How to File for Divorce in Wyoming

You walked into this with a question that feels massive, but the actual filing process is more structured than most people expect. Wyoming handles divorce through its District Courts — one per county — and the state provides free self-help form packets that cover every step from the initial Complaint through the final Decree.

Here is the exact sequence to follow.

Choose the Correct Form Packet

The Wyoming Judicial Branch publishes two separate divorce packets, divided by whether you have minor children:

• Packet 3 (DIVNoCP series): Divorce without minor children
• Packet 4 (DIVCP series): Divorce with minor children

Each packet includes a Cover Sheet, Vital Statistics Form, Complaint for Divorce, and Summons. If you have children, you also get the Confidential Statement of the Parties for Child Support (DIVCP 8), which contains Social Security numbers and is filed under seal.

Download the correct packet from the Wyoming Judicial Branch Self-Help website. Do not mix forms between packets.

Prepare and Notarize Your Documents

Fill out the Complaint for Divorce (DIVNoCP 6 or DIVCP 6) with your residency dates, marriage facts, and requests for property division or custody arrangements. Leave the Vital Statistics Form (DIVNoCP 5 or DIVCP 5) completely filled — no blank sections.

Critical notarization rule: Do not sign the Complaint before arriving at the courthouse. Wyoming requires you to sign the Complaint in the physical presence of a Notary Public or the Clerk of District Court, who witnesses your signature under oath. Signing at home beforehand will get your filing rejected.

File at the District Court Clerk's Office

Bring the completed, notarized originals plus two physical copies of everything to the Clerk of District Court in the county where either spouse resides. You will need to:

1. Pay the $160 filing fee (includes automation and indigent legal surcharges)
2. Receive file-stamped copies back — one for your records, one for serving on your spouse

Cash, money orders, and certified checks are accepted universally. Some counties accept credit cards but may add a processing fee. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can file an Affidavit of Indigency using Self-Help Packet 10 to request a fee waiver.

Serve Your Spouse Within 90 Days

After filing, you have exactly 90 days to formally serve the file-stamped Complaint and Summons on your spouse. Miss this deadline and the court dismisses your case automatically.

You cannot hand the papers to your spouse yourself. Acceptable service methods include:

• County sheriff ($50 typical fee)
• Licensed private process server
• Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service (your spouse signs voluntarily)
• Service by publication (last resort, for spouses who cannot be located)

Once service is completed, file the Return of Service with the court.

What Happens After Filing

Your spouse has 20 days to respond if served in Wyoming, or 30 days if served out of state. After the response deadline passes, both parties must exchange Initial Disclosures — detailed financial information including income, assets, and debts — within 30 days.

Wyoming also requires a minimum 20-day waiting period from the filing date before the court can enter a final Decree. In practice, even a straightforward uncontested divorce takes 6 to 12 weeks from filing to finalization.

The Wyoming Divorce Filing Process Guide walks you through every deadline, form, and county-specific step from start to finish — including a pre-filing compliance checklist that catches the errors clerks reject most often.

See more Wyoming guides →