Opening a series under a Wyoming Statutory Trust (WST) offers a lot of flexibility, but because the WST is a distinct legal entity from a standard LLC, the naming conventions are governed by specific statutory requirements to ensure legal “separability.”
In Wyoming, the naming process is generally handled within the trust’s own governing instrument rather than through separate filings with the Secretary of State for every individual series.
1. The Statutory Requirement
According to Wyoming law, the name of a specific series must be associated with the “Master” Statutory Trust. To maintain limited liability protections between different series (the “internal shield”), the name should be distinct.
- The Master Name: Must include the words “Statutory Trust” or the abbreviations “ST” or “S.T.”
- The Series Name: While the statutes are flexible, the best practice is to include the Master Trust’s name within the series name to provide clear notice to third parties.
2. Common Naming Patterns
Most practitioners use a “Master-Sub” naming convention. If your Master Trust is named “Blue Horizon Statutory Trust,” your series would typically be named as follows:
| Style | Example |
|---|---|
| Formal/Full | Blue Horizon Statutory Trust, Series A |
| Asset-Based | Blue Horizon Statutory Trust, 123 Maple St Series |
| Numbered | Blue Horizon Statutory Trust, Series 01 |
3. The “Doing Business As” (DBA) Option
If you find the full statutory name too clunky for branding or banking, you can file a Trade Name (DBA) for a specific series in Wyoming.
Example: > * Legal Name: Golden West Statutory Trust, Series 5
- Registered Trade Name: “Golden West Rentals”
4. Key Steps for Implementation
Unlike a Series LLC in some other states, you do not usually file “Articles of Organization” for each series with the Wyoming Secretary of State. Instead:
- Amend the Governing Instrument: Execute an amendment or a “Series Designation” document internally that officially births the series and defines its name.
- Maintain Separate Records: Ensure all contracts, bank accounts, and titles for that series use the specific series name (e.g., “Blue Horizon Statutory Trust, Series A”).
- Public Notice: Ensure the Master Trust’s filed Certificate of Trust contains the required statutory language stating that the trust may have separate series with limited liability.
A Critical Note on Clarity
The most important rule is consistency. If you name a series “Series 101” in your internal records but sign a contract as “Series A,” you risk “piercing the veil” between the series. Always use the exact name established in your series designation document for all external transactions.
How many different series are you planning to launch under this trust, and will they be holding different types of assets?