How to Modify Child Support in Wyoming
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Wyoming · Last updated September 21, 2026
In Wyoming, a child support modification is a district court changing the dollar amount of an existing child support order after circumstances change. The state gives you a clear numeric trigger: if applying Wyoming's presumptive guideline would change the support amount by 20 percent or more per month from your current order, and that order was entered more than six months ago, the court treats that as a change of circumstances sufficient to justify a modification (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). You can also ask at any time based on any substantial change of circumstances, and every three years either parent can request a review with no showing of change at all. You have two paths. You can file a Petition for Modification of Child Support with the district court that entered your order, using the Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help child support modification packet, or, if the Wyoming Child Support Program (Department of Family Services) enforces your case, that program can petition for review on your behalf. A change takes effect only from the date notice of your petition was served on the other parent, not from when your circumstances changed, so support that already came due cannot be reduced (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Keep paying your current order until the court signs a new one. Attorney review of your filing is available through DocDraft.
Find out where you stand in Wyoming
Where are you with changing your child support order?
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How do I modify child support in Wyoming?
File a Petition for Modification of Child Support with the district court that entered your order, using the Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help modification packet. If the Wyoming Child Support Program enforces your case, it can petition for review instead. You must show a change of circumstances (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311).
How much does support have to change to modify child support in Wyoming?
For an order entered more than six months ago, Wyoming treats a 20 percent or more per month difference between the current order and the presumptive guideline amount as a change of circumstances sufficient to justify modification (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). You can also show any substantial change at any time.
How far back can a child support change go in Wyoming?
A modification can take effect only from the date notice of the petition was served on the other parent, not from when circumstances changed (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Support that already came due cannot be reduced, so serving promptly protects you. Keep paying the current order until a judge changes it.
Which court handles child support modifications in Wyoming?
The district court that entered your existing order handles modifications in Wyoming. If the Wyoming Child Support Program (Department of Family Services) enforces your case, it can petition the district court for a review and adjustment. Every three years either parent can request a review with no showing of change (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311).
Wyoming child support modification at a glance
In Wyoming, a child support modification is a district court changing an existing support order after a change of circumstances. The headline rule is numeric: for an order entered more than six months ago, if applying Wyoming's presumptive guideline would change the support amount by 20 percent or more per month, the court considers that a change of circumstances sufficient to justify modification (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). You can also allege any substantial change at any time, and every three years either parent may request a review with no showing of change. You file a Petition for Modification of Child Support in the district court that entered your order, or the Wyoming Child Support Program can petition when it enforces your case. A change applies only from the date notice of the petition was served, so support already due cannot be reduced (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311).
Lowering a Wyoming order after a layoff
Suppose your Wyoming order was entered two years ago and your income dropped after a layoff, so the presumptive guideline would now cut your support by more than 20 percent per month. Because that 20 percent or more per month difference counts as a change of circumstances (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311), you complete the Wyoming Judicial Branch modification packet with a verified financial statement and file your Petition for Modification in the district court that entered your order. You serve the other parent right away, because the change reaches back only to the date notice was served, not to your layoff (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). You keep paying the current amount until the judge rules. At the hearing the court applies the guideline (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-304) and signs a lower order. Attorney review of your filing is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311 (adjustment of child support orders)
Provides that any party, or the Department of Family Services when it enforces the order, may petition to review and adjust an order entered more than six months earlier, and that a 20 percent or more per month change from the presumptive amount is a change of circumstances sufficient to justify modification. Subsection (d) bars retroactive modification except by agreement or from the date notice of the petition was served.
Wyo. Stat. 20-2-304 (presumptive child support)
Sets out Wyoming's presumptive child support amounts, the guideline the court applies when reviewing an existing order to decide whether the support amount would change by 20 percent or more per month.
Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help forms (child support modification)
The Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help center provides the Child Support Modification packets, including the Petition for Modification of Child Support and Judgment for Arrears and the verified financial statement, for filing in the district court.
Wyoming Child Support Program (Department of Family Services)
The Wyoming Child Support Program, part of the Department of Family Services, helps parents establish, enforce, and modify child support orders and can petition the district court for a review and adjustment when it enforces a case.
Regional Variances
Wyoming child support modification rules at a glance
Qualifying threshold
For an order entered more than six months ago, a 20 percent or more per month change between the current order and the presumptive guideline amount is a change of circumstances sufficient to justify modification (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). You can also allege any substantial change at any time.
Where to file
The district court that entered your existing order. If the Wyoming Child Support Program (Department of Family Services) enforces your case, it can petition the district court for a review and adjustment on your behalf.
Modification form
The Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help Child Support Modification packet, including the Petition for Modification of Child Support and Judgment for Arrears and a verified financial statement on Supreme Court approved forms. Forms are free through the Wyoming courts self-help site.
