Wyoming Court Records: Home

Wyoming courts create a variety of records. This Information is used by attorneys, landmen, law enforcement officials, historians, genealogists, and other researchers to track property and mineral rights, social and economic conditions, personal behavior, business acumen, and the development of local communities.

The Wyoming State Archives maintains various court records. Statutes dictate the kinds of cases each court can hear.

Crook County Courthouse, Sundance, WY, WSA Sub Neg 26706 

The most used records are case files and dockets. Case files – a collection of records documenting the progress of individual cases – are found in circuit court and districts courts. Dockets – a summary of actions taken and records filed – are found in justice of the peace and municipal courts.

Case files are arranged numerically, either a number or a combination of year-month-number. Indexes provide access to these records. Most indexes are still maintained by the courts.

Docket books may or may not be indexed.

Other court records in the Archives include:

• Adoptions
• Appearance dockets
• Case Files
• Coroner’s inquests
• Estates
• Guardianships
• Insanity/involuntary hospitalization
• Irrigation district organization
• Journals
• Miscellaneous records
• Naturalization records

Statutes may dictate which are and are not open for public review.

The Wyoming Court system has several levels, and many have undergone several changes since the state’s inception. Wyoming statues dictate the responsibilities and types of actions heard by the respective courts.

• District Courts – civil, criminal and probate matters
• Circuit Court – civil and criminal matters
• Justice of the Peace Courts – civil and criminal matters. Older JP dockets may also contain inquest hearings supervised by the JP.
• Municipal Courts – violations of the city ordinances
• Supreme Court – appeal of district court decisions

The State Archives does not have records from every court in the state. Many courts prefer to keep all or some of their records. Many old JP dockets can be found in local museums.

Wyoming State Archives
2301 Central Ave
Cheyenne, WY 82002

Hours:
Mon. to Fri.: 8:30am to 4:30pm

Sat. and Sun.: Closed

Phone: 307-777-7826

Fax: 307-777-7044

Email: wyarchive@wyo.gov