Wyoming Vital Records
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Wyoming vital records are official documents from the Vital Statistics Services of the Wyoming Department of Health. This office handles government documents that record life events such as live births, stillbirths, marriages, deaths, divorces, and related documents. They are maintained according to the provisions of the Wyoming Public Records Act through a system that involves registration, collection, preservation, and certification of these records. Wyoming vital records are important for legal proof of identity through birth or death certificates. They can be used for demographic, statistical, or public health analysis as well as historical or genealogical research.
The Vital Statistics Services was established under the Wyoming Statutes § 35-1-402 through § 35-1-404 for the maintenance of these records. Wyoming vital records are restricted to certain individuals, which include the person named in the document, their immediate family members, or anyone with a direct interest or a court order. In Wyoming, the date from which vital records are maintained varies. Birth and death records are maintained from 1909 to date, while marriage and divorce records are maintained from 1941 to date. Birth and death records older than 100 years or marriage and divorce records older than 50 years are transferred for permanent storage to the Wyoming State Archives.
Public Access to Wyoming Vital Records
Wyoming vital records are maintained through the Department of Health, subject to the provisions of Wyoming Statutes § 35-1-426. This law prohibits the permitted inspection or disclosure of vital records to unauthorized individuals. Furthermore, the state registrar is the only authority that can issue certified copies of vital records.
Thus, Wyoming vital records are not accessible to the public. The qualified individuals include the record registrant, their parent or immediate family, legal representatives, and someone with a direct interest or a court order. Access to these records is restricted due to privacy concerns. Vital records usually contain sensitive or personally identifiable information that is restricted from public access. Controlling access to vital records will also help limit misuse of personal data or identity fraud.
Types of Vital Records Available in Wyoming
Wyoming vital records consist of information about major life events recorded in the state. These records begin with the registration of all births within the state using birth certificates. Other major life updates documented in Wyoming vital records include death records, marriage records, and divorce records. These records contain documents like divorce decrees, death certificates, and marriage licenses or certificates. The Vital Statistics Services can administer certified copies of vital records to qualified individuals which have an official stamp or seal. The certified copies are more functional than informational copies because they are useful for official processes such as benefits applications and estate matters. The agency may also issue a long or short form version of the records, depending on the type of event recorded.
Wyoming Birth Records
Birth records refer to official documents from the Vital Statistics Services that provide details about newborn deliveries in the state. This agency possesses records of deaths in the state dating back to 1909. These records include Wyoming birth certificates, which contain details like the time, date, and place of birth, the parents' information, the newborn's details, the certificate number, and more.
When live births occur, these details are collected and used to register the birth and issue a certificate, which is maintained by the agency. The Department of Health has a state registrar who issues Wyoming birth certificates to qualified requesters. Birth records are collated from reported births by local physicians, midwives, and hospitals into the state's centralized statewide vital records system. Qualified individuals can get a certified birth certificate, while the public can access informational copies.
Wyoming Death Records
Wyoming death records refer to official documentation about deceased individuals and the circumstances of their death. This typically refers to a Wyoming death certificate, which is maintained by the Department of Health's Vital Statistics Services. Death records generally contain details like the deceased's name, date, time, and place of death, the cause of death, the deceased's demographic data, and registration information. These certificates are collated using reported deaths from local hospitals and physicians within the state.
Death records are only available to qualified persons such as the immediate family members, anyone with a lawful interest, or legal representatives. Death records in Wyoming are maintained by the agency from 1909 to date. The state registrar generally authorizes the issuance of certified death certificates to the qualified requesters, while informational copies with limited details may be accessible to the public.
Wyoming Marriage Records
Marriage records refer to official documents that provide details about couples and marriages. These documents provide details such as the spouses' full names, place of residence, date of the marriage, where the marriage was conducted or celebrated, the officiant's name and title, and the registration information. Wyoming marriage records are maintained by the Vital Statistics Services, through which marriage certificates in Wyoming can be obtained. They are publicly accessible records in Wyoming. Thus, anyone can approach the Department of Health to obtain marriage records below 50 years old, while marriage records older than are available through the Wyoming State Archives.
Wyoming Divorce Records
Divorce records are documents, like divorce certificates, which provide information about dissolved marriages. These records can also be a court decree or judgment of divorce, which provides details like the grounds for divorce, custody or property orders, the names of the parties, as well as details about the court where the divorce was finalized and the judge involved in the case.
Wyoming divorce records are maintained by the Vital Statistics Services, where the public can access and obtain divorce records. Divorce decrees in Wyoming can also be obtained through the Clerk of the District Court where the case was finalized. Requesters can approach the clerk's office with a request for a Wyoming divorce decree. They also include case files from the court proceedings, which can also be obtained. Divorce certificates are useful for administrative and legal purposes such as remarriage, benefits application, and identity updates. The court documents and decree are useful for reference to important parts of the case, such as visitation, support, or custody orders, and property division.
