Hiring a Divorce or Family Lawyer in Wyoming
How divorce lawyers in Wyoming charge, the state's filing rules, 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
| Residency requirement | One spouse must have lived in Wyoming for the 60 days immediately before filing, or the marriage must have taken place in Wyoming and one spouse must have lived in Wyoming continuously from the marriage until filing. A married person who lives in Wyoming when filing counts as a resident even if the other spouse lives elsewhere. The case is filed in the district court of the county where either spouse lives. Source: Wyo. Stat. §§ 20-2-107, 20-2-104 |
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| Filing fee | A filing fee is required to open a divorce case; the court's instructions say to ask the clerk of district court for the amount and accepted forms of payment. If you cannot afford it, you can ask the court to waive the filing fee. Having the sheriff serve the papers typically costs around $50. The official instructions do not state the filing fee amount. |
| Uncontested divorce | Wyoming has no separate summary divorce, but the court's self-help packets are designed for spouses who agree. If the defendant files an answer and the spouses agree on all issues, they file financial affidavits, a Decree of Divorce signed and notarized by both, and an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties, which lets the court grant the divorce without a hearing (the judge may still require one). If the defendant does not respond in time, the plaintiff can seek a default divorce. |
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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All legal help in Wyoming · Do I need a lawyer?
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.