How to File for Divorce in Wyoming (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Wyoming · Last updated 2026-05-18
Filing for divorce in Wyoming means working within Wyoming's own rules on residency, grounds, property, and support. Wyoming divides marital property under equitable distribution (a fair, not automatically equal, split), and the no-fault path is available on irreconcilable differences. Before filing, note the residency rule: Either spouse must have resided in Wyoming for at least 60 days immediately before filing, or the marriage was solemnized in Wyoming and one spouse has resided there continuously from the marriage to filing. This guide walks the Wyoming-specific steps, forms, and statutes (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104) you need.
Key Considerations
When a Wyoming court divides what a couple owns, it applies the equitable-distribution rule. Equitable distribution: the court makes a just and equitable disposition of the property having regard to the parties' respective merits, the condition in which they will be left, the party through whom the property was acquired, and the burdens imposed on the property; not a strict 50/50 split. The controlling authority is Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-114.
On spousal support, Alimony is discretionary; Wyoming courts may decree maintenance based on the parties' respective financial circumstances, with no statutory formula and a general preference for property division over ongoing support. The governing authority is Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-114.
Child support uses an income-shares model Percentage-of-income guideline based on the parents' combined net income and the number of children, with a presumptive support table and adjustments for shared or split custody The guideline lives at Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304, with the official calculator.
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Relevant Documents
In Wyoming, Complaint for Divorce filed in the District Court of the county where either spouse resides. The Wyoming Judicial Branch publishes statewide self-represented divorce packets, including DWCP 7 (Complaint for Divorce with Children) and the corresponding Divorce With No Children complaint within Packet 3 (Divorce with No Children, Plaintiff). Packet 1 covers Divorce with Minor Children for the Plaintiff.
Child Support Worksheet
This document calculates the appropriate amount of child support based on both parents' incomes, the custody arrangement, and other factors.
Final Decree of Divorce
This is the final court order that legally ends your marriage and includes all the terms of your divorce including property division, support, and child custody arrangements.
Financial Disclosure Declaration
Both spouses must complete this document detailing all assets, debts, income, and expenses to ensure fair division of property and appropriate support amounts.
Marital Settlement Agreement
This document outlines the terms of your divorce agreement including property division, debt allocation, spousal support, and child custody arrangements if applicable.
Parenting Plan
If you have children, this document details the custody arrangement, visitation schedule, and decision-making responsibilities for the children.
Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)
This document is necessary if you need to divide retirement accounts or pension benefits between spouses as part of the divorce settlement.
Response to Petition for Dissolution
If you're the responding spouse, this document allows you to answer the claims in the petition and state your own requests regarding the divorce terms.
Summons
This document notifies your spouse that a divorce action has been filed and that they have a certain amount of time to respond.
Wage Withholding Order
This document directs an employer to withhold child support or spousal support payments from a spouse's paycheck.
Relevant Laws
Wyoming Statute § 20-2-104 - Residence Requirements for Divorce
To file for divorce in Wyoming, either you or your spouse must have been a resident of Wyoming for at least 60 days immediately before filing. This residency requirement must be met before the court has jurisdiction to grant a divorce.
Wyoming Statute § 20-2-114 - Property Division in Divorce
Wyoming follows equitable distribution principles, meaning the court will divide marital property in a manner it deems just and equitable, considering factors such as the length of marriage, contributions of each spouse, and the earning capacity of each party. This is not necessarily a 50/50 split.
Wyoming Statute § 20-2-201 - Child Custody Determination
In Wyoming, child custody decisions are made based on the best interests of the child. The court considers factors such as the quality of the relationship between each parent and child, ability of each parent to provide adequate care, and evidence of domestic violence.
Wyoming Statute § 20-2-301 to 316 - Child Support Guidelines
Wyoming uses specific guidelines to calculate child support based primarily on the income of both parents and the number of children. These guidelines create a presumptive amount of support, though courts can deviate from the guidelines in appropriate circumstances.
Wyoming Statute § 20-2-111 - Alimony/Spousal Support
The court may order one spouse to pay alimony to the other during the divorce proceedings and/or after the divorce is finalized. Factors considered include length of marriage, financial resources of each spouse, and the receiving spouse's ability to become self-supporting.
Wyoming Statute § 20-2-106 - Grounds for Divorce
Wyoming is a no-fault divorce state, meaning you can file for divorce based on 'irreconcilable differences' without proving wrongdoing. However, Wyoming also allows fault-based grounds such as adultery, cruelty, desertion, and substance abuse.
Wyoming Statute § 20-2-112 - Waiting Period
Wyoming has a 20-day waiting period after filing before a divorce can be finalized. However, the actual time to complete a divorce depends on the court's schedule and whether the divorce is contested or uncontested.
Regional Variances
Wyoming County-Specific Divorce Procedures
As Wyoming's most populous county, Laramie County has more resources for divorce proceedings. The District Court in Cheyenne typically processes divorces faster than rural counties. They offer specific self-help divorce clinics on the first Tuesday of each month and have dedicated family law facilitators to assist pro se litigants.
