Wyoming Court Records
How Wyoming's courts are organized, where their records are kept and how to search them.
Wyoming has the smallest population of any state, and a simple court system to match. District courts hear major cases, circuit courts hear minor ones, and every appeal goes straight to the Wyoming Supreme Court.
There is no free public statewide trial court search. Records come from the clerk of district court or the circuit court in the county where the case was filed.
Wyoming's clerks of district court are elected county officials, while circuit courts are run by the state. Both keep their own records, and practices can differ from county to county.
How Wyoming's courts are organized
Wyoming's courts have three levels.
Wyoming Supreme Court
Five justices hear all appeals from the trial courts.
District courts
The general jurisdiction trial courts, in nine judicial districts. They hear felonies, larger civil cases, family law, probate and juvenile cases.
Circuit courts
Hear misdemeanors, small claims and smaller civil cases.
Municipal courts
City courts that hear ordinance and traffic violations.
Searching Wyoming court records online
Online access is limited to the Supreme Court.
- Wyoming Judicial BranchOpinions, court information, forms and self-help.
Getting records from the clerk's office
Contact the clerk of district court or the circuit court in the county where the case was filed. Clerks provide copies and certified copies for set fees.
Deeds are kept by the county clerk.
Clerks of district court provide copies and certified copies for set fees, and many accept requests by mail or email. Circuit court records come from the circuit court in the county where the case was filed.
- Wyoming court directoryFind courts and clerks in every county.
What is public, and what is not
Most Wyoming court records are public, but juvenile, adoption and mental health records are confidential.
Wyoming allows expungement of some misdemeanor and nonviolent felony convictions after a waiting period.
Wyoming court records are generally public, but juvenile, adoption, mental health and some family records are confidential. Wyoming allows expungement of some misdemeanor and nonviolent felony convictions after a waiting period.
- Legal Aid of WyomingFree information about expungement and other legal issues.
Older and archived records
Historical court records are held by the Wyoming State Archives in Cheyenne.
The Wyoming State Archives in Cheyenne holds historical court records, including territorial court records.
- Wyoming State ArchivesHistorical state and county records.
Criminal history and background records
A court file tells you what happened in one case in one court. A criminal history record (often called a rap sheet) pulls together arrests, charges and outcomes reported from across the state, so it is a different product kept by a different agency.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation keeps the state's criminal history records. Checks generally require the subject's consent.
- Wyoming DCIInformation on criminal history records and background checks.
- Wyoming sex offender registryPublic search of registered sex offenders.
- Wyoming Department of CorrectionsInformation about people in Wyoming state custody.
Federal court records in Wyoming
Federal cases, including federal crimes, bankruptcies, and lawsuits over federal law or between citizens of different states, are not filed in Wyoming's state courts. Wyoming is a single federal judicial district, and each has its own clerk's office:
Federal case files are searched through PACER, the federal judiciary's records system. PACER charges a small fee per page, but you pay nothing if your charges stay under the quarterly fee-waiver threshold, court opinions are free, and every federal courthouse has public terminals you can use at no cost. Many PACER documents have also been copied into the free RECAP Archive on CourtListener. Appeals from Wyoming's federal courts go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Tips for a faster search
- Because there is no free online search, have the county, names and dates ready when you call.
- Misdemeanors and small claims are in circuit court, not district court.
- Expunged records will not be released to the public.
- Because Wyoming has no statewide online search, have the full names, dates and county ready when you call.
- Have the full names of the parties, the county and a rough date range ready. A case number is the fastest way in if you have one.
- Online indexes are not the official record. If a decision depends on it, get a copy (or a certified copy) from the clerk's office that holds the file.
Legal help and law libraries
Clerks and law librarians can explain how to find a record, but they cannot give legal advice. These organizations can point you in the right direction:
- Wyoming State Law LibraryPublic law library in the Supreme Court building in Cheyenne.
- Legal Aid of WyomingFree civil legal help for eligible residents.
This guide is general information about public records, not legal advice. Court websites, fees and rules change, so confirm details with the court before you rely on them. Civics-Online.org is not affiliated with any court or government agency.