Wyoming Court Records

Are Wyoming Court Records Public?

Yes. Wyoming recognizes a constitutional right of access to public documents as specified in the Wyoming Public Records Act. However, there are specific guidelines governing access to court records in the state, known as the Wyoming Rules Governing Access to Court Records. These rules are designed to:

• Promote access to court records
• Protect individual privacy rights and public interests
• Prevent public access to information that is confidential as a matter of law, public policy, court rule, or court order
• Make effective use of court staff

A court record in Wyoming refers to case records and administrative records, in whatever format, except personnel records, judicial or judicial staff work product, internal electronic or physical mail, memoranda or drafts, appellate case assignments, and records made confidential by statute, administrative rule, court rule, or court order. Court records restricted from public access include:

• Adoption and confidential intermediary records
• Attorney discipline records
• Mediation proceeding record
• Domestic violence protection order petitioners’ and their children’s identifying information
• Grand jury records
• Guardianships and conservatorships records
• Involuntary commitment records
• Records from child abuse and neglect proceedings
• Records related to juvenile justice proceedings in the District Court
• Records related to children in need of supervision proceedings
• Presentence investigation reports
• Search warrant applications and affidavits until served and returned
• Discovery material or other items submitted to a court for in-camera review
• Mental health and counseling records
• Substance abuse evaluation reports
• Records sealed by a court
• Medical records
• Crime victim’s compensation application
• Probation counselor case records
• Court-supervised treatment program information
• Criminal history record information
• Sex offender registration information
• Administrative subpoena information regarding child exploitation investigations

Court records are to be made available for public access during regular business hours of the court by the official responsible for keeping or maintaining the records. No public record custodian is permitted to restrict access or allow greater access to court records than as provided in the Wyoming Rules Governing Access to Court Records. Court records are available for inspection or copying at the various courthouses during regular business hours of the court. Electronic records of the courts are also available for public access at any time, subject to normal system maintenance and unforeseen technical glitches.

Where an individual has been denied access to a public court record by the record custodian, a petition directing the custodian to grant access may be filed with the court. Unless the court finds that the record is confidential as a matter of law or that the record should remain sealed, the custodian will be granted access by the court.

What Shows Up on a Wyoming Court Records Search

A Wyoming court records search provides insight into case details like a case number, status and type, case party role and name(s), attorney name, case decision, and filing date.

Per Wyoming Court Rules, a court record is any information or document received, collected, or maintained by a court in connection with a specific case or judicial proceeding. Court records are vital in preserving information relating to several cases handled by Wyoming courts. They help people provide proof of legal documentation. Law enforcement agents can use court records for investigative purposes. Attorneys can retrieve court records for litigation purposes.

Generally, court records are public information except exempted from public disclosure by law. A requester can conduct a public court records search online or in person at the court where the case was filed.

How Do I Find Court Records in Wyoming?

The first step to take when trying to obtain court records in Wyoming is to ascertain the court where the case was filed. The next step is to make a request to the record custodian of the court to access the required record. Requests to the clerks of court who are the record custodians can be made through in-person visits or by using the public access terminal in the courthouse to view electronic copies of available court records.

Wyoming Court Records Public Access

Wyoming courts provide access to the public to search public filings in cases docketed in the Supreme Court using its Public Docket tool. The tool also allows users to view and download court notices, orders, and appellate briefs. Users can search for case information through one of these options:

• Case number
• Issue dates
• Party information

Persons interested in accessing the opinions and orders of the Supreme Court can do so via the court's Opinion Search tool on the Wyoming Judiciary Branch website.

To obtain a paper or certified copy of a court record, visit the location of the court where the record is filed. The Supreme Court is located at:

2301 Capitol Avenue
Cheyenne, WY 82001

To locate other courts in Wyoming, use the District Courts location, Circuit Courts location, or Municipal Courts directory tools on the Wyoming Judiciary Branch website. Note that copying court records will attract a nominal fee at the courthouses.

How to Conduct a Wyoming Court Record Search by Name

Individuals can search for court records by name online or in person at the court where the case was filed. To search for a case online, go to the Wyoming Judicial Branch website, click “Supreme Court,” then click “Public Docket” from the dropdown menu. Go to the left bar on the search page and click “Participant Search”. Requesters should type in a last name (or company/organization name), first name, or middle name related to the case(s) they wish to view. After submitting the search, a list of cases related to the search will be displayed. Click on any resulting case number to begin viewing the court record.

