How to Get a Restraining Order in Wyoming
In Wyoming these are called Order of protection (domestic violence), plus sexual assault and stalking protection orders. A protective order is a court order that tells someone to stop abusing, threatening, stalking or contacting you. Here is how to ask for one, what happens next, and where to get free help — each rule linked to the statute or official court page.
Quick answers for Wyoming
- Cost
- No filing fee or other court costs or fees can be charged to a petitioner. The court may order the respondent to pay costs and attorney fees. W.S. 35-21-103(d), (h)
- Emergency / temporary orders
- When a petition is filed, the court must immediately grant an ex parte temporary order of protection if the petition or affidavit shows a danger of further domestic abuse, and have it served on the respondent immediately with notice of the hearing. W.S. 35-21-104(a)(i)-(ii)
- How long an order lasts
- An order of protection lasts a fixed period of up to 3 years. Either party can move to modify, end or extend it, and it can be extended repeatedly for good cause, up to 3 years each time. W.S. 35-21-106(b)
- Where to ask
- File with the circuit court clerk in the county where the victim lives or is found, where the respondent lives or is found, or where the abuse happened. W.S. 35-21-102(a)(ii), 35-21-103(a), (c), (e)
Last verified: 2026-10-25
Safety first
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- You can talk to a trained advocate any time, for free and confidentially, through the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
- Advocates can help you make a safety plan and fill out the court forms. Many courts have advocates on site.
- Keep copies of the order with you. Give copies to people who need to know, such as your workplace or your child's school.
Getting an order
| Types of orders | Wyoming protection orders come in three categories: domestic violence (order of protection under the Domestic Violence Protection Act), sexual assault, and stalking. A domestic violence case starts with an ex parte temporary order of protection, then an order of protection after a hearing. |
|---|---|
| Who can ask for an order | Domestic abuse must be by a household member: people who are or were married, people who live or lived together as if married, parents and their adult children, other adults sharing living quarters, parents of a child in common who do not live together, and people who are or have been dating. The victim files; the district attorney can file with the victim's consent; and a person with legal authority can file for a minor, a vulnerable adult, or an adult who cannot file due to age, disability, health or inaccessibility. |
| Where to ask | File with the circuit court clerk in the county where the victim lives or is found, where the respondent lives or is found, or where the abuse happened. Leaving your home to avoid abuse does not affect your right to file, and you do not need to file for divorce first. Standard petition forms (prepared by the Attorney General's Victim Services Division) are available from the clerk and on the Judicial Branch self-help site, including a guided form-filling tool. |
| Cost | No filing fee or other court costs or fees can be charged to a petitioner. The court may order the respondent to pay costs and attorney fees. Source: W.S. 35-21-103(d), (h) |
Emergency orders and the hearing
| Emergency / temporary orders | When a petition is filed, the court must immediately grant an ex parte temporary order of protection if the petition or affidavit shows a danger of further domestic abuse, and have it served on the respondent immediately with notice of the hearing. Source: W.S. 35-21-104(a)(i)-(ii) |
|---|---|
| Serving the order | The clerk sends the order to the county sheriff, who serves the respondent personally (unless the respondent was present when it was granted) and notifies local law enforcement. Extensions are served by certified and first-class mail. Source: W.S. 35-21-106(a)-(b) |
| The court hearing | The hearing is held within 72 hours after the temporary order is granted (or after the petition is filed if no temporary order was granted), or as soon after that as the court can hear it. Parties may ask to appear remotely. |
| How long an order lasts | An order of protection lasts a fixed period of up to 3 years. Either party can move to modify, end or extend it, and it can be extended repeatedly for good cause, up to 3 years each time. Time the respondent spends incarcerated does not count, and after release the order lasts at least 1 more year. Source: W.S. 35-21-106(b) |
What the order does
| What an order can require | The order must bar the respondent from abusing you or other household members. It can also give you the home or require the respondent to provide other housing, bar the respondent from contacting you, bar taking or hiding children, protect property, transfer a cell phone number to you, give you household pets and bar contact with them, and order counseling. When in the children's best interests, the court awards you temporary custody with safe visitation conditions, and orders child support and other support. Source: W.S. 35-21-105(a)-(b) |
|---|---|
| If the order is violated | Willfully violating an order of protection is a crime under W.S. 6-4-404 and can lead to immediate arrest; violations that amount to stalking may bring felony stalking penalties. The order applies statewide. Source: W.S. 35-21-104(b), 35-21-106(c) |
Children and privacy
| Minors and children | A person with legal authority to act for a minor victim can file on the minor's behalf. For this law, 'adult' means 16 or older or legally married. |
|---|
Forms and help in Wyoming
- Wyoming courts: protective order help
- Official Wyoming protective order forms
- Wyoming Attorney General, Division of Victim Services — Toll free 888.996.8816
- Free legal aid in Wyoming
Wyoming protective order FAQ
What kinds of protective orders are available in Wyoming?
