Wyoming
State Archives

Vital records are public records that document the birth, marriage, divorce, and death of individuals. Information within these records is important for research involving demographic trends, social and health issues, and genealogy. These records are also important as original sources of documentation about an individual and are relied upon to substantiate an individual's claim to various benefits and services.

Prior to 1908, the filing of birth and death certificates was not required in Wyoming. In 1907 the State Bureau of Vital Statistics was entrusted by the state legislature to register birth and death certificates (Session Laws of Wyoming, 1907, Chapter 99). The law took effect in January, 1908. However, the agency was not able to implement the law until 1909. The registration of marriage and divorce certificates was added to the agency's duties in 1941 (Session Laws of Wyoming, 1941, Chapter 115).

The 1941 law classified all vital records as confidential. The acquisition of cumulative data was permitted, but the law allowed no record that identified individuals to be retained by researchers. Certificates could not be inspected, nor could copies be acquired, unless an applicant had a Adirect and tangible interest in the matter recorded.@ This language was changed in 1973 to prohibit the disclosure of vital records information except as authorized by regulations. The 1973 legislation also established a Astate office of vital records services@ in the Department of Health and Social Services. As a result of additional reorganizations of Wyoming state government, Vital Records Services is now under the Department of Health, Preventive Health and Safety Division.

A policy adopted by Vital Records Services in March 1995 allowed death, marriage, and divorce certificates 50 or more years old to be opened to public inspection. Birth certificates are restricted for 100 years. The policy applies to the full calendar year so that every January 1 a new year is opened to the public. For example, on January 1, 2000, restrictions on death certificates filed in 1949 were lifted.

Some delayed birth certificates for people born in Wyoming between 1868 and 1895 are available from the Wyoming State Archives. These were issued to people with a need to document their dates of birth. Also, a small number of birth and death records filed with county physicians are open to the public. These include Albany County (births and deaths beginning in 1899), Fremont County (Shoshone Indian Reservation, 1884 births), Laramie County (births from February to April 1896, deaths from 1896 to 1900), and Niobrara County (births dating from 1892). The restrictions explained above also apply to these county records.

Certificates that are open to the public are available through the Wyoming State Archives. The Archives charges $.50 for each copy (no charge if ordering one uncertified copy). Certification costs an additional $3.00 for each certificate. Prepayment is required.

Requests for information from or copies of certificates that are not open to the public should be sent to Vital Records Services. You may contact this agency through its website.

The following information may be recorded in vital records:

• Death Certificates - name of deceased, date and place of death, deceased's home address, sex, race, marital status, occupation, date and place of birth, parents' names and places of birth (maiden name of mother), place of burial or cremation, and cause of death.
• Marriage Certificates - names and places of residence of bride and groom, name of official who performed the ceremony, date and location of ceremony, names of witnesses, ages and birthplaces of bride and groom, race of bride and groom, names and birthplaces of bride's and groom's parents, marital status prior to the ceremony (single, widowed, divorced), and the maiden name of the bride if she had previously been married. Please note: Marriage records filed with county clerks may contain similar information. County clerk records are not restricted.
• Divorce Records - Name of husband and wife, place of divorce, date and place of marriage, grounds for divorce, to whom the divorce was granted, whether or not the case was contested, whether or not alimony was granted, number of children, residences at times of marriage and divorce, race, age, places of birth of husband and wife, occupations, and the county docket number.

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