To establish a Wyoming Statutory Trust (WST), you must follow the specific procedures outlined in the Wyoming Statutory Trust Act. Unlike a private “Family Trust,” a Statutory Trust is a registered legal entity with the state, similar to an LLC or Corporation.

​Here are the formal requirements to open one:

​1. Appoint a Wyoming Registered Agent

​You must have a registered agent with a physical address in Wyoming. This person or company is responsible for receiving legal service of process and official state communications on behalf of the trust.

​2. File a Certificate of Trust

​The primary legal step is filing a Certificate of Trust with the Wyoming Secretary of State. This document officially brings the trust into existence. It typically must include:

  • ​The name of the trust (which must contain the words “Statutory Trust,” “S.T.,” or “ST”).
  • ​The name and address of the Wyoming registered agent.
  • ​A statement that the trust is a statutory trust.
  • ​The date the trust is to be effective (if not the date of filing).

​3. Draft a Governing Instrument (Trust Agreement)

​While the Certificate of Trust is a public filing, the Governing Instrument is a private document. This is the “rulebook” for your trust. To utilize the Series feature you mentioned earlier, this document must specifically:

  • ​Authorize the creation of one or more series.
  • ​Clearly state that the debts, liabilities, and obligations of a particular series are enforceable only against that series and not against the assets of the trust generally or any other series.

​4. Meet the “One Trustee” Requirement

​Wyoming law requires that at least one trustee be a “Wyoming Trustee.” This means the trustee must be:

  • ​A person who resides in Wyoming; or
  • ​A Wyoming corporation or LLC; or
  • ​A bank or trust company authorized to do business in Wyoming.

​5. Obtain an EIN

​Even though it is a trust, if it is engaging in business or opening bank accounts, you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. If you have a Series Trust, you may need a separate EIN for the Master Trust and each individual series, depending on how you choose to file taxes.

​6. Compliance and Formalities

​To maintain the “asset partitioning” (the legal wall between series), you are required to:

  • ​Keep Separate Records: Maintain distinct financial records for each series.
  • ​Hold Assets Separately: Assets must be titled specifically to the series (e.g., “ABC Statutory Trust, Series A”).
  • ​Maintain Separate Bank Accounts: Do not commingle funds between different series.

​Summary of Costs (Current State Fees)

  • ​Initial Filing Fee: Usually around $100 paid to the Secretary of State.
  • ​Annual Report: Wyoming requires an annual report filing, which starts at a minimum of $60 (based on assets located within Wyoming).

​Disclaimer: I am an AI, not an attorney. Because Wyoming Statutory Trusts involve complex tax and liability laws, you should consult with a legal professional or a specialized Wyoming business formation service before filing.