Wyoming protection orders come in three categories: domestic violence (order of protection under the Domestic Violence Protection Act), sexual assault, and stalking. A domestic violence case starts with an ex parte temporary order of protection, then an order of protection after a hearing.
Who can get a restraining order in Wyoming?
Domestic abuse must be by a household member: people who are or were married, people who live or lived together as if married, parents and their adult children, other adults sharing living quarters, parents of a child in common who do not live together, and people who are or have been dating. The victim files; the district attorney can file with the victim's consent; and a person with legal authority can file for a minor, a vulnerable adult, or an adult who cannot file due to age, disability, health or inaccessibility.
Where do I file for a restraining order in Wyoming?
File with the circuit court clerk in the county where the victim lives or is found, where the respondent lives or is found, or where the abuse happened. Leaving your home to avoid abuse does not affect your right to file, and you do not need to file for divorce first. Standard petition forms (prepared by the Attorney General's Victim Services Division) are available from the clerk and on the Judicial Branch self-help site, including a guided form-filling tool.
Does it cost money to get a restraining order in Wyoming?
No filing fee or other court costs or fees can be charged to a petitioner. The court may order the respondent to pay costs and attorney fees.
How fast can I get an emergency protective order in Wyoming?
When a petition is filed, the court must immediately grant an ex parte temporary order of protection if the petition or affidavit shows a danger of further domestic abuse, and have it served on the respondent immediately with notice of the hearing.
What happens at the restraining order hearing in Wyoming?
The hearing is held within 72 hours after the temporary order is granted (or after the petition is filed if no temporary order was granted), or as soon after that as the court can hear it. Parties may ask to appear remotely.
How long does a restraining order last in Wyoming?
An order of protection lasts a fixed period of up to 3 years. Either party can move to modify, end or extend it, and it can be extended repeatedly for good cause, up to 3 years each time. Time the respondent spends incarcerated does not count, and after release the order lasts at least 1 more year.
What can a protective order do in Wyoming?
The order must bar the respondent from abusing you or other household members. It can also give you the home or require the respondent to provide other housing, bar the respondent from contacting you, bar taking or hiding children, protect property, transfer a cell phone number to you, give you household pets and bar contact with them, and order counseling. When in the children's best interests, the court awards you temporary custody with safe visitation conditions, and orders child support and other support.
How is a restraining order served in Wyoming?
The clerk sends the order to the county sheriff, who serves the respondent personally (unless the respondent was present when it was granted) and notifies local law enforcement. Extensions are served by certified and first-class mail.
What happens if someone violates a protective order in Wyoming?
Willfully violating an order of protection is a crime under W.S. 6-4-404 and can lead to immediate arrest; violations that amount to stalking may bring felony stalking penalties. The order applies statewide.
Can a minor get a restraining order in Wyoming?
A person with legal authority to act for a minor victim can file on the minor's behalf. For this law, 'adult' means 16 or older or legally married.
Protective orders in other states
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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.