Wyoming Birth Records

Wyoming began birth registrations in July 1909 following the 1907 legislative mandate requiring all births to be filed first with the county registrar and then forwarded to the State Registrar for central record keeping. Before this date, birth records were maintained at the county level.

Wyoming birth records refer to the official documents created and maintained by government agencies to record live births within the state. Wyoming issues two primary types of birth certificates, each with distinct content and legal validity.

• Certified Copies: A certified copy, sometimes called an authorized copy, is the official birth record printed on state security paper with a raised, embossed seal of the State Registrar and bears the Registrar's signature. Certified copies of Wyoming birth records may be issued as follows:
• Long-Form Birth Certificate: The long-form birth certificate is an official transcription of the original birth record. The document contains detailed information about the registrant's birth, including full legal names, exact date of birth, county of birth, gender, parents' full names, parents' birthplaces, attending physician's name, and birth facility. In addition, birth records contain the Registrar's signature, filing date, certificate number, and the raised seal of the state. The long-form birth certificate is accepted universally for legal purposes.
• Short-Form Birth Certificate: The short-form birth certificate is a condensed, abridged version of a registrant's birth record. The document carries basic information about a person's birth, such as full name, birth date, city or county of birth, gender, and parents' full names. The document does not hold detailed information like parents' birthplaces and occupations. The short-form birth certificate is valid for some official use, especially in cases where basic birth information or routine ID verification will suffice.
• Informational Copies: Informational copies of birth records contain information about a registrant's birth. However, the birth record is printed on plain paper and labelled "Informational Only". Informational copies of birth records lack the signature of the Registrar and the official seal of the state. To this end, informational copies are not valid for official use. They are best suited for compiling family history or as personal keepsakes.

How To Order a Wyoming Birth Certificate?

Eligible persons may order certified copies of Wyoming birth certificates issued from July 1909 to the present at the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) Vital Statistics Services. Record seekers may obtain the document by mail or online.

Online requests for Wyoming birth certificates are through the Wyoming Vital Records Portal. The platform requires first-time users to sign up before being able to log in and place their order. Set up your profile to request the document. Attach a copy of a valid government-issued ID

a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the fees.

Persons ordering certified copies of Wyoming birth certificates by mail may complete the birth record section of the Request for Certified Copy of a Wyoming Vital Record form. All requests may include a current photocopy of a valid government-issued photo ID, proof of eligibility to order the birth record, and the fees. Mail the record request to:

Birth certificates dating pre-1907 are accessible at the Wyoming State Archives. It costs $25 to order a certified copy of a Wyoming birth certificate. Online requests attract an extra 2.4%, $1.00 as a convenience fee.

Are Birth Records Public in Wyoming?

Birth records are not public records in Wyoming. Wyoming treats birth certificates as confidential vital records closed to viewing and copying by the public. The state restricts public access to protect individuals' privacy and prevent identity theft.

Who Can Order A Birth Certificate in Wyoming?

Wyoming restricts public access to birth certificates for a predetermined period. During the confidentiality period, only persons with a direct and tangible interest in the birth record may order the document. In Wyoming, these individuals include:

• The individual named on the certificate
• The parents listed on the birth certificate
• Legal guardian of the registrant
• Immediate family members, including spouses, children, grandchildren, grandparents, or siblings
• Legal representatives or attorneys
• An individual or entity with a court order
• Government agencies

How Long Does it Take to Get A Wyoming Birth Certificate?

It takes the WDH Vital Statistics Services 3-5 business days to process mail requests for certified copies of Wyoming birth certificates. After processing, expect an additional 3-5 days for regular mail delivery, depending on your location. Online applications are typically processed within 5-7 business days and may be reduced to 3-5 business days if the applicants include a pre-paid, self-addressed FedEx or UPS envelope showing your courier account number.

Where Can I Find Wyoming Birth Records Free?

While certified copies of Wyoming birth records are limited to the registrant's immediate family or legal representatives, several non-governmental platforms offer a pathway where non-eligible persons may access informational copies of birth records at no cost.

Although the National Vital Records Archives does not hold birth certificates, it catalogs microfilmed and digitized images of early Wyoming birth records, especially documents before July 1909. Users may access the names of children, parents' names, exact date and place of birth, attending physician names, and filing dates on the platform.

