How to Establish Paternity in Wyoming
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Wyoming · Last updated 2026-09-12
In Wyoming, establishing paternity means legally identifying a child's father under the Wyoming Parentage Act (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-401 and following) so the child gains rights to support, inheritance, health coverage, and benefits and the father can seek custody and visitation. Unmarried parents who agree can establish paternity without court by signing an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity, which once filed with the Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services, has the same legal effect as a court order. When parents do not agree, a court decides parentage, often after genetic testing, and the Wyoming Child Support Program can help. The load-bearing Wyoming rule is timing. When a child has a presumed father, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage must be brought within a reasonable time, but no later than five years after the child's birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807), unless the court finds the presumed father and mother never cohabited or had intercourse near conception and he never held the child out as his own. A man married to the mother when the child is born, or where the child is born within 300 days after the marriage ends, is a presumed father (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504). Attorney review of your situation is available through DocDraft.
Find out where you stand in Wyoming
Where are you in establishing paternity?
DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.
How long do I have to establish paternity in Wyoming?
When a child has a presumed father, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage must be commenced within a reasonable time, but no later than five years after the child's birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807). A limited exception allows a later challenge where the presumed father never cohabited with the mother near conception and never held the child out as his own.
What is the marital presumption of paternity in Wyoming?
Under Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504, a man is presumed the father if he and the mother are married and the child is born during the marriage, or if the child is born within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, divorce, or a decree of separation.
What genetic-testing result establishes paternity in Wyoming?
Under Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705, genetic testing identifies a man as the father when the results show at least a 99 percent probability of paternity, using a prior probability of one-half, with a combined paternity index of at least 100 to 1. He can rebut only with other genetic testing.
Can the Wyoming Child Support Program establish paternity in Wyoming?
Yes. The Wyoming Child Support Program helps parents establish paternity, arranges genetic testing, and can initiate court proceedings to determine parentage, often together with a child support case. The Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity is filed with the Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services.
Wyoming paternity law at a glance
Wyoming follows the Wyoming Parentage Act (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-401 and following). Its distinctive rule concerns a child who already has a presumed father: a proceeding to adjudicate parentage must be brought no later than five years after the child's birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807). That five-year limit can be set aside only where the presumed father never cohabited with the mother near conception and never held the child out as his own. A man married to the mother when the child is born, or within 300 days after the marriage ends, is a presumed father (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504). Unmarried parents who agree can sign an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity, filed with Vital Statistics Services, which carries the effect of a court order. Genetic testing identifies a father at a 99 percent probability with a combined paternity index of at least 100 to 1 (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705).
Establishing Wyoming paternity for a child of unmarried parents
Suppose a child is born in Wyoming to unmarried parents who agree on the father. At the hospital both sign an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity, filed with Vital Statistics Services, giving it the effect of a court order. If one parent has doubts, a signer can rescind within 60 days, the federal window; after that, a challenge must be brought within two years of filing and only for fraud, duress, or material mistake. Had the parents disputed paternity, either could file in the district court, where genetic testing showing at least a 99 percent probability identifies the father (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705). Had the child been born to a married mother, the husband would be a presumed father (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504) and any challenge would generally have to be brought no later than five years after birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807). Attorney review is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504 (presumption of paternity in context of marriage)
Provides that a man is presumed the father if he and the mother are married and the child is born during the marriage, or if the child is born within 300 days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, divorce, or a decree of separation.
Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705 (genetic-testing probability threshold)
Provides that a man is identified as the father if genetic testing shows at least a 99 percent probability of paternity, using a prior probability of one-half, and a combined paternity index of at least 100 to 1, rebuttable only by other genetic testing.
Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807 (limitation, child having presumed father)
Provides that a proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child having a presumed father must be commenced within a reasonable time after learning relevant facts, but no later than five years after the child's birth, with an exception where the presumed father never cohabited with the mother near conception and never held the child out as his own.
Wyoming Statutes 14-2-607 (rescission of an acknowledgment of paternity)
Provides that a signatory may rescind an acknowledgment or denial of paternity by commencing a proceeding to rescind before the earlier of 60 days or the first hearing in a proceeding to which the signatory is a party relating to the child.
Wyoming Statutes 14-2-601 (effect of acknowledgment of paternity)
Provides that a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the state office of vital records is equivalent to an adjudication of the paternity of a child and confers on the acknowledged father the rights and duties of a parent.
Wyoming Child Support Program
The Wyoming Child Support Program helps parents establish paternity, arrange genetic testing, and establish and enforce child support, and can initiate court proceedings to determine parentage.
Regional Variances
Wyoming paternity rules at a glance
Voluntary path and form
Unmarried parents establish paternity by signing an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity, filed with the Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services, which is equivalent to an adjudication of paternity (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-601).
Rescission window
A signer may rescind before the earlier of 60 days or the first hearing about the child (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-607). After that, a challenge must be brought within two years of filing, and only for fraud, duress, or material mistake.
Deadline to challenge a presumed father
For a child with a presumed father, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage must be brought no later than five years after birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807), subject to a narrow cohabitation-and-holding-out exception.
