Lincoln County Court Records Search
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Lincoln County, Wyoming sits in the southwestern corner of the state, straddling the Wyoming Range and Star Valley. Its county seat is Kemmerer, though a second major population center in Afton means that court services are split across two locations. The county's court system includes one District Court, two Circuit Courts, and a cluster of Municipal Courts serving individual towns throughout the area. Knowing which court handles which type of case — and where those offices are — is essential before making any records request.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Lincoln County?
Wyoming residents and researchers can start a court case search through WyomingCourts.us, the official home of the Wyoming Judicial Branch. For in-person access to non-public terminals, the county courthouse in Kemmerer has a Public Access and Search System (PASS) workstation where visitors can review non-confidential case records at no charge. Documents filed with the Wyoming Supreme Court are available for free through the Wyoming Judicial Branch eFiling portal. County-level records held by the Clerk of District Court require either an in-person visit or a written request. The County Clerk's iDoc Market public records service provides online access to scanned copies of documents recorded at the Clerk's office.
Are Court Records Public in Lincoln County?
Wyoming's Public Records Act (W.S. § 16-4-201 through § 16-4-205) creates a strong presumption that public records are open for inspection by any person at reasonable times during business hours. Courts and government offices covered by this statute must allow inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies.
Several categories of records are withheld from general public access in Lincoln County, regardless of the requester's reason:
- Juvenile records — proceedings involving minors are sealed under Wyoming law to protect young people from permanent public exposure
- Adoption records — adoption files are confidential and accessible only to parties directly named in the proceeding or their legal representatives
- Expunged criminal records — once a court grants expungement under W.S. § 7-13-1501, the record is removed from public view
- Certain family law matters — cases involving abuse or domestic violence may be sealed or partially redacted at the judge's discretion
- Child custody and child support details — specific financial and personal details in custody files may be restricted
For records that are accessible, you'll generally need to supply the case number, the full names of the parties involved, or approximate filing dates to help clerks locate the file. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through designated online platforms.
Lincoln County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases in Lincoln County are divided by severity. Felony matters — including crimes carrying penalties of more than a year's imprisonment — are heard exclusively in the District Court. Misdemeanors, traffic violations, and lower-level offenses fall under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts, which operate out of both Kemmerer and Afton.
Lincoln County District Court — Clerk of District Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 925 Sage Ave, Suite 202, Kemmerer, WY 83101 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 510, Kemmerer, WY 83101 |
| Phone | (307) 877-9056 |
| Fax | (307) 877-6263 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM |
The Clerk of the Third Judicial District Court maintains criminal case files, docket sheets, warrants, judgments, and sentencing documents. A written request is required for any record search, and a fee of $10.00 per name applies. Payment must be made at the time of service by cash, check, cashier's check, or money order — credit cards are not accepted. Fax filing is permitted only with prior approval, is capped at ten pages, and requires the original documents to be mailed the same day.
Arrest records and incident reports maintained by the Sheriff's Office are handled through a separate process. The Sheriff's Afton branch coordinates most records releases:
- Phone: (Afton Records Unit): (307) 885-4940
- Fee: $5.00 per case report
- All reports must be approved by the County Attorney's Office before release
- Active cases are not releasable
- Requesters must sign a records release form prior to approval
The Sheriff's Office also maintains a publicly viewable inmate roster updated regularly with current booking information, charges, and arrest dates for inmates held at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
For Wyoming criminal history background checks — including statewide records — individuals and employers may contact the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation directly through the Wyoming Department of Justice.
Lincoln County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Lincoln County is handled at two levels depending on the amount in dispute. The Circuit Courts hear civil claims where the amount sought does not exceed $50,000, and they maintain exclusive jurisdiction over small claims cases up to $6,000 under Wyo. Stat. § 1-21-201. Cases exceeding $50,000 must be filed in the District Court.
Lincoln County Circuit Court — Kemmerer
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1040 Justice Center Drive, P.O. Box 949, Kemmerer, WY 83101 |
| Phone | (307) 877-4431 |
| Fax | (307) 877-4936 |
| cckem@courts.state.wy.us |
Lincoln County Circuit Court — Afton
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 421 Jefferson Street, Suite 101, Afton, WY 83110 |
| Phone | (307) 886-9271 |
| Fax | (307) 886-9021 |
| ccaft@courts.state.wy.us |
Small claims in Wyoming Circuit Court carry a $10.00 filing fee, making it one of the most accessible civil filing options in the state. Parties represent themselves in small claims and no attorney is required. Self-represented litigants can find helpful guidance through Wyoming Judicial Branch Self-Help Forms, which include forms for garnishments, landlord-tenant disputes, and protection orders.
For civil matters filed in the District Court, the filing fee structure from the District Court Fee Schedule is as follows:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Civil case filing | $160.00 |
| Modification or reopened case | $160.00 |
| Jury demand (6-person) | $50.00 |
| Jury demand (12-person) | $150.00 |
| Supreme Court appeal | $240.00 |
| Record search (per name) | $10.00 |
| Copy — first page | $1.00 |
| Copy — each additional page | $0.50 |
| Certification (seal) | $2.50 |
| Attestation of Clerk | $7.50 |
Civil records — including judgments, case filings, motions, and orders — are maintained by the Clerk of District Court and can be accessed through a written request submitted in person or by mail to the Kemmerer courthouse. Scanned documents recorded at the County Clerk's office may also be searched through the iDoc Market public records portal and the legacy Weblink public records archive, which contains documents filed prior to January 2015.
