A stipulated divorce in Wyoming is an uncontested divorce in which both spouses sign a written settlement agreement resolving property, debt, support, and custody before a judge rules. Because there is nothing left to litigate, these cases can finalize in as little as 20 days after filing under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-108, for a filing fee of roughly $70 to $160.
Wyoming's short 20-day waiting period, 60-day residency rule, and pure no-fault grounds make it one of the fastest states in the nation to complete an agreed divorce. This guide explains exactly how a stipulated (agreed) divorce works, what your settlement agreement must cover, what it costs, and how to move from filing to a signed Decree of Divorce.
Key Facts: Stipulated Divorce in Wyoming (2026)
| Fact | Wyoming Detail |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $70–$160 depending on county (District Court). As of August 2026. Verify with your local clerk. |
| Waiting Period | 20 days minimum after filing before a decree can be entered (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-108) |
| Residency Requirement | 60 consecutive days before filing, or married in Wyoming and resident since (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-107) |
| Grounds | Irreconcilable differences — no-fault only (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104) |
| Property Division Type | Equitable distribution — "just and equitable" (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-114) |
| Court | Wyoming District Court in the county of residence |
| Typical Uncontested Timeline | 30–90 days from filing to decree |
What Is a Stipulated Divorce in Wyoming?
A stipulated divorce in Wyoming is a fully agreed, uncontested divorce in which spouses file a joint or unopposed settlement — called a stipulation — that a district judge reviews and adopts into the final Decree of Divorce. "Stipulated" simply means both parties stipulate, or formally agree, to every term. There is no trial, no contested hearing on disputed facts, and often no live testimony beyond a brief prove-up.
The terms stipulated divorce, agreed divorce, consent divorce, and settled divorce describe the same outcome: a divorce where the spouses control the result instead of a judge. Wyoming law does not use a separate statutory label for this path; it is an ordinary divorce under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104 that happens to be uncontested. Because the court's job shrinks to confirming the agreement is fair and lawful, a stipulated case moves through the system far faster than a litigated one. Roughly 90% of all U.S. divorces settle without trial, and Wyoming's streamlined process makes settlement the default expectation for couples who can cooperate.
Do You Qualify? Wyoming Residency Requirements
At least one spouse must have lived in Wyoming for 60 consecutive days immediately before filing the complaint, under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-107. Alternatively, if the marriage occurred in Wyoming, one spouse must have resided in the state continuously from the date of marriage until filing. This is one of the shorter residency thresholds in the country — many states require 90 days or six months.
Wyoming imposes no separate county residency period, so you only need to establish state residency, then file in the district court of the county where either spouse lives. The 60-day clock is measured from the day the Complaint for Divorce is filed backward. Military members stationed in Wyoming generally satisfy residency by physical presence for the 60-day window, even if their legal domicile is another state. If neither spouse can meet the 60-day rule, the court lacks jurisdiction and will dismiss the case, so confirm your residency date before paying the filing fee. A mutual divorce agreement means nothing if the court cannot hear the case in the first place.
Grounds: Wyoming Is a Pure No-Fault State
Wyoming grants divorce on a single no-fault ground — irreconcilable differences in the marital relationship — under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104. You do not need to prove adultery, cruelty, desertion, or any misconduct. One spouse simply states under oath that the marriage is irretrievably broken with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation, and that is legally sufficient.
This no-fault framework is what makes a stipulated divorce so clean in Wyoming. Because neither party has to allege or defend against wrongdoing, there is no factual dispute for the court to resolve on the question of why the marriage is ending. The only remaining ground recognized by statute is incurable insanity under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-105, which is rarely used and requires confinement and expert testimony. For virtually every agreed divorce, irreconcilable differences is the correct and only ground you will cite. Removing fault from the equation keeps the focus on dividing assets and arranging parenting, which is exactly where a consent divorce should concentrate its energy. If you are unsure whether your situation fits, a personalized divorce roadmap can help you map your next steps.
What Your Wyoming Settlement Agreement Must Cover
A valid Wyoming settlement agreement must resolve four categories: division of marital property, allocation of debts, spousal support (alimony), and — if you have minor children — custody, visitation, and child support. A judge will not enter a stipulated decree until every one of these is addressed, because the court retains a duty to ensure the terms are just and equitable and, for children, in their best interests.
Property is divided under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-114, which directs courts to make a disposition that is "just and equitable." Wyoming is notable because judges may divide any property either spouse owns, including premarital assets, inheritances, and gifts — though the source of an asset is a factor. Understanding equitable distribution is essential before you sign, because "equitable" means fair, not automatically 50/50. Debts follow the same equitable standard. Alimony is discretionary in Wyoming and not awarded in most short or dual-income marriages, but your agreement should state clearly whether either spouse waives it. When these items are documented precisely, the judge's review becomes a formality rather than an obstacle.
Property and Debt Division
Wyoming's all-property approach means the settled divorce agreement should inventory every asset and liability, then assign each to one spouse. Under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-114, the court weighs the merits of the parties, the condition each will be left in after divorce, the party through whom property was acquired, and burdens imposed for the benefit of either spouse or the children. List real estate, vehicles, bank and retirement accounts, business interests, and personal property, along with mortgages, loans, and credit-card balances. Retirement accounts often require a Qualified Domestic Relations Order to transfer without tax penalty; you can estimate the split first with a property division calculator. A precise, signed inventory is what converts a handshake into an enforceable court order that survives future disputes.
