Hiring a Child Custody Lawyer in Wyoming
How courts in Wyoming decide custody, emergency custody, parenting classes, how to check a lawyer's license, and free or low-cost family law help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Wyoming: fee rules
| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Wyoming State Bar offers fee arbitration for fee disputes over $500 (disputes of $500 or less are not eligible). Generally you must file within one year after the later of the end of the lawyer-client relationship or the final bill; if the lawyer sues over the fee, you have 30 days after service of the required notice. Complete the Petition for Fee Arbitration and upload copies of bills and supporting documents. The bar sends it to the attorney, who has 21 days to respond; the Fee Arbitration Committee chair tries informal resolution, and if that fails within 30 days a panel holds a hearing and issues a written decision. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The Wyoming State Bar's Client Protection Fund reimburses clients who lose money or property through a lawyer's dishonest conduct (such as theft, embezzlement or conversion, including failure to refund advance fees), or when a lawyer dies or becomes incapacitated while holding client money, within a lawyer-client relationship. It does not cover negligence, business or investment losses, interest, or losses covered by insurance or bonds; awards are discretionary. The maximum is $15,000 per claimant per calendar year. File within four years after you knew or should have known of the dishonest conduct, using the notarized Statement of Claim (fill out online, then print, sign and mail) with proof of loss; a lawyer is not required. Questions: (307) 432-2104. |
Wyoming rules to know first
| How custody is decided | The court decides custody based on the children's best interests, considering factors including: each child's relationship with each parent; each parent's ability to provide care; each parent's competency and fitness; willingness to accept parenting responsibilities and to share care; how parents and children can maintain their relationships and communicate; each parent's willingness to respect the other's rights; distance between homes; each parent's physical and mental ability; and any sex-offender registration conviction. The court may not prefer a parent because of gender and may not favor or disfavor any form of custody; custody may be any combination of joint, shared or sole. Evidence of spousal or child abuse is considered contrary to the children's best interest. The statute does not set an age at which a child's preference is considered. Source: Wyo. Stat. §§ 20-2-201, 20-2-202 |
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| Emergency custody | While a divorce is pending, either party can apply for an order on the care and custody of the minor children during the case. The applying party must tell the court about any known protection or custody orders from other courts. The court must treat evidence of spouse or child abuse as contrary to the children's best interest, and if it finds family violence occurred, must arrange visitation during temporary custody that best protects the children and the abused spouse. After a divorce complaint is filed, the court may also bar a party from restraining the other's personal liberty during the case. |
| Parenting classes | Not required statewide by statute. The court may at any time require parents to attend appropriate parenting classes, including classes to lessen the effects of divorce on children. If ordered, a Certificate of Completion must be filed with the clerk. |
| Grandparents' rights | A grandparent (including a great-grandparent) may file an action against the person who has custody of the grandchild to establish reasonable visitation. The court must grant reasonable visitation if, after a hearing, it finds visitation is in the child's best interest and the parents' rights are not substantially impaired. The grandparent pays any guardian ad litem fees. No action may be brought if the child was adopted and neither adoptive parent is related by blood to the child. Source: Wyo. Stat. § 20-7-101 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Wyoming State Bar runs a Lawyer Referral Service. Its Lawyer Referral Directory lists only attorneys who are part of the referral program and is searchable by practice area; you can also request a referral online. Wyoming State Bar phone: 307-632-9061. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Wyoming State Bar's Member Directory lets you search all lawyers licensed in Wyoming. It is separate from the bar's Lawyer Referral Directory, which lists only attorneys in the referral program. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Wyoming lawyers go to the Wyoming State Bar's Office of Bar Counsel. Complete the Ethical Violations Complaint Form, sign and date it (complaints are sworn under penalty of perjury; anonymous complaints are not accepted), and mail the original with copies of supporting documents to Office of Bar Counsel, P.O. Box 109, Cheyenne, WY 82003-0109; questions (307) 432-2104. Bar Counsel looks at possible violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct, such as missed deadlines, abandoning a case or mishandling client funds, but not the quality of a lawyer's advice or strategy alone, fee disputes (handled by fee arbitration) or rudeness. The lawyer receives a copy of the complaint; the complaint and investigation stay confidential unless a Formal Charge is filed, and you are notified before that happens. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Legal Aid of Wyoming provides free civil legal help to low-income individuals in Wyoming. Apply online or call 1-877-432-9955. LSC lists Legal Aid of Wyoming as its Wyoming grantee. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.