How to Order Vital Records in Wyoming
Wyoming vital records can be ordered using various modes. The easiest and quickest request mode is to go to the agency in person. After filling out the request form in the agency's required format, you can proceed to submit the request and pay the required processing fees. The request forms can be obtained at the agency's office or online through the Forms website. These forms are valid for all other request modes, such as online, by phone, fax, and mail-in requests. For mail-in orders, the mail package will contain the request form, payment for processing fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope, which will be used to send a response back. Unlike in-person requests, mail-in requests are submitted at your preferred postal service to be sent to the agency. Online or phone orders are straightforward. For online orders, simply load the Department of Health's How to order certificates website and click on the record you want.
Who Can Request Wyoming Vital Records?
Vital records in Wyoming are not publicly accessible documents due to privacy protection. This means that only authorized individuals can access and obtain them. These authorized individuals include the record registrant, their legal representatives, immediate family, or persons with a court order or legitimate interest. Anyone submitting a records request will be required to provide a valid ID, proof of relationship, or a court order. These regulations ensure that private or personally identifiable data is protected to prevent cases of fraud or identity theft. The agency only issues certified copies to qualified individuals, while informational copies with limited content may be issued to researchers, historians, or genealogists.
| Record Type | Eligible Requestors | Required Documents | Official Source Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | The person named in the record, the legal guardians or parents, and authorized legal representatives | The application form, a valid ID, proof of relationship, or a court order | Only the state registrar can issue certified copies of birth certificates; counties can not. |
| Death Certificate | The deceased's immediate family, legal representatives, or persons with a lawful interest | The request form, a government-issued ID, a court order, or proof of relationship, and the deceased's and requester's details | The death report must be filed and forwarded to the Vital Statistics Services before a certificate will be available |
| Marriage Record | The spouses, legal representatives, and persons with legitimate legal interest | The request form, details about the spouses, a valid ID, proof of interest, or a court order | Only the state-issued marriage certificates are considered the official records stored perpetually. |
| Divorce Record | The former spouses, their legal representatives, persons with a court order, or a valid interest | The request application, the parties' names or date, proof of interest, or a court order | Not all divorces have the corresponding certificate. If a case is subjected to this, the court decree will suffice. |
Processing Times for Wyoming Vital Records Requests
Wyoming vital records requests are processed within varying time frames. This is due to some factors, such as the request mode, whether the request application has been completed properly, the age of the record, and the location of the record. Among the three request modes widely used, in-person requests are the quickest. They are simpler, and the presence of the requester encourages urgency. Mail-in requests usually take longer due to postal time.
Requesters may be required to wait for several weeks to process mail-in requests, especially if the agency has a backlog of requests to process. Online requests and ordering by phone have a similar processing time of a few business days. The location of certain documents can also affect the Wyoming vital records processing time. For example, older records will take more time to access due to a more extensive state archives, while recent records are usually on active platforms.
| Record Type | Factors That Influence Processing Time | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | The request mode, the completeness of the request form, the location, or the age of the record | Delayed registrations may cause unavailability or require further court documents or verification |
| Death Certificate | The time the death report was filed by the coroner or funeral home, the request mode, and the location of the record | Pending autopsy reports or a coroner's investigations may delay final registration |
| Marriage Record | The marriage license filing with the agency, the request mode, the age of the record, and the existence of any flagged irregularities | If marriage licenses are not transferred from the county to the state promptly, marriage records may not be available |
| Divorce Record | The divorce judgment filing with the agency, the location of the record, the request mode, and whether the certificate exists or not | Requesters can obtain the court judgment or decree in cases where the certificate was not created. Divorce records may be sealed and will require a court order to access them. |
Fees for Obtaining Vital Records in Wyoming
The vital records fee in Wyoming is uniform for a copy, but other charges based on the request mode or type of request can apply. The general fee for the first copy of vital records in Wyoming is $25 for the first copy. Wyoming death certificates cost an additional $20 for subsequent copies. There is also a convenience fee paid for online orders, which is calculated as 2.4% of the cost plus $1.00 minimum, according to the Vital Statistics Services Portal. Requesters using mail-in or online orders can send a check or include the payment in the mail package, while in-person requesters can pay in cash, personal checks, or credit cards.
How to Search Vital Records Online in Wyoming
Wyoming vital records can be searched online through the Vital Statistics Services' Portal. This website provides details on how to access the state's vital records and a Log In or Sign Up link. This link will take you to the portal, but you are required to create a profile before you can make a vital records order. Older vital records can also be searched through the Wyoming State Archives. Click on the Find It in the Archives link to access the Digital Collections webpage, where you can search vital records online in Wyoming. The District Court also provides access to divorce case files and judgments through the Wyoming State Court Case Search website.