Lincoln County also has multiple Municipal Courts serving individual municipalities. These courts handle violations of local ordinances and certain traffic infractions:
- Afton Municipal Court — 416 Washington St, P.O. Box 310, Afton, WY 83110 | (307) 885-9831
- Alpine Municipal Court — 250 River Circle, P.O. Box 3070, Alpine, WY 83128 | (307) 654-7757
- Cokeville Municipal Court — 110 Pine Street, P.O. Box 99, Cokeville, WY 83114 | (307) 279-3225
- Diamondville Municipal Court — 20 US Hwy 189, P.O. Box 281, Diamondville, WY 83116 | (307) 877-6676
- Kemmerer Municipal Court — 220 Wyoming Hwy 233, Kemmerer, WY 83101 | (307) 828-2350
- La Barge Municipal Court — 228 South La Barge Street, La Barge, WY 83123 | (307) 386-2676
- Opal Municipal Court — 135 Chrisman Street, P.O. Box 130, Opal, WY 83124 | (307) 877-3919
- Star Valley Ranch Municipal Court — Vista Drive, HC 62 Box 70071, Star Valley Ranch, WY 83127 | (307) 883-8696
Lincoln County Family Court Records
In Wyoming, family law matters — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and domestic violence protection orders — are filed and decided in the District Court. Because Lincoln County does not have a separately designated Family Court division, all family-related filings go through the Clerk of District Court at the Kemmerer address listed above.
Divorce Records
Divorce proceedings are initiated in the District Court and generate records including petitions, decrees of divorce, and related orders covering property division, custody, and support. Certified copies of divorce decrees may be requested directly from the Clerk of District Court for $2.50 per certification seal plus copying fees. For official divorce certificates — as distinct from court-issued decrees — the Wyoming Department of Health maintains statewide records through its Vital Record Services office. The fee for an official marriage or divorce certificate from the state is $25.00. The Vital Records Services office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Divorce records and marriage certificates are restricted from general public access for the first 50 years after their creation. During that period, access is limited to the parties named in the record, their immediate family members, or a legally authorized representative.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses are issued by the Lincoln County Clerk's office. The Lincoln County public records portal provides access to various county-recorded documents, and the County Clerk can be reached at (307) 877-9056. Certified state-issued marriage certificates are available through Wyoming Vital Records Services.
Domestic Violence and Protection Orders
Protection orders — including domestic violence orders and anti-harassment orders — are filed in the District Court. Foreign protection orders issued by courts in other states are filed with the Lincoln County Clerk of District Court at no charge. Self-represented parties seeking to file for a protection order can access the relevant forms through the Wyoming Judicial Branch Self-Help Forms page.
Birth and Death Records
Birth certificates in Wyoming are restricted for 100 years from the date of creation and are accessible only to the individual named, parents or legal guardians, or authorized legal representatives. Death certificates are accessible to the public and may be ordered through Wyoming Vital Records Services. Fees are $25.00 for the first copy of a death certificate and $20.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.
Lincoln County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Lincoln County — including estate administration, appointment of personal representatives, guardianship proceedings, conservatorships, name changes, and will filings — fall under the jurisdiction of the District Court. The Clerk of District Court in Kemmerer maintains all probate case records and processes requests during regular business hours.
Filing a probate case carries a standard fee of $160.00, consistent with other civil filings in the District Court. Filing a will with the court for safekeeping carries no charge. Probate records are considered public records under the Wyoming Public Records Act, so interested parties can request access to estate inventories, wills admitted to probate, letters testamentary, and final accountings.
To request probate records, submit a written request to the Clerk of District Court at 925 Sage Avenue, Suite 202, Kemmerer, WY 83101. The search fee of $10.00 per name applies, and copies are priced at $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Certified copies carry a $2.50 certification seal fee per document, with a $7.50 attestation of clerk fee for exemplification.
Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings follow the same filing and fee structure as other probate matters. Petitioners seeking to manage the estate or person of an incapacitated adult or a minor without an active will must file in the District Court. Self-help resources for small estate procedures and related probate forms are available through the Wyoming Judicial Branch Self-Help Forms page, which includes dedicated probate forms for small estates.
For parties interested in reviewing older Lincoln County District Court records from a historical or genealogical perspective, the Wyoming State Archives maintains a guide to Lincoln County District Court records that catalogs older case files covering felony criminal matters, civil disputes, divorce, and probate proceedings.
Property Records
Although not a court record category, property records are closely tied to probate and estate matters. Lincoln County property records — including deeds, mortgages, assessment rolls, and tax parcel information — are maintained by the County Assessor's Office and the County Clerk. The Lincoln County GIS portal allows the public to search parcel data and property details online, and the county's property details search tool pulls directly from the current assessment database. Recorded land documents from January 2015 forward are searchable through iDoc Market, while pre-2015 documents remain accessible through the legacy Weblink archive.