FamilySearch.org provides free access to indexed entries and many digitized images of Wyoming birth records, especially pre-1909 records from county registers. Users may access index county birth records from 1869 to 1921 and scanned microfilm images of Wyoming births and christenings from 1869 to 1923.

Ancestry.com offers free indexing for many Wyoming birth records from 1869 to 1921. The index entries include birth names, dates, parents' names, and reference numbers. In addition, the platform contains images of statewide birth records from 1922 to the early 2000s. However, access to scanned birth records requires a paid subscription. Users may access birth certificate images for free at any public library or Family History Center.

PublicRecords.us aggregates vital records from multiple county and state resources to provide a comprehensive database of birth records. The platform provides access to basic index birth data, such as a child's name, date of birth, birth location, and sometimes certificate number. Detailed access may require a minimal subscription fee.

When Would I Need My Wyoming Birth Records?

Birth certificates are foundational documents serving as proof of identity, citizenship, and familial relationships. Therefore, birth certificates are necessary for various legal, personal, and official processes, including:

• Obtaining a state-issued ID or driver's license
• Applying to renew a U.S. passport
• Enrolling in public or private schools, colleges, and universities
• Accessing employment eligibility
• Obtaining or replacing a Social Security card
• Applying for a marriage license
• Enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces
• Accessing government benefits and public assistance
• Prove citizenship during international travel
• Changing legal name
• Tracing family history
• Accessing insurance claims
• Establishing familial relationships for inheritance claims and estate administration

How Much is A Replacement Birth Certificate in Wyoming?

If your original birth certificate becomes illegible, damaged, lost, or stolen, you may replace the document in Wyoming. Replacing your birth records mirrors obtaining a certified copy of your birth certificate.

Per state requirements, if your birth certificate is stolen or lost in Wyoming, you may report it to the WDH Vital Statistics Services by completing the Report of Lost or Stolen Birth Certificate form. Include information about the missing or lost certificate and the date the certificate went missing or was stolen. Mail the form to the WDH Vital Statistics Services. Notifying the WDH Vital Statistics office of a lost or stolen birth certificate helps protect the registrant from identity theft.

To order the replacement birth certificate, complete the birth record section of the Request for Certified Copy of a Wyoming Vital Record form. Include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, proof of eligibility, if not the registrant, and the fees. Mail the replacement request to the WDH Vital Statistics Service. It costs $25 to replace your birth certificate in Wyoming. Extra copies are also charged at $25.

When Can the Public Access Wyoming Birth Certificates?

Wyoming birth certificates are confidential for the first 100 years from the birth date. During this period, only authorized individuals may view and obtain certified copies. After 100 years, birth certificates become publicly accessible and are transferred to the state archives. At that time, anyone may obtain copies of the records without showing proof of eligibility to access the document.

How To Correct an Error on a Wyoming Birth Certificate?

Wyoming Vital Statistics Services allows amendments for clerical errors without court involvement, including misspellings, date and day of birth discrepancies, parental details, and birthplace inaccuracies. Similarly, some amendments, such as legal name changes, gender marker updates, and adding or removing parental identity, require a court order.

To correct your birth record, complete the Wyoming Application for Correction form. List the incorrect information and specify the correct information. Include documentary evidence supporting the accurate information, such as baptismal records, early school records, census records, or marriage certificates, the original birth certificate containing the erroneous information, and a court order, if required.

Mail the amendment request and documentation to the WDH Vital Statistics Services. It costs $55 to amend a birth certificate that requires a court order. The cost includes a certified copy of the corrected birth certificate. It costs $15 to amend birth certificates where a court order is not required. However, an extra $25 is required if the registrant wants a copy of the corrected birth certificate.

Does Wyoming Provide Non-binary Birth Certificates?

Wyoming does not allow an "X" or non-binary gender marker on birth certificates. Presently, the state only permits the traditional gender markers of "Male" or "female" on birth certificates. Although Wyoming permits amending gender designations on birth certificates from male to female and vice versa, it offers no legal provision to amend birth certificates to reflect the non-binary gender marker "X".