2-2-101. Exclusive jurisdiction conferred on district 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.
2-2-102. Venue generally.
(a) Wills shall be proved and letters testamentary or of administration granted:
(i) In the county of which the decedent was a resident at the time of his death, regardless of where he may have died;
(ii) In the county in which the decedent died, leaving estate therein, if the decedent was not a resident of the state at the time of his death;
(iii) In the county in which any part of the estate may be, if the decedent died out of the state and was not resident thereof at the time of his death;
(iv) In the county in which any part of the estate may be, if the decedent was not a resident of the state and did not leave estate in the county in which he died;
(v) In all other cases, in the county in which the decedent died, and application for letters is made.
2-2-103. Jurisdiction of estate of nonresident.
When the estate of the decedent is in more than one (1) county, the decedent having died out of the state and not being a resident thereof at the time of his death, or being a nonresident and dying within the state but not leaving estate in the county where he died, the district court of that county in which application is first made for letters testamentary or of administration has exclusive jurisdiction of the settlement of the estate.
2-2-104. Court to remain open.
For the purpose of granting probate of wills, issuing letters testamentary and of administration, filing reports, accounts and petitions of personal representatives, filing claims against the estate and issuing process and notices required by the Probate Code, the court shall operate under the same term of court as specified in W.S. 5-3-101(b).
2-2-105. Repealed by Laws 2019, ch. 54, § 2.
2-2-106. Powers and duties of court commissioners; generally.
The court commissioner of each district court shall, upon a general order made for that purpose, examine the bonds filed by the personal representatives, with a view to ascertaining their sufficiency, and may approve the same. He may examine any inventory, sale bill, account current, except final accounts and vouchers filed therewith, or examine into the condition of an estate generally. Upon a specific order of the court, the commissioner may make orders for the sale of personal property at public or private auction, for the compounding of debts, for the settlement of an estate as insolvent, for the approval of bonds and all other orders of an ex parte nature as may facilitate the settlement of estates. The orders shall be in writing, signed by the judge or commissioner issuing the same, and shall be filed and recorded.
2-2-107. Powers and duties of court commissioners; compelling attendance of witnesses; process.
In order to make such examination, the court commissioner is entitled to process to compel the personal representative and other witnesses to appear and testify before him on the hearing, and for the production of books, papers, monies or other things pertinent to the matter to be heard.
2-2-108. Powers and duties of court commissioners; compelling attendance of witnesses; failure to appear or testify.
Any person refusing to appear or testify before a commissioner may be cited for contempt and held to bail to answer to the alleged contempt as soon as reasonably possible. The commissioner shall report his findings upon the matter in writing, to the court for its action. Exception may be filed to the report which shall be heard and determined as in other cases.
2-2-109. Authority of other judges to act when district judge sick.
Whenever any judge of the district court is absent from the state, sick or otherwise unable to attend to the duties of his office, any other district judge shall have the same powers as the original judge, including the power to examine into all matters, make all orders and direct the affairs of the administration of estates.
2-2-110. When judge disqualified; exception.
When the judge before whom probate matters are brought is interested as next of kin to the decedent, or as the legatee or devisee under the will, or has any other interest in the outcome of, or concerning the matters brought before him, he shall call in some other district judge to hear and determine all such matters. Being a witness to a will does not itself disqualify a district judge, after the will has been probated, from hearing any matters concerning the will or the estate being probated except matters relating to the admission of the will to probate and contests thereon, and the granting of letters testamentary or of administration thereunder.
2-2-111. Presumption after ten years notices properly given.
In any estate, wherein a decree of final settlement and distribution is or has been entered by any court of this state it shall, after ten (10) years from the date of the decree, be conclusively presumed that all notices required by law have been made and for the times and in the manner required by law.