Wyoming · contract for deed
Wyoming contract for deed, explained.
A plain-English guide to contract for deed (also called land contract) in Wyoming — statute, recording, default remedies, interest caps, and where deals actually happen.
Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-1-101 et seq. (recording); no installment-contract-specific statute
Recordable with the county clerk under Wyo. Stat. § 34-1-118. No statutory deadline; recording required for priority. Standard county fees apply.
Hybrid. Forfeiture permitted by contract; equitable-mortgage doctrine applies where buyer has accumulated substantial equity, requiring foreclosure-type process.
Is contract for deed legal in Wyoming?
Recognized at common law as 'contracts for deed.' Treated as legitimate financing instruments and used widely for ranch and rural property.
How do you record a contract for deed agreement in Wyoming?
Recordable with the county clerk under Wyo. Stat. § 34-1-118. No statutory deadline; recording required for priority. Standard county fees apply.
What happens if the buyer defaults?
Hybrid. Forfeiture permitted by contract; equitable-mortgage doctrine applies where buyer has accumulated substantial equity, requiring foreclosure-type process.
What is the maximum interest rate?
No general usury limit on most loans (Wyo. Stat. § 40-14-106 governs consumer credit; otherwise, parties may agree to any rate).
What disclosures are required?
No installment-contract-specific statutory disclosure; lead-paint federal disclosure; customary residential disclosures.
Who's protected — buyer vs. seller
Buyer protections
Equitable-mortgage doctrine; equitable redemption; common-law fraud remedies.
Seller protections
Strong contract enforcement, no rate cap, ability to pursue forfeiture or specific performance.
Where in the state do these deals happen?
Common for ranch land, rural acreage, recreational parcels, owner-financed homes in low-population counties.
Notable case law
Baldwin v. Dube, 751 P.2d 388 (Wyo. 1988); research needed for current case law.
Looking at a Wyoming deal?
Send the parcel and the terms — we'll walk through whether contract for deed fits, how to record it, and what the cure period looks like if things go sideways.
Talk to WyattEducational content only. Statute citations are public-record research, not legal advice. Wyoming contracts and remedies are fact-specific — consult a licensed Wyoming real-estate attorney before signing anything.