Divorce Checklist for Wyoming

Wyoming Statute § 20-2-107 requires that at least one spouse has resided in Wyoming for a minimum of 60 days immediately before filing the Complaint for Divorce. If the marriage was solemnized in Wyoming, one spouse must have resided continuously in the state from the date of the marriage until filing. You file in the District Court of the county where either spouse currently resides, as Wyoming does not have a separate family court. The filing spouse is designated the Plaintiff and the other spouse becomes the Defendant for the duration of the case. If minor children are involved, the children must have resided in Wyoming for at least six consecutive months before the court can make custody determinations, unless an emergency situation exists. Gather proof of residency such as a valid Wyoming driver's license, voter registration card, utility bills, lease agreement, or property tax records showing your current Wyoming address and duration of residence.

Before completing any Wyoming divorce forms, compile all critical personal data for both spouses and any minor children. You will need full legal names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, current addresses, and employment details for both parties. Collect your certified marriage certificate or a certified copy from the county clerk where the marriage was recorded, or from the Wyoming Vital Statistics Services office in Cheyenne. If you have minor children, gather each child's full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and current living arrangements. Wyoming's Vital Statistics Form (Form DIVCP 05 for cases with children, or DIVNoCP 05 for no-children cases) requires demographic information including the date and county of marriage, number of children, and educational attainment levels. This form is submitted to the Wyoming Department of Health and does not become part of the public court record. Having this information ready prevents delays during the filing process.

Wyoming requires both parties to complete a Confidential Financial Affidavit and exchange Initial Disclosures (Form DIVCP 07 or DIVNoCD 07) within 30 days after service of the Complaint. Under Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 26, you must disclose all income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Compile at least three years of federal and state tax returns, six months of pay stubs, and 12 months of bank statements for all accounts. Gather statements for retirement accounts including 401(k)s, IRAs, pensions, and investment portfolios. Collect documentation for all real property including deeds, mortgage statements, and property tax assessments. Wyoming follows equitable distribution under § 20-2-114, meaning the court divides property fairly but not necessarily equally. If self-employed, prepare verified income and expense statements for the two most recent business periods. Complete and accurate financial records are essential because hiding assets or underreporting income constitutes perjury under Wyoming law.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, threats, or intimidation, prioritize your safety before initiating divorce proceedings. Wyoming Statute § 35-21-103 provides for orders of protection, and you can obtain a temporary order of protection without your spouse being present by filing in the circuit court of the county where you reside. Contact the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault at 1-307-755-5481 or visit wyomingdvsa.org for confidential crisis support, safety planning, and shelter referrals. Under § 20-2-109, the court may issue restraining orders regarding property or financial interests during the pendency of the divorce action. Wyoming Statute § 20-2-110 also authorizes the court to restrain both parties from specific conduct during litigation. If you fear for your safety, the court can arrange for separate service of process and order that your address remain confidential. Wyoming courts take domestic violence seriously as a factor in custody determinations under § 20-2-201.

The Wyoming Supreme Court provides free self-help divorce form packets through the Wyoming Judicial Branch website at wyocourts.gov/self-help-forms/. Choose the correct packet based on your situation: Packet 1 (Divorce with Minor Children — Plaintiff) if you are filing and have children under 18, or Packet 3 (Divorce with No Minor Children — Plaintiff) if filing without minor children. Each packet contains numbered forms with the DIVCP prefix (children) or DIVNoCP prefix (no children), including instructions, checklists, the Complaint for Divorce, Summons, Vital Statistics form, Confidential Financial Affidavit, Initial Disclosures, and Decree of Divorce. You may download and complete forms electronically using the PDF fillable versions, or use Wyoming's Guided Form Completion tool that asks questions and auto-populates the forms. Printed packets are available at any Clerk of District Court office for $10.00 each and must be purchased in person with no refunds.

The Complaint for Divorce is the document that formally initiates your case. Use Form DIVCP 06 (Complaint for Divorce with Minor Children) or Form DIVNoCP 06 (Complaint for Divorce with No Minor Children). The Complaint must state that irreconcilable differences exist between you and your spouse, which is the sole no-fault ground for divorce in Wyoming under § 20-2-104. Include both spouses' full legal names, date and place of marriage, grounds for divorce, names and birth dates of all minor children, and your requested relief regarding property division, spousal support (alimony), child custody, child support, and any other orders. Wyoming does not require you to explain the specific reasons for the breakdown of the marriage. Also complete the Civil Cover Sheet and Form DIVCP 05 or DIVNoCP 05 (Vital Statistics Form) for the Wyoming Department of Health. Read all instructions in DIVCP 03 or DIVNoCP 03 before completing the Complaint.

The Summons is the official court notice served on your spouse along with the Complaint for Divorce, informing them that a divorce case has been filed and establishing their deadline to respond. Use Form DIVCP 07 (Summons — Divorce with Minor Children) or Form DIVNoCP 07 (Summons — Divorce with No Minor Children). The Summons warns the Defendant that if they fail to respond within the required time, the court may enter a default judgment granting everything requested in the Complaint. Under Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 12(a), the Defendant has 20 days to file an Answer if served within Wyoming, or 30 days if served outside the state. The Summons must include the name of the court, the names of the parties, the case number assigned by the clerk, and the response deadline. Prepare an original and two copies — the original stays with the court, one copy goes to you, and one copy is served on the Defendant.

