Delaware vs Wyoming: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Delaware and Wyoming — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Delaware vs Wyoming
| Metric | Delaware | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $90 | $100 | ✓ Delaware |
| Annual Report | $300 | $62 | ✓ Wyoming |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $0 | Tie |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $90 | $100 | ✓ Delaware |
Filing Fee
✓ Delaware is cheaper here
Annual Report
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
Publication Cost
It's a tie
Franchise Tax
It's a tie
Est. Year-1 Total
✓ Delaware is cheaper here
Delaware: Delaware's $300 annual franchise fee makes ongoing costs high for small businesses that don't benefit from its court system.
Wyoming: Wyoming's $62 annual report scales with assets. Also: if you operate in another state, you MUST foreign-qualify there too.
Delaware: Most investor-friendly state — preferred if you plan to raise venture capital or have multiple members.
Wyoming: No state income tax, no franchise tax, strong privacy laws, low fees — top choice for anonymous and multi-state LLCs.
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Start My LLC Today →Small Claims Court: Delaware vs Wyoming
| Metric | Delaware | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $25,000 | $6,000 | ✓ Delaware |
| Min Filing Fee | $35 | $25 | ✓ Wyoming |
| Contract SOL | 3 yrs | 8 yrs | ✓ Wyoming |
Max Claim Limit
✓ Delaware is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
Contract SOL
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
Divorce Filing Costs: Delaware vs Wyoming
| Metric | Delaware | Wyoming | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $165 | $100 | ✓ Wyoming |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $30 | ✓ Wyoming |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
✓ Wyoming is cheaper here
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Delaware vs Wyoming
| Metric | Delaware | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $10 |
| Jurat | $5 | $0 |
| RON Fee | $25 | $10 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee