In Wyoming, a Certification of Trust (or Affidavit of Trust) is a powerful tool under Wyoming Statute § 4-10-1014. It allows you to prove your trust exists and show your authority to move assets into it without revealing the private details of your estate (like who gets what).
1. Where to Find Wyoming PDFs
While there isn’t a single “official” government PDF for personal trusts (since they are private), you can find high-quality state-specific drafts here:
- eForms Wyoming Certification: A highly reliable state-specific Certification of Trust PDF.
- LegalTemplates.net: Offers a Wyoming-compliant builder that includes the mandatory language required by the Wyoming Uniform Trust Code.
- Bank-Specific Forms: If you are moving a bank account into your trust, banks like Wells Fargo, Chase, or local Wyoming credit unions often have their own 2-page “Certification of Trust” PDFs that they prefer you use.
2. Mandatory Wyoming Requirements
Under Wyo. Stat. § 4-10-1014, your Certification of Trust must include these 8 points to be legally valid for third parties (like banks or the county clerk):
- Trust Existence: Confirmation that the trust exists and the date it was signed.
- The Settlor: The name of the person who created the trust.
- The Trustee: The name and physical address of the currently acting trustee.
- Trustee Powers: A list of the powers relevant to the transaction (e.g., the power to sell real estate or open bank accounts).
- Revocability: Whether the trust is revocable or irrevocable, and who has the power to revoke it.
- Signatory Authority: Whether all trustees must sign or if just one can act alone.
- Tax ID: The Trust’s TIN (this is optional; for a revocable trust, it is usually just your Social Security Number).
- Manner of Title: Exactly how assets should be titled (e.g., “John Doe, Trustee of the Doe Family Trust dated Jan 1, 2026”).
3. A Critical Distinction: Private vs. Statutory
When searching for Wyoming PDFs, be careful not to download a “Statutory Trust” form from the Secretary of State.
- Statutory Trusts are for businesses and are filed publicly with the state.
- Private Revocable Trusts (what you want) are not filed with the state. You keep the original and only show the “Certification” to your bank or the county recorder.
4. The Wyoming “Signature” Rule
In Wyoming, the Certification of Trust must be signed or authenticated by any trustee and it should be notarized. Unlike some other states, Wyoming law specifically protects banks that rely on your Certification—if they accept it in good faith, they cannot be held liable later.
Would you like me to draft a sample “Manner of Taking Title” section so you know exactly how to list your name on your Wyoming property deeds?