Children: Custody and Support
If you share minor children, your agreement must set out legal custody, physical custody, a parenting schedule, and a child support amount before any court will approve a mutual divorce agreement. Wyoming courts decide custody under the best-interests standard in Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-201, and they will independently review the parenting terms even in an uncontested case. Child support is calculated using Wyoming's statutory income-shares guidelines in Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304, which base the obligation on both parents' combined net income and the number of children. You can approximate the figure with a child support calculator, but the court compares your number to the guideline and may require a written explanation for any deviation. Learn more about how child custody arrangements work before finalizing your plan.
Step-by-Step: How to File a Stipulated Divorce in Wyoming
A stipulated Wyoming divorce follows six predictable steps and typically finalizes within 30 to 90 days for a filing fee of $70 to $160. Because the case is agreed, most of the work happens before you ever file — negotiating and drafting the settlement agreement — which is what compresses the court timeline so dramatically compared to a contested case.
The sequence below reflects standard Wyoming District Court practice. Timelines vary by county and judicial calendar, and the mandatory 20-day waiting period under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-108 is the floor no agreed case can drop below. Even the most cooperative couple cannot obtain a decree faster than 20 days after the complaint is filed and the respondent is served or acknowledges service.
- Confirm residency. Verify at least one spouse has lived in Wyoming 60 consecutive days per Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-107.
- Draft and sign the settlement agreement. Resolve property, debt, support, and custody in writing, signed by both spouses.
- File the Complaint for Divorce. Submit the complaint and supporting forms to the District Court clerk with the $70–$160 fee.
- Serve or acknowledge service. The respondent formally acknowledges service or waives it, avoiding a contested response.
- Observe the 20-day waiting period. No decree may be entered until 20 days have passed under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-108.
- Submit the decree for signature. File the stipulated Decree of Divorce; the judge reviews and signs, often without a hearing.
How Much Does a Stipulated Divorce Cost in Wyoming?
The court filing fee for a Wyoming divorce ranges from $70 to $160 depending on the county, as of August 2026 — verify the exact amount with your local District Court clerk. A stipulated divorce is by far the cheapest route because it eliminates the largest cost driver in any divorce: contested attorney hours. A fully litigated Wyoming divorce can cost $8,000 to $15,000 or more per spouse, while an agreed divorce often stays under $1,500 total.
If you cannot afford the filing fee, Wyoming District Courts accept a request to proceed in forma pauperis, which waives court costs for qualifying low-income filers. Beyond the filing fee, budget for optional expenses: a QDRO to divide a retirement account typically costs $300 to $700, and a flat-fee attorney review of your settlement agreement generally runs $300 to $1,000. The table below compares typical total costs so you can see where a consent divorce saves money.
| Cost Item | Uncontested / Stipulated | Contested |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $70–$160 | $70–$160 |
| Attorney fees (per spouse) | $0–$1,500 | $8,000–$15,000+ |
| QDRO (if retirement split) | $300–$700 | $300–$700 |
| Typical time to decree | 30–90 days | 6–18 months |
For a deeper breakdown, review our full guide on how much a divorce costs in Wyoming.
How Long Does an Agreed Divorce Take in Wyoming?
An uncontested, stipulated divorce in Wyoming typically finalizes in 30 to 90 days, with the absolute minimum being the 20-day statutory waiting period under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-108. That 20-day floor makes Wyoming one of the fastest states in the country to complete an agreed divorce; many states impose 60-, 90-, or 180-day waiting periods before a decree can issue.
The actual timeline depends less on the law and more on two practical factors: how quickly you finalize the settlement agreement, and how busy your county's District Court calendar is. Once the complaint is filed and the respondent acknowledges service, the clock runs 20 days, after which a judge can sign the stipulated decree — often on the papers, without requiring anyone to appear. Rural counties may sign faster than busy ones like Laramie or Natrona County. Delays almost always trace back to incomplete paperwork, an unsigned agreement, or a missing financial disclosure, not to the court itself. Preparing every document correctly the first time is the single biggest thing you can do to keep a settled divorce on the fast track.
Stipulated vs. Contested Divorce in Wyoming
A stipulated divorce resolves every issue by written agreement and finalizes in 30 to 90 days, while a contested divorce leaves one or more issues for a judge to decide and commonly takes 6 to 18 months. The difference in cost is equally stark: an agreed divorce often totals under $1,500, whereas a contested case routinely exceeds $8,000 per spouse once discovery, motions, and trial preparation are counted.
The defining question is whether you and your spouse agree on all four core issues — property, debt, support, and children. If you agree on everything, a stipulated path is almost always faster, cheaper, and less stressful. If you disagree on even one significant issue, the case is technically contested until that issue is resolved, though many couples negotiate a partial agreement and narrow the dispute before a hearing. You do not need perfect harmony to settle; you need a willingness to compromise on the remaining gaps. Our guide comparing contested and uncontested divorce in Wyoming explains how to move a partially disputed case toward full agreement, and when hiring an attorney becomes worthwhile.
Common Mistakes That Derail a Wyoming Stipulated Divorce
The most common reason an agreed Wyoming divorce stalls is an incomplete or vague settlement agreement that a judge cannot approve as "just and equitable" under Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-114. When the agreement omits an asset, fails to state who pays a debt, or leaves a parenting term undefined, the court sends it back for correction, costing weeks of delay in what should be a 20-day case.
Other frequent errors include miscalculating child support outside the guidelines in Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304, forgetting to address a retirement account that needs a QDRO, and failing to sign or notarize documents where required. Some couples also mistakenly believe they can waive child support entirely, but Wyoming courts will not approve a support figure that falls below the guideline without a written justification, because support belongs to the child, not the parents. A final trap is assuming a verbal understanding is enforceable — only the written, court-adopted decree binds either party. Because these mistakes are almost always fixable with careful drafting, the safest approach is to have a Wyoming attorney review your agreement before filing. If you want professional help, you can find a divorce attorney serving your county.