Alternatively, a requester can visit the court where a case was filed to conduct a court record search by name. The search criteria would usually be by case party, attorney, or judge’s name. The requester would be able to receive the required record when the unnecessary fees have been paid.

How to Get Court Records Online for Free

The Wyoming Clerk’s Office of the Supreme Court has a Case Search tool where individuals can get court records online for free. The search criteria are by case, issue, or participant. When the right information is provided in the appropriate fields, a list of cases related to the search will be displayed below the search area. The researcher can then click on the case number of the case they are looking for to view the court records.

There are low-cost options for accessing court records in Wyoming. For instance, the Wyoming chancery court has a Public Access tool where individuals can retrieve court records at a low cost. Also, the PACER tool provided by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming can be used to get court records at a low cost.

Considered open to citizens of the United States, court records are available through both traditional, government sources, and through third-party websites and organizations. In many cases, third-party websites make the search easier as they are not limited geographically or by technological limitations. They are considered a good place to start when looking for a specific record or multiple records. In order to gain access to these records, interested parties must typically provide:

• The name of the person listed in the record. Juveniles are typically exempt from this search method.
• The last known or assumed location of the person listed in the record. This includes cities, counties, and states.

While third-party sites offer such services, they are not government sponsored entities, and record availability may vary on these sites when compared to government sources.

What Shows Up on Wyoming Judgment Records?

A Wyoming judgment record is a document created when a court of competent jurisdiction issues a judgment in a criminal or civil case. The court clerk then enters the judgment in the court docket to bind the persons involved.

Judgments are decisions on civil and criminal lawsuits filed in courts. Generally, a judgment concludes a typical case unless a litigant pursues an appeal or retrial. The clerk of courts is the record custodian of judgment records in Wyoming, and interested persons may obtain copies of the court record per Wyoming Court Rules.

Interested persons must visit the clerk’s office in the court where the case of interest was adjudicated. Most courts have a standard case record request form, which the requester can use to submit the request. Generally, the information required on this request form is the case number and the names of the persons involved in the case.

The administrative staff will also require that the individual pay a service fee, including copying fees per page, before processing the request. Most courts accept cash, money orders, certified checks, and credit cards for these fees. While judgment records in Wyoming contain information that reflects the case type, there are similarities. A typical judgment record contains:

• The litigants’ names.
• The judge’s name.
• The specific claims of the parties involved.
• The issued judgment.

Are Wyoming Bankruptcy Records Public?

Wyoming bankruptcy records are open to the public. They contain the case files of individuals and organizations who are not able to pay back the debt owed to creditors. Any debtor who finds it difficult to pay back their debts owed in Wyoming can file for bankruptcy at the district courts situated at Casper and Cheyenne. The court's official working hours in the state are between 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. Bankruptcy being under federal law, is handled by a district bankruptcy court in the state. This means that bankruptcy cannot be filed in any of the state courts in Wyoming. Title 11 of the bankruptcy code governs the bankruptcy process. Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 are the three most popular bankruptcy chapters in the state.

Interested members of the public may view and copy records of bankruptcy proceedings and Wyoming liens, contracts, writs, and judgments. These records are typically maintained in the judicial district where the petition or claim was filed. However, requestors may be required to furnish officials with the information required to search the record of interest.

How to Find Bankruptcy Records in Wyoming

Bankruptcy record are maintained by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming and can be accessed online, by phone, and in person.

Phone requests can be made via the Voice Case Information System (VCIS). The VCIS allows public access to case records by dialing (866) 222-8029. Callers can conduct a bankruptcy records search by debtor name or case number through a simple series of prompts. VCIS will then retrieve the debtor name(s), case status, date filed, assets status, consumer or business, case number, attorney’s name, judge’s name, date discharged, date closed, and disposition.

Requesters can visit the court’s offices to use their public access terminals to retrieve bankruptcy records. Viewing records via the terminal is free. However, printouts may be done for a nominal fee. Individuals can also request bankruptcy records over the counter at any court’s office. They would have to provide the court staff with basic information about the case like case number or party name to facilitate the search.

Online requests can be made using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) tool available on the court’s website. Requesters must register a PACER account and log in with a username and secured password to be able to access records. The search criteria are by a specific court or national index. Access to bankruptcy records costs $0.10 per page and $3 per document. Note that individuals who accrue $30 or less of charges in a quarter can enjoy fee waivers for that period. Also, eligible individuals can apply for fee waivers.