Marital presumption
A man is presumed the father if married to the mother and the child is born during the marriage, or the child is born within 300 days after the marriage ends (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504).
Genetic-testing threshold
Genetic testing identifies a man as the father at a 99 percent probability of paternity, using a prior probability of one-half, with a combined paternity index of at least 100 to 1 (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705).
Who administers it
The Wyoming Child Support Program helps establish paternity and can initiate proceedings; the affidavit is filed with Vital Statistics Services, and disputed parentage is decided by the district court.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Confirm whether the child has a presumed father
Before signing or filing anything days after startingDetermine whether a man was married to the mother when the child was born, or the child was born within 300 days after the marriage ended, which makes him a presumed father (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504). If so, a challenge must generally be brought no later than five years after birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807).
Get genetic testing if paternity is uncertain
Before signing an acknowledgment days after startingIf there is doubt, obtain genetic testing through the Child Support Program or the court. Under Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705, results of at least a 99 percent probability and a combined paternity index of at least 100 to 1 identify a man as the father.
Sign and file the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity
At the hospital or through the Child Support Program days after startingUnmarried parents who agree sign the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity and file it with the Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services, which gives it the effect of a court order (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-601). Keep a copy. Attorney review of your paternity matter is available through DocDraft.
Track the 60-day rescission window
Before the earlier of 60 days or the first hearing days after startingIf you need to cancel a signed acknowledgment, rescind before the earlier of 60 days or the first hearing about the child (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-607). After that, a challenge must be brought within two years of filing and only for fraud, duress, or material mistake.
File within five years to challenge a presumed father
Within 5 years of the child's birth days after startingIf a presumed father is involved and parents disagree, file a parentage action in the district court no later than five years after the child's birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807). The court can order genetic testing and enter a parentage order.
Keep records of the affidavit, testing, and orders
Ongoing days after startingSave copies of the signed affidavit, any genetic-test results, and court papers, and calendar the 60-day rescission window, the two-year acknowledgment-challenge window, and the five-year limit to challenge a presumed father (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807).
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm whether the child has a presumed father | Determine whether a man was married to the mother when the child was born, or the child was born within 300 days after the marriage ended, which makes him a presumed father (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504). If so, a challenge must generally be brought no later than five years after birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807). | - | Before signing or filing anything |
| Get genetic testing if paternity is uncertain | If there is doubt, obtain genetic testing through the Child Support Program or the court. Under Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705, results of at least a 99 percent probability and a combined paternity index of at least 100 to 1 identify a man as the father. | - | Before signing an acknowledgment |
| Sign and file the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity | Unmarried parents who agree sign the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity and file it with the Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services, which gives it the effect of a court order (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-601). Keep a copy. Attorney review of your paternity matter is available through DocDraft. | - | At the hospital or through the Child Support Program |
| Track the 60-day rescission window | If you need to cancel a signed acknowledgment, rescind before the earlier of 60 days or the first hearing about the child (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-607). After that, a challenge must be brought within two years of filing and only for fraud, duress, or material mistake. | - | Before the earlier of 60 days or the first hearing |
| File within five years to challenge a presumed father | If a presumed father is involved and parents disagree, file a parentage action in the district court no later than five years after the child's birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807). The court can order genetic testing and enter a parentage order. | - | Within 5 years of the child's birth |
| Keep records of the affidavit, testing, and orders | Save copies of the signed affidavit, any genetic-test results, and court papers, and calendar the 60-day rescission window, the two-year acknowledgment-challenge window, and the five-year limit to challenge a presumed father (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807). | - | Ongoing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Establishing paternity in Wyoming means legally identifying a child's father under the Wyoming Parentage Act so the child can receive support, inheritance, health coverage, and benefits, and the father can seek custody and visitation. It can be done by signing an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity or through a court action (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-504, 14-2-705).
Unmarried parents who agree sign an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity and file it with the Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services, which gives it the effect of a court order. If parents disagree, the district court decides parentage, often after ordering genetic testing (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705).
It is a form unmarried parents sign to establish legal fatherhood without going to court. Available at hospitals and through the Wyoming Child Support Program, it has the same legal effect as a court order once signed by both parents and filed with the Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services.
For a child who has a presumed father, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage must be brought no later than five years after the child's birth (Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807), subject to a narrow exception. There is also a 60-day window to rescind an acknowledgment and a two-year window to later challenge it.
Yes, within a limited window. A signer may rescind an Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity within 60 days, the federal rescission window. After that, it can be challenged in court within two years of filing, and only on the grounds of fraud, duress, or a material mistake of fact.
Under Wyoming Statutes 14-2-807, a proceeding to disprove the father-child relationship may be brought after five years only if the court determines the presumed father and the mother neither cohabited nor had intercourse during the probable time of conception, and the presumed father never openly held the child out as his own.
Under Wyoming Statutes 14-2-705, genetic testing identifies a man as the father when the results show at least a 99 percent probability of paternity, using a prior probability of one-half, with a combined paternity index of at least 100 to 1. He can rebut only with other genetic testing.
The Wyoming Child Support Program helps parents establish paternity and can initiate court proceedings, and the Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity is filed with the Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services. When paternity is contested, the district court decides it and can order genetic testing.
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