LegalCostCalculator
Updated May 2026 Side-by-Side

New York vs Wyoming: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)

Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in New York and Wyoming — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.

Wyoming
Cheaper LLC
Wyoming
Cheaper Divorce
New York
Higher SC Limit

LLC Formation Costs: New York vs Wyoming

New York
Wyoming

Filing Fee

$200
$100 WIN

✓ Wyoming is cheaper here

Annual Report

$9 WIN
$62

✓ New York is cheaper here

Publication Cost

$200
$0 WIN

✓ Wyoming is cheaper here

Franchise Tax

$25
$0 WIN

✓ Wyoming is cheaper here

Est. Year-1 Total

$425
$100 WIN

✓ Wyoming is cheaper here

New York: New York's publication requirement forces new LLCs to publish in two newspapers for 6 weeks — costing $1,000–$2,000 in NYC, or $40–$150 upstate.

Wyoming: Wyoming's $62 annual report scales with assets. Also: if you operate in another state, you MUST foreign-qualify there too.

New York: NYC access — unmatched for finance, media, fashion, and tech businesses.

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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Small Claims Court: New York vs Wyoming

New York
Wyoming

Max Claim Limit

$10,000 WIN
$6,000

✓ New York is cheaper here

Min Filing Fee

$15 WIN
$25

✓ New York is cheaper here

Contract SOL

6 yrs
8 yrs WIN

✓ Wyoming is cheaper here

Divorce Filing Costs: New York vs Wyoming

New York
Wyoming

Filing Fee

$335
$100 WIN

✓ Wyoming is cheaper here

Sheriff Service

$60
$30 WIN

✓ Wyoming is cheaper here

Children Surcharge

$0
$0

It's a tie

Notary Fees: New York vs Wyoming

New York
Wyoming

Acknowledgment

$2
$10

Jurat

$2
$0

RON Fee

$25
$10
All Legal Costs in New York →
Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary
All Legal Costs in Wyoming →
Full breakdown: LLC, divorce, small claims & notary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is New York or Wyoming cheaper to form an LLC?
Wyoming is cheaper to form an LLC — $100 vs $200. However, consider the full first-year cost including annual report fees and publication requirements: New York year-1 total is $425 vs Wyoming at $100.
What is the LLC filing fee in New York vs Wyoming?
The LLC filing fee is $200 in New York vs $100 in Wyoming. In addition to the one-time filing fee, New York charges a $9 annual report fee and Wyoming charges a $62 annual report fee.
Which state is better for a small business — New York or Wyoming?
For most small businesses operating in one state, form your LLC in the state where you actually do business. If you operate in New York, form there — registering in Wyoming and then foreign-qualifying in New York means paying fees to both states. The "form in a cheaper state" strategy mainly benefits online businesses with no physical location.
How do divorce filing fees compare between New York and Wyoming?
Wyoming has lower divorce filing fees — $100 vs $335. Both states also charge for service of process ($60 in New York, $30 in Wyoming). You can only file divorce in a state where you or your spouse meets the residency requirement.
What is the small claims limit in New York vs Wyoming?
The small claims limit is $10,000 in New York vs $6,000 in Wyoming. New York allows you to sue for more money without going to regular civil court. Filing fees are $15 in New York and $25 in Wyoming.