembered to account for.

Beneficiary designations

Your 401(k) and life insurance policies have beneficiary forms. Those forms control who gets the money regardless of what your will says. An ex-spouse still listed on a retirement account? They’re getting those funds even if you’ve been remarried for twenty years. We review all designations to make sure they match your intentions.

Guardian nominations

Parents with minor children face a question nobody wants to think about: who raises your kids if you can’t? Your will should name a guardian. It should also name a backup in case your first choice can’t serve. Without this designation, a court decides.

Incapacity planning

Estate plans cover more than death. What if you survive but can’t make decisions? A car accident leaves you in a coma. Dementia sets in gradually. Powers of attorney and healthcare directives address these scenarios. Without them, your spouse or adult children may need a court to grant them authority to act on your behalf. That process takes time and money.

Regular updates

Life changes. The 5 Ds that signal your plan needs work offer a useful framework: death, divorce, diagnosis, decline, and difference in assets. Review your plan every few years or whenever something major shifts.

Contact Davis & Johnson Law Office

An estate plan protects your family and ensures your wishes get followed. Without one, the state makes decisions you might not agree with. The process doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

Davis & Johnson Law Office serves clients throughout Platte County with transparent flat-fee pricing for most estate planning work. We’ll sit down, understand your situation, explain your options clearly, and create documents tailored to your goals. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.