Wyoming Marriage Records

Although individual counties in Wyoming kept their own marriage registers as soon as they were incorporated, as early as 1868, statewide registration did not begin until May 1941. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control show that Wyoming has a marriage rate of 7.0 marriages per 1,000 residents. Per the data, the state's marriage rate is more than 11% above the U.S. average, with 6.2 marriages per 1,000 people.

Wyoming marriage records are the official documents that chronicle when and where two individuals were legally joined in matrimony within the state. In Wyoming, these documents consist of:

• Marriage License: A marriage license is a pre-ceremony authorization issued by the county clerk, indicating that both parties meet the state legal requirements to marry. Wyoming marriage license contains information about the couple, including their full names, date of birth, gender, current addresses, parental information, and applicant's attestation of single status. In addition, marriage licenses include the license number, the date and place where the license was issued, and the license expiry date.
• Marriage Certificates: A marriage certificate is a post-wedding document issued by the county clerk certifying the legal union of the individuals named on the document. Marriage certificates are created from the marriage license. Usually, after the wedding, the officiant completes and signs the marriage license and returns the document to the county clerk's office. The county clerk records and files the marriage license and then creates the marriage certificate. A marriage certificate contains information about the couple and their wedding, including the names of both spouses, the date and location of the ceremony, the name and title of the officiant, and the names of two adult witnesses. In addition, marriage certificates contain the filing date, the certificate number, and the official clerk's stamp or seal certifying its authenticity.

How To Look Up Marriage Records in Wyoming?

You may look up certified copies of Wyoming marriage records from the following official sources:

• The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) Vital Statistics Services holds marriage records from May 1941 to the present.
• All marriage licenses and certified copies of marriage certificates are accessible at the specific county clerk's office where the marriage license was issued.
• Marriage records older than 50 years are accessible at the Wyoming State Archives.

Eligible persons may order certified copies of Wyoming marriage certificates from May 1941 to date by mail or online from the WDH Vital Statistics Services. Online requests for certified marriage certificates are through the Wyoming Vital Records Portal. First-time users must create an account to proceed with the record request. Online requests for marriage certificates incur a convenience charge.

Persons ordering certified copies of Wyoming marriage certificates by mail may complete the marriage section of the Request for Certified Copy of a Wyoming Vital Records form. Mail the record request to:

All requests for Wyoming marriage records may include the following information and documentation:

• The full names of the couple
• The exact marriage date
• A copy of a valid government-issued photo ID
• A self-addressed stamped envelope
• Check or money order for the fees

Are Marriage Records Public in Wyoming?

Under Wyoming Statutes, all vital records, including marriage records, are confidential records for 50 years from the date of the event. During the confidentiality period, it is unlawful to disclose, inspect, copy, or issue a certified copy of marriage records. Only eligible persons, such as the married couple, their parents, children, siblings, legal representatives, or persons with a court order, may access marriage records in Wyoming. However, marriage records become public records after 50 years have expired. At that time, anyone may access the document without showing proof of eligibility.

How Much Do Wyoming Marriage Records Cost?

It costs $25 to order a certified copy of the Wyoming marriage certificate, irrespective of whether the document is ordered online, by mail, or at the county clerk's office. Extra copies of the records ordered with the first copy also cost $25. Online requests for marriage records attract a 2.4%, $1.00 convenience fee.

Certified copies of Wyoming marriage certificates are processed within 3-5 days of receipt by the WDH Vital Statistics Services. There is no rush service for mail requests for marriage records. However, to expedite delivery, provide the WDH Vital Statistics Services with a pre-paid self-addressed envelope or your preferred mailing option, such as FedEx or UPS.

Alternatively, persons who require the document urgently may request the record in person at the county clerk's office where the license was issued. Walk-in requests are typically processed on the same day.

Is It Possible to Make Your Marriage Records Confidential in Wyoming?

Although Wyoming treats marriage records as confidential, marriage records are not restricted from public access indefinitely, as is the practice in states that permit confidential marriage records. In states that allow confidential marriage records, the documents are restricted from everyone, including eligible persons. Only the couple may access confidential marriage licenses and certificates in such states.

In Wyoming, marriage records are open to eligible persons during the confidentiality period and open to the public once the confidentiality period lapses. Similarly, there is no legal pathway for couples to seal their marriage records in Wyoming.

How Do I Verify the Authenticity of Wyoming Marriage Records?

Marriage records serve as the official proof of a marital union in the state. Therefore, the document is required for numerous life events, including securing spousal visas and residency, filing joint tax returns, establishing one's eligibility for spousal coverage on insurance policies, and applying for spousal Social Security benefits. In addition, marriage records are required for legal name changes or when filing for divorce or annulment.

Therefore, you may verify the authenticity of your marriage records in Wyoming at the WDH Vital Statistics Services or at the county clerk's office where the marriage license was issued. At the county clerk's office, you may request to view the original marriage certificate on file to ensure that the document matches your record on hand. In addition, you may request certified copies of the marriage certificate from either office to ensure the document corresponds with your records.

Certified copies of Wyoming marriage records contain security features guaranteeing the document's authenticity. Generally, a genuine certified marriage certificate contains the signature of the issuing authority, a unique certificate number, and the official stamp or seal of the state. In addition, certified marriage certificates are printed on watermarked security paper to deter counterfeiting.

Can I Find Wyoming Marriage Records Online for Free?

Marriