Guide to Uncontested Divorce in Wyoming

Uncontested / Simple Divorce in Wyoming: A Plain-English Guide

Going through a divorce in Wyoming can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re trying to keep things civil, affordable, and as low-stress as possible. The good news is that when you and your spouse largely agree on the important issues, an uncontested divorce in Wyoming can be much simpler than a full-blown court battle.

Wyoming also has one of the fastest divorce timelines in the country. Wyoming law has a hard minimum: under W.S. § 20-2-108, the District Court cannot enter a Decree of Divorce until at least 20 days have passed from the date the Complaint for Divorce is filed. After that minimum, a judge may be able to sign your Decree quickly if your paperwork is complete and your case is genuinely uncontested.

In some counties and situations, you may even be able to finalize your divorce without going to court by using a packet form called an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties.

This guide walks you through what a simple divorce in Wyoming looks like: who qualifies under W.S. § 20-2-107, how the process works, how long it might take, and where a DIY approach fits in. We’ll use Wyoming-specific terms like Complaint for Divorce, Confidential Financial Affidavit, Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service, and Decree of Divorce so you can recognize them when you see them in the official Wyoming Judicial Branch packets.

Throughout, remember:

• PlainDivorce.com is not a law firm.
• This article is legal information only, not legal advice.
• We are describing general Wyoming District Court procedures, not your specific case.
• Court forms, rules, and fees change over time, and you must always verify details with official Wyoming court sources or a local lawyer before you act.

If, after reading, you feel you need legal advice about your rights or whether your agreement is fair, it’s always wise to speak with a Wyoming family law attorney or legal aid office.

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Table of Contents

• 1. What Is an Uncontested or Simple Divorce in Wyoming?
• 2. Who Qualifies for an Uncontested Divorce in Wyoming?
• 3. Step-by-Step Overview of the Uncontested Divorce Process
• 4. Special Issues When You Have Children
• 5. How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take in Wyoming?
• 6. What Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost?
• 7. When a DIY Divorce Might Not Be Right for You
• 8. Where a Self-Help Divorce Kit Fits Into the Process
• 9. Final Thoughts and Next Steps

1. What Is an Uncontested or Simple Divorce in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, people often use the term “uncontested divorce” when:

• You and your spouse agree the marriage is over, and
• You agree on all the major issues, including:
  • How to divide property and debts
  • Whether there will be alimony (spousal support), and how much
  • Where the children will live and when they see each parent (if you have children)
  • How child support and health insurance for the children will be handled

Wyoming law lists “irreconcilable differences in the marital relationship” as a cause for divorce under W.S. § 20-2-104. There is no special statute for “simple divorce,” but in practice a Wyoming uncontested divorce is a case where:

• One spouse (the Plaintiff) files a Complaint for Divorce in District Court,
• The other spouse (the Defendant) cooperates instead of fighting, often by signing an Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service and the proposed Decree of Divorce, and
• The judge can approve your agreed Decree of Divorce without a long series of hearings.

In many counties, a truly uncontested divorce can sometimes be finished “on the papers” if you use the packet form called an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties. That affidavit asks the judge to review your documents and sign the Decree without requiring you to appear in court.

Uncontested vs. contested

It helps to contrast an uncontested case with a contested one:

• In a contested divorce, the spouses disagree on one or more issues. The District Court may need multiple hearings, temporary orders, mediation, and possibly a trial.
• In an uncontested divorce, the District Court’s job is mostly to make sure:
  • It has jurisdiction (you meet residency rules, and Wyoming can decide child issues),
  • Your agreement is within the law (especially regarding children and support), and
  • You’ve completed the required forms and procedures, including the Complaint for Divorce, Confidential Financial Affidavit, and a clear Decree of Divorce.

Process snapshot: Complaint for Divorce → Service (or Acceptance of Service) → 20-day statutory minimum waiting period (verify the current Wyoming statute citation) → Decree of Divorce (with or without appearance, where allowed).

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2. Who Qualifies for an Uncontested Divorce in Wyoming?

When people ask, “Do I qualify for an uncontested divorce in Wyoming?” there are really two questions underneath that:

• Do you qualify to file for divorce in Wyoming at all?
• Is your case a good fit to stay “uncontested” from start to finish?

Wyoming residency requirements (W.S. § 20-2-107)

You generally qualify to file a Complaint for Divorce in Wyoming under W.S. § 20-2-107 if:

• Either you or your spouse has lived in Wyoming for at least 60 days immediately before filing, or
• You were married in Wyoming and one of you has lived here continuously from the date of the marriage up to the date you file.

You normally file in the District Court for the county where you or your spouse currently lives.

Grounds for divorce: irreconcilable differences (W.S. § 20-2-104)

Most Wyoming divorces use the no-fault ground of irreconcilable differences in the marital relationship (see W.S. § 20-2-104). That simply means:

• The marriage has broken down,
• You can’t get along, and
• You don’t see a realistic way to fix it.

You don’t have to prove cheating, cruelty, or any other specific “bad act” to file on this basis.

What makes a case a good fit for an uncontested/simple divorce?

Your case is more likely to work as an uncontested divorce if:

• Both spouses agree the marriage should end.
• Both of you are willing to sign District Court forms and cooperate with the process, even if it’s emotionally difficult.
• You have either:
  • No minor children, or
  • A workable plan for custody, parenting time, and child support that both of you accept.
• You both have a basic understanding of your finances – income, debts, home, vehicles, retirement accounts, loans, etc.
• You can reach a clear agreement about:
  • Who gets which assets and debts,
  • Whether anyone pays alimony, and
  • How to divide responsibilities for kids.

When uncontested may not work

An uncontested Wyoming divorce may not be the right path if:

• There is domestic violence, coercion, or intimidation.
• One spouse is hiding or controlling information about money or property.
• You disagree strongly about where the children should live or how often they should see each parent.
• There are complicated assets: a family business, farms or ranches, multiple rentals, complex retirement plans.
• One spouse will be heavily dependent on the other financially, and it’s unclear what is “fair.”
• There are immigration, tax, or disability benefit questions tied to the timing or terms of the divorce.

In those situations, it’s very important to at least talk to a Wyoming lawyer or legal aid office before relying on a purely DIY approach.

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3. Step-by-Step Overview of the Uncontested Divorce Process

This section outlines a typical flow of an uncontested divorce in Wyoming. Exact steps and forms can vary by county, and the official Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help packets should always be your primary checklist.

Important: We’ll refer to several packet forms by their Wyoming titles, including Complaint for Divorce, Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service, Confidential Financial Affidavit, Decree of Divorce, and Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties, because those are the terms you’re likely to see in District Court instructions.

Forms checklist: Complaint for Divorce; Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service; Confidential Financial Affidavit; Decree of Divorce; Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties.

Step 1 – Make Sure You Actually Qualify

Before you start filling out a Complaint for Divorce, check:

• Residency (W.S. § 20-2-107): Have you or your spouse lived in Wyoming long enough (usually at least 60 days) or met the “married in Wyoming, continuous residence” rule?
• Children’s location: If you have children, have they lived in Wyoming long enough (often 6 months) for the Wyoming District Court to decide custody, unless there is an emergency?
• Grounds (W.S. § 20-2-104): Are you comfortable stating that there are irreconcilable differences?
• Safety and fairness: Is it safe for you to negotiate directly? Do you understand enough about your finances to feel comfortable making decisions?

If you’re unsure about any of those, that’s a signal to speak to a lawyer or legal aid office before proceeding.

Step 2 – Sort Out Children, Support, and Property (Even Informally)

An uncontested divorce in Wyoming flows best when you and your spouse do some homework and discussion up front:

• Children:
  • Where will the children primarily live?
  • How will holidays, weekends, and school breaks work?
  • How will major decisions (school, medical, activities) be made?
• Child support:
  • Who will pay child support?
  • Have you run numbers using the Wyoming child support guidelines (W.S. § 20-2-304) to understand the expected range?
• Health insurance:
  • Which parent will carry health coverage for the children?
  • How will uncovered medical, dental, and vision expenses be split?
• Property and debts:
  • What happens with the house, land, ranch, or rental properties?
  • Who will keep which vehicles, loans, and credit card balances?
  • How will retirement accounts and other savings be handled?
• Spousal support (alimony):
  • Will either spouse pay support, and if so, how much and for how long?

Many couples put these decisions into a written settlement agreement, which then gets reflected in the proposed Decree of Divorce.

Step 3 – Prepare the Divorce Forms (Wyoming Judicial Branch Pro Se Packets)

Wyoming’s Judicial Branch provides self-help packets for:

• Divorce with no minor children – Plaintiff and Defendant packets
• Divorce with minor children – Plaintiff and Defendant packets

Each packet usually includes (or references) key documents like:

• A cover sheet and overview
• A checklist for the Plaintiff or Defendant
• A state vital statistics form
• A Complaint for Divorce (for the Plaintiff)
• Service documents, including the Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service
• A Confidential Financial Affidavit (your detailed financial disclosure)
• A proposed Decree of Divorce
• In some cases, an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties

You’ll typically:

• Choose the correct packet (with or without children; Plaintiff vs. Defendant).
• Read through the overview and instructions carefully.
• Fill out the Complaint for Divorce, vital statistics form, Confidential Financial Affidavit, and proposed Decree of Divorce, using your agreement as a guide.

This is where a self-help kit can really help organize your information, give you example wording, and cross-check that your papers are consistent.

Step 4 – File Your Papers with the District Court (W.S. § 20-2-108)

Once the key forms are prepared:

• File your Complaint for Divorce and other required starting forms with the Clerk of District Court in the correct county.
• Pay the filing fee or submit a fee waiver request if you qualify.
• Get stamped copies of what you filed for your records.

This filing date matters for timing. Under W.S. § 20-2-108, the court cannot enter the Decree of Divorce until at least 20 days have passed from the date the Complaint for Divorce is filed.

Timeline: File the Complaint for Divorce → wait the 20-day statutory minimum (W.S. § 20-2-108) → Decree of Divorce may be signed.

Step 5 – Serve Your Spouse (If Required)

Even in a friendly case, your spouse must be legally notified that the divorce has been filed. In an uncontested Wyoming case, the easiest method is often:

Your spouse signs an Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service in front of a notary, confirming they received the papers. This can save sheriff or process server fees and keeps things simple.

If your spouse won’t sign or you can’t locate them, you’ll need to follow other service methods described in the Wyoming divorce packets (sheriff service, service by publication, etc.).

After service, your spouse normally has:

• 20 days to answer if they were served within Wyoming, or
• 30 days if served outside Wyoming.

If you’re truly uncontested and your spouse signs the proposed Decree of Divorce and completes their Confidential Financial Affidavit, the judge may be able to finalize the case without the case turning into a longer, contested process.

Step 6 – Ask for a Divorce Without Appearance (or Attend a Short Hearing)

This is where the Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties can be the “golden” form.

In many Wyoming counties, if your case is fully uncontested and all required forms are complete, including both parties’ Confidential Financial Affidavits and a signed Decree of Divorce, you may be able to file an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties. This affidavit asks the judge to:

• Review your file based on the paperwork, and
• Sign the Decree of Divorce without requiring you to appear in court.

If your county or judge does not allow a divorce without appearance in your situation, you may need to file a request to set a short hearing and attend a brief appearance where the judge asks straightforward questions about residency, irreconcilable differences, and your agreement.

Your local District Court clerk or the instructions in your packet will usually tell you whether an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties is available and how to use it.

Step 7 – Get Your Decree of Divorce and Final Proof of Divorce

If everything is in order and the 20-day statutory minimum under W.S. § 20-2-108 has passed since the Complaint for Divorce was filed, the judge can sign your Decree of Divorce.

Once that happens:

• Your marriage is legally ended as of the date on the Decree of Divorce.
• You should request certified copies of the Decree from the Clerk of District Court and keep them in a safe place.
• If you need proof of divorce for government purposes, you may also request a divorce record or certificate through Wyoming Vital Statistics according to their current procedures.

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4. Special Issues When You Have Children (W.S. § 20-2-304)

Divorce with children always adds extra layers, even when everything is uncontested. Wyoming judges must follow the best interests of the child standard when approving parenting and support arrangements.

District Courts typically look for:

• A clear parenting plan that covers:
  • Where the children live most of the time,
  • A schedule for time with each parent, and
  • How holidays, vacations, and special occasions are handled.
• Decision-making arrangements – who makes major education, medical, and religious decisions, or how those decisions will be shared.
• A child support arrangement that follows the Wyoming child support guidelines (W.S. § 20-2-304) or clearly explains any deviation.
• A plan for health insurance and medical expenses for the children.

In some cases, judges may require parents to attend a parenting class designed to lessen the impact of divorce on children. If this applies in your county or your specific case, the court materials will tell you how to enroll and how to file proof of completion.

Even in an uncontested case, the judge is not required to accept any plan that appears to harm the children’s interests. That’s why it is important to be realistic, child-focused, and honest about your situation when you create your parenting plan and support proposals.

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5. How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take in Wyoming? (W.S. § 20-2-108)

There is no single guaranteed timeline, but you can think of it in layers.

The statutory 20-day minimum (W.S. § 20-2-108)

Wyoming law says the District Court cannot enter a Decree of Divorce until at least 20 days have passed after you file the Complaint for Divorce (see W.S. § 20-2-108).

The practical reality

Even though the minimum is 20 days, most uncontested cases take longer because:

• You need time to complete all forms correctly, including both spouses’ Confidential Financial Affidavits.
• You may be waiting for your spouse to sign the Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service and the proposed Decree of Divorce.
• The District Court has its own schedule and workload.
• If there’s a hearing instead of an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties, it must be scheduled and held.

For a smooth uncontested divorce where both spouses cooperate and the paperwork is clean, it’s common for the entire process to take several weeks to a few months from filing to final Decree of Divorce. More complex cases, or courts with heavier dockets, can take longer.

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6. What Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost?

Costs vary by county and by case, but here are the main categories to budget for in a Wyoming uncontested divorce:

• District Court filing fee
  Paid to the Clerk of District Court when you file your Complaint for Divorce. The exact amount depends on the county and current fee schedule.
• Service costs
  Sheriff or process server fees if your spouse isn’t signing an Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service. If they do sign, you may avoid these costs.
• Parenting class fees (if required)
  In cases with children where the court orders a parent education class.
• Notary and copying costs
  Many forms, including the Confidential Financial Affidavit and Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties, must be signed in front of a notary. You’ll also need copies of documents for yourself and your spouse.
• Possible legal advice fees
  Even if you handle most of the process yourself, you might choose to pay a lawyer for limited advice or to review your agreement before you file.

If you cannot afford the court costs, you can ask the District Court to waive the filing fee and some related fees by submitting the fee waiver forms found in the Wyoming family law self-help materials. The judge decides whether to grant the waiver based on your financial situation.

In general, an uncontested, DIY divorce in Wyoming is significantly cheaper than a fully contested case involving lawyers on both sides, but that’s only true if your situation is genuinely suitable for a DIY approach.

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7. When a DIY Divorce Might Not Be Right for You

Doing your own paperwork can save a lot in legal fees, but it’s not always safe or wise. A do-it-yourself Wyoming divorce might not be appropriate if:

• There has been domestic violence, threats, or serious emotional abuse.
• You are afraid to disagree with your spouse or feel pressured to sign documents you don’t understand.
• One of you controls all the money and you don’t know the full financial picture (bank accounts, investments, debts, retirement).
• There are complicated assets – family farm or ranch, business interests, stock options, multiple properties, significant retirement accounts.
• One spouse has serious health, disability, or immigration issues that might be affected by divorce timing or support.
• You strongly disagree about custody, parenting time, or relocation with the children.
• You feel the proposed agreement is extremely one-sided but don’t know what the alternatives are.

In any of these situations, it’s usually worth getting individual legal advice from a Wyoming lawyer or a free/low-cost legal aid program, even if you still hope to reach an uncontested settlement later.

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8. Where a Self-Help Divorce Kit Fits Into the Process

A self-help divorce kit for Wyoming is not a substitute for a lawyer, but it can make a huge difference if you’re comfortable handling your own case and your situation truly is uncontested.

A well-designed kit (like the ones sold by PlainDivorce) can help you:

• Understand the overall process step by step, in plain English.
• See how the pieces fit together – Complaint for Divorce, Acknowledgment and Acceptance of Service, Confidential Financial Affidavit, parenting details, support, Decree of Divorce, and, where available, Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties.
• Avoid common mistakes on forms that can cause delays or rejections.
• Stay organized with checklists, timelines, and reminders of when to do what.
• Use sample wording (for example, to describe irreconcilable differences or a parenting schedule) while still customizing everything to your own facts.

Some people will still choose to have a lawyer review their agreement or double-check the papers before filing. Others will rely on the official District Court packets plus a self-help kit for structure and clarity.

Either way, the goal is the same:

• A clear, accurate set of documents,
• That reflects your real agreement,
• And can be accepted by a Wyoming District Court judge without unnecessary delays.

Here’s how a PlainDivorce kit fits into the middle of that process:

• After you’ve decided that an uncontested approach is right for you,
• Before you start filling in complex forms on your own, and
• While you’re trying to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Download Our Wyoming Uncontested Divorce Self-Help Kit

Again, using a kit is optional, and it does not replace legal advice. It’s simply one more tool to help organized, detail-oriented people move steadily through an uncontested Wyoming divorce.

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9. Final Thoughts and Next Steps

If you’re reading this, you may be:

• Trying to save money by handling a Wyoming divorce without a lawyer,
• Hoping to keep things civil with your spouse, and
• Feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of “forms, rules, and court.”

That’s completely normal.

To move forward, you might:

• Re-check that you meet the W.S. § 20-2-107 residency requirements and that your children’s living situation allows Wyoming to make custody decisions.
• Have a calm conversation (when it’s safe to do so) with your spouse about:
  • Parenting arrangements, if you have children,
  • How you’ll divide property and debts, and
  • Whether either of you expects alimony.
• Review the latest Wyoming Judicial Branch divorce information and Pro Se packets to confirm which packet fits your situation.
• Decide whether:
  • You want to complete the District Court packets on your own,
  • You’d like the added structure of a Wyoming-specific self-help kit, and/or
  • You should pay a lawyer for at least a limited consultation.

Above all, keep in mind:

• PlainDivorce.com is not a law firm and cannot give you legal advice.
• This guide is general legal information only, based on public sources at the time of writing.
• Wyoming courts, forms, and fees can change, and different judges or counties may have slightly different expectations.

If you are ever in doubt about your rights, your safety, or whether your agreement is fair, please contact a Wyoming family law attorney or legal aid service. A short conversation now can prevent a lot of confusion and regret later.