Natrona County requires an additional parenting class called 'Children in the Middle' for divorcing couples with minor children. This must be completed before a divorce decree will be issued. The county also has specific local rules regarding temporary custody arrangements that may differ from other Wyoming counties.
Due to the high-value assets often involved in Teton County divorces (Jackson Hole area), the court typically requires more detailed financial disclosures than other counties. They also have specialized procedures for handling complex property divisions involving vacation properties and investment portfolios common in this affluent area.
Albany County has implemented an expedited divorce process for couples without children who have been married less than 8 years and have limited assets. This can significantly reduce the waiting period compared to other counties. The University of Wyoming College of Law also offers free legal clinics to qualifying residents.
Sweetwater County has unique scheduling procedures due to the rural nature and large geographic area it covers. Divorce hearings are typically only held on specific days of the month, which can extend timelines. The county also requires mediation attempts before contested hearings in all divorce cases, which is not mandatory statewide.
Wyoming Tribal Jurisdiction Considerations
The Wind River Reservation, home to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes, operates under tribal court jurisdiction for divorces between tribal members. If one spouse is a tribal member and one is not, complex jurisdictional issues arise that may require cases to proceed in both tribal and state courts simultaneously. Tribal courts may apply different standards for property division and child custody based on tribal customs and laws.
Wyoming Border Areas with Special Considerations
Residents in these border counties may have property or business interests in both states, creating complex jurisdictional issues. Wyoming's more favorable tax laws often make it advantageous to establish residency here before filing, but property division for assets in Colorado may still be subject to Colorado law. These counties often have judges with specific experience handling cross-state divorce matters.
These counties deal with unique religious considerations due to proximity to Utah. Courts in these areas have more experience with divorces involving plural marriage situations or strict religious covenant marriages that may have been performed in Utah but are not legally recognized in Wyoming.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Verify jurisdiction first: Either spouse must have resided in Wyoming for at least 60 days immediately before filing,.
Before filing days after startingThis is set by Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-107.
State the grounds
Before filing days after startingNo-fault: the sole general ground is irreconcilable differences in the marital relationship (a separate ground exists for incurable insanity) (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104).
Open the case by filing the petition
At filing days after startingComplaint for Divorce filed in the District Court of the county where either spouse resides. The Wyoming Judicial Branch publishes statewide self-represented divorce packets, including DWCP 7 (Complaint for Divorce with Children) and the corresponding Divorce With No Children complaint within Packet 3 (Divorce with No Children, Plaintiff). Packet 1 covers Divorce with Minor Children for the Plaintiff. The filing fee is approximately $70 to $160 depending on county. A fee waiver is available: Motion and Affidavit to waive the filing fee for indigent filers.
Serve the spouse and complete financial disclosure
After filing days after startingThe responding spouse must be formally served, and both sides typically exchange a financial affidavit before the case proceeds.
Account for the waiting period
After filing days after startingNo fixed statutory cooling-off period; the only required showing is irreconcilable differences (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104).
Close out the case
Final step days after startingWith the statutory period satisfied and all terms agreed or tried, the court enters the order that legally ends the marriage.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verify jurisdiction first: Either spouse must have resided in Wyoming for at least 60 days immediately before filing,. | This is set by Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-107. | - | Before filing |
| State the grounds | No-fault: the sole general ground is irreconcilable differences in the marital relationship (a separate ground exists for incurable insanity) (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104). | - | Before filing |
| Open the case by filing the petition | Complaint for Divorce filed in the District Court of the county where either spouse resides. The Wyoming Judicial Branch publishes statewide self-represented divorce packets, including DWCP 7 (Complaint for Divorce with Children) and the corresponding Divorce With No Children complaint within Packet 3 (Divorce with No Children, Plaintiff). Packet 1 covers Divorce with Minor Children for the Plaintiff. The filing fee is approximately $70 to $160 depending on county. A fee waiver is available: Motion and Affidavit to waive the filing fee for indigent filers. | divorce-petition | At filing |
| Serve the spouse and complete financial disclosure | The responding spouse must be formally served, and both sides typically exchange a financial affidavit before the case proceeds. | - | After filing |
| Account for the waiting period | No fixed statutory cooling-off period; the only required showing is irreconcilable differences (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104). | - | After filing |
| Close out the case | With the statutory period satisfied and all terms agreed or tried, the court enters the order that legally ends the marriage. | - | Final step |
Frequently Asked Questions
Either spouse must have resided in Wyoming for at least 60 days immediately before filing, or the marriage was solemnized in Wyoming and one spouse has resided there continuously from the marriage to filing. This is set by Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-107.
No-fault: the sole general ground is irreconcilable differences in the marital relationship (a separate ground exists for incurable insanity). The governing statute is Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104.
Wyoming uses equitable distribution (a fair, not automatically equal, split). Equitable distribution: the court makes a just and equitable disposition of the property having regard to the parties' respective merits, the condition in which they will be left, the party through whom the property was acquired, and the burdens imposed on the property; not a strict 50/50 split. See Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-114.
approximately $70 to $160 depending on county. Motion and Affidavit to waive the filing fee for indigent filers
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