File your completed Complaint for Divorce, Summons, Civil Cover Sheet, Vital Statistics Form, and any child-related forms with the Clerk of District Court in the county where either you or your spouse currently resides, per Wyoming Statute § 20-2-104. Wyoming has 23 counties organized into 9 judicial districts, and each county's District Court handles divorce filings. Filing fees vary by county and typically range from $70 to $160 — for example, Sheridan County and Natrona County charge $160, while other counties may charge $70 to $100. Payment methods accepted include cash, check, and money order; some counties accept credit cards with a processing fee of approximately 2.6%. The Clerk will assign a case number, file-stamp your documents, and issue the Summons for service. Keep your file-stamped copy in a safe location. If you cannot afford the filing fee, submit a Fee Waiver Form from Self-Help Packet 10 along with an Affidavit of Indigency.

After filing, you must formally serve your spouse (the Defendant) with the Complaint for Divorce and Summons within 90 days of filing, per Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 4. You cannot serve the papers yourself or have your minor children deliver them. Wyoming allows several methods of service: personal delivery by the county sheriff or a private process server (typically $25–$80), certified mail with return receipt requested, or voluntary acceptance of service. If your spouse agrees to accept service voluntarily, they must complete and notarize Form DIVCP 09 or DIVNoCP 08 (Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Service), which you then file with the court. If your spouse cannot be located, you may petition the court for service by publication in a newspaper. After service is completed, file the Proof of Service or Affidavit of Service with the Clerk to establish that the Defendant received proper legal notice of the divorce action.

After service is completed, the Defendant has 20 days to file an Answer if served within Wyoming, or 30 days if served outside of Wyoming, under Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 12(a). There is no fee for the Defendant to file an Answer. The Defendant may file a simple Answer (Form DIVCD 05 or DIVNoCD 05) agreeing or disagreeing with the Complaint, or an Answer and Counterclaim (Form DIVCD 06 or DIVNoCD 06) requesting different relief. If the Defendant files a Counterclaim, you must file a Reply to Counterclaim within 20 days. Simultaneously, Wyoming Statute § 20-2-108 imposes a mandatory 20-day waiting period from the date the Complaint is filed before any divorce decree can become final. This waiting period runs concurrently with the response period and is one of the shortest in the nation. If the Defendant fails to respond within the deadline, you may apply for a default judgment.

Within 30 days after the Defendant is served with the Complaint and Summons, both parties must exchange Initial Disclosures using Form DIVCP 07 (children) or DIVNoCD 07 (no children). This form requires detailed financial schedules: Schedule A covers all financial assets owned individually or jointly, Schedule B covers non-financial assets, Schedule F covers other income sources, and Schedule G covers retirement accounts and investment accounts. Each party must also complete a Confidential Financial Affidavit disclosing all income, monthly expenses, assets, and debts. If children are involved, complete the Child Support Computation Form and Net Income Calculation (Form DIVCP 13). Under Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 26(e)(1), you have a continuing duty to supplement or correct any disclosure that becomes materially incomplete or incorrect. Initial Disclosures are exchanged between the parties but are not filed with the Clerk of District Court.

Wyoming Statute § 20-2-201(f) authorizes the court to require parents in divorce cases involving minor children to attend parenting education classes designed to lessen the effects of divorce on children. While Wyoming does not have a blanket mandatory parenting class requirement for all divorcing parents, individual judges have broad discretion to order these classes on a case-by-case basis, and many Wyoming courts routinely require them when minor children are involved. Both parents must typically attend the classes, and a Certificate of Completion must be provided to the court before the divorce can be finalized if the classes were ordered. Classes cover topics such as the impact of divorce on children, co-parenting communication strategies, age-appropriate responses, and conflict reduction techniques. Course length and format vary by county — some counties accept online courses while others require in-person attendance. Check with your specific county clerk or judge for local requirements.

Wyoming courts encourage parties to resolve disputes through negotiation or mediation before proceeding to trial. While Wyoming does not have a statewide mandatory mediation statute, judges have discretion to order mediation at any time during the divorce proceedings, particularly when custody or visitation disputes exist. During mediation, an impartial third party — often a counselor, attorney, or retired judge — facilitates discussion between both spouses to reach agreement on contested issues including property division under § 20-2-114 (equitable distribution), spousal support (alimony), child custody under § 20-2-201, child support, and debt allocation. If mediation is ordered, both parties must attend in good faith, but neither party is ever required to reach an agreement. Any settlement reached must be reduced to writing and submitted to the court for approval. If the parties resolve all issues, the case proceeds as uncontested. If issues remain disputed after mediation, the case moves to a contested trial.

Once the 20-day mandatory waiting period under § 20-2-108 has passed and all issues are resolved, you must request a final hearing or submit paperwork for a decree without a court appearance. Some Wyoming counties allow uncontested divorces to be finalized without a hearing — file an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties (Form DIVCP 18 or the equivalent no-children form) and the judge reviews all documents and signs the decree. Other counties require a brief hearing (typically 15 minutes) even for uncontested cases. File a Request for Setting (included in your packet) to schedule the hearing. If the Defendant never responded, file for Entry of Default and then request a default judgment hearing. At an uncontested hearing, the Plaintiff testifies under oath to confirm residency, the irreconcilable differences ground, and the terms of the agreement. Bring copies of all filed documents and your proposed Decree of Divorce to the hearing.

The Decree of Divorce is the final court order that legally ends your marriage. Use Form DIVCP 23 (Decree of Divorce with Children) or the corresponding no-children form in Packet 3. The Decree includes all agreements or court decisions regarding property division under § 20-2-114, spousal support, child custody and visitation under § 20-2-201, child support calculations, allocation of debts, and any other orders such as name restoration. The judge reviews the proposed decree and signs it if everything is in order. The divorce becomes final when the signed Decree is filed with the Clerk of District Court. After entry of the Decree, obtain at least two certified copies from the Clerk — you will need certified copies to update your name with the Social Security Administration, your bank, the Wyoming Department of Transportation for a new driver's license, and other agencies. If you need an official divorce certificate, request one from Wyoming Vital Statistics Services for $25.