Retroactivity
A modification is not retroactive except by agreement of the parties, and otherwise reaches back only to the date notice of the petition was served on the other parent (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Support already due cannot be reduced.
Periodic review
Every three years either parent, or the Department of Family Services in an enforced case, may request a review and adjustment with no showing of a change in circumstances (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311).
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Estimate the guideline and check the 20 percent trigger
Before you file days after startingGather current pay stubs and tax returns for both parents and estimate the presumptive guideline amount (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-304) to see whether it differs from your current order by 20 percent or more per month (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Attorney review of your filing is available through DocDraft.
Complete the Petition for Modification packet
As soon as your circumstances change days after startingFill out the Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help Child Support Modification packet, including the Petition for Modification of Child Support and Judgment for Arrears and the verified financial statement on Supreme Court approved forms. The forms are free through the Wyoming courts self-help site.
File with the district court
Promptly days after startingFile your petition and financial statement with the clerk of the district court that entered your order and pay the filing fee, or ask about a fee waiver. Filing opens the case, but the change only reaches back to when notice is served (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311).
Serve the other parent and file proof of service
Right after filing days after startingHave the other parent served under the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, then file proof of service. Serve promptly, because a modification reaches back only to the date notice of the petition was served, not the date you filed (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311).
Consider a Wyoming Child Support Program review
Anytime your case is with the agency days after startingIf the Wyoming Child Support Program (Department of Family Services) enforces your case, ask it to review your order and petition the district court for you. Either parent can also request a review every three years with no showing of a change.
Attend the hearing and get the new order
On your hearing date days after startingBring your financial statement and proof of the change to the hearing. The court applies the presumptive guideline and signs a new order effective from the date notice was served (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Keep paying the current order until then.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate the guideline and check the 20 percent trigger | Gather current pay stubs and tax returns for both parents and estimate the presumptive guideline amount (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-304) to see whether it differs from your current order by 20 percent or more per month (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Attorney review of your filing is available through DocDraft. | - | Before you file |
| Complete the Petition for Modification packet | Fill out the Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help Child Support Modification packet, including the Petition for Modification of Child Support and Judgment for Arrears and the verified financial statement on Supreme Court approved forms. The forms are free through the Wyoming courts self-help site. | - | As soon as your circumstances change |
| File with the district court | File your petition and financial statement with the clerk of the district court that entered your order and pay the filing fee, or ask about a fee waiver. Filing opens the case, but the change only reaches back to when notice is served (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). | - | Promptly |
| Serve the other parent and file proof of service | Have the other parent served under the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, then file proof of service. Serve promptly, because a modification reaches back only to the date notice of the petition was served, not the date you filed (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). | - | Right after filing |
| Consider a Wyoming Child Support Program review | If the Wyoming Child Support Program (Department of Family Services) enforces your case, ask it to review your order and petition the district court for you. Either parent can also request a review every three years with no showing of a change. | - | Anytime your case is with the agency |
| Attend the hearing and get the new order | Bring your financial statement and proof of the change to the hearing. The court applies the presumptive guideline and signs a new order effective from the date notice was served (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Keep paying the current order until then. | - | On your hearing date |
Frequently Asked Questions
A real income drop can support a modification, but you must petition the district court to change the amount; support keeps accruing at the old rate until the court acts (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Do not simply stop paying. The court applies the presumptive guideline to your current income (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-304).
No. Either parent, or the Wyoming Child Support Program when it enforces the case, can petition the district court on their own, and the other parent is served and can respond (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). If both parents agree, a modification can also be based on their agreement.
After you file and serve your Petition for Modification, the district court sets a hearing, often several weeks to a few months out depending on the county. Because a change reaches back only to the date notice was served, serving promptly protects you (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311).
If the Wyoming Child Support Program (Department of Family Services) enforces your case, it can petition the district court for a review and adjustment of your order (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Either parent can also request a review every three years with no showing of a change in circumstances.
You can petition whenever a substantial change of circumstances occurs, and every three years either parent can request a review with no showing of change at all (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). There is no limit on filing when the guideline amount would change by 20 percent or more per month.
A modification changes support only from the date notice of the petition was served, not earlier (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). Support that already came due, called arrears, cannot be reduced or erased by a modification. Keep paying your current order to avoid building arrears while your petition is pending.
Wyoming's Judicial Branch provides a self-help Child Support Modification packet with the Petition for Modification of Child Support and Judgment for Arrears, plus a verified financial statement on forms approved by the Wyoming Supreme Court (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). The forms are free through the Wyoming courts self-help site.
To use the 20 percent trigger, your order must have been entered more than six months before your petition (Wyo. Stat. 20-2-311). You can still petition earlier based on any substantial change of circumstances, and every three years either parent may request a review without showing a change.
Other Wyoming guides
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