Can You Look Up Court Cases in Wyoming?

Yes. Interested members of the public may perform a Wyoming court case lookup through government-owned and third-party resources. Non-confidential court cases docketed in the Wyoming Supreme Court are accessible using the Supreme Court Docket tool. In addition, court case information is accessible by using the public access terminal in the courthouses in the state.

Wyoming Court Case Lookup Exemptions

Although court records are public pursuant to the Wyoming Public Records Act, some records are exempted from public disclosure. Exempted records are only open to case parties, their attorneys, and individuals with court orders authorizing access to such records. Per Wyoming Court Rules 6, the following records are not accessible to the public:

• Sealed records
• Juvenile records
• Medical records
• Adoption records
• Grand jury records
• Investigation records
• Criminal history records
• Attorney discipline records
• Genetic testing information
• Genetic testing information
• Mediation proceeding records
• Probation counselor case records
• Involuntary commitment records
• Substance abuse evaluation reports
• Parentage adjudication information
• Sex offender registration information
• Adult protective services information
• Child abuse and neglect proceedings records
• Guardianships and conservatorships records
• Domestic relations financial affidavits and records
• Records related to children in need of supervision
• Patient records from the Wyoming Life Resources Center
• Sexual assault victim medical examination information and reports
• Identifying information contained in a domestic violence protection order

How to Find a Court Docket in Wyoming

Wyoming court dockets are fillings that could be notices, orders, or briefs relating to a case. A court provides a summary of what a case entails. Wyoming supreme court has a Public Docket tool that can be used to search for case dockets. A search can be conducted by case, issue, or participant. Search results typically reveal a filing date, document description, docket entry type and subtype, and status.

Types of Courts in Wyoming

The Wyoming court system comprises:

• Supreme Court: This is the highest court in Wyoming. Its decisions on a case are final except if it is related to federal law, which can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The supreme court handles appeals from the district courts. Wyoming has five supreme court justices.
• District courts: These are called trial courts. District courts have general jurisdiction over felony and civil cases (including juvenile and probate). They handle appeals from lower courts. District courts do not handle cases involving small claims, civil cases under $50,000, and misdemeanors. Wyoming has 26 district judges presiding over nine judicial districts.
• Chancery court: Handles cases where declaratory or injunctive relief is sought or cases relating to fraud, breach of contract, derivative actions, and breach of fiduciary duty that involves money recovery over $50,000.
• Circuit courts: These courts have civil and criminal jurisdictions. The civil jurisdiction handles cases not exceeding $50,000, stalking, family violence, and forcible entry and detainer cases. The criminal jurisdiction handles all misdemeanors. Circuit courts also set bail for arrested individuals and conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases. All 23 counties in Wyoming have circuit courts.
• Municipal courts: Handle cases relating to municipality ordinances. A municipal court judge only handles cases whose penalties do not exceed $750 and/or six months in jail. Individuals can appeal municipal court decisions to the district courts.

Civil vs Small Claims Courts in Wyoming: Understanding the Difference

Wyoming Small Claims Courts are divisions of the Circuit Courts. They are designed to be inexpensive and informal, with relaxed court rules to speedily resolve minor civil matters. The court handles matters involving torts, contracts, evictions, landlord/tenant disputes in which the amount in controversy does not exceed $6,000. A Wyoming Small Claims Court is presided over by a judge and upon request, may include a jury. The court procedures make room for self-representation by parties. However, any party may have legal representation in the court.

A small claims case commences when a plaintiff files a small claims affidavit with the Clerk of the Circuit Court that has jurisdiction over the person or property. The affidavit must be filed in the Circuit Court in the county where the contract was signed, where the property is located, or where the defendant can be found or resides. The typical filing fee is $10, and an additional $4 as an appearance fee. An individual, partnership, or corporation may sue or be sued in a small claims court if jurisdiction exists to hear the claim and the amount of the property or claim involved does not exceed $6,000.

Persons who desire to claim more than the maximum limit of $6,000 in the Small Claims Court must choose to reduce their claim or give up the right to recover the excess or sue in another Court. Wyoming civil cases may be heard in the District Courts or the Circuit Courts. If the amount in question does not exceed $50,000, the case is heard in the Circuit Court. Where the amount is above $50,000, the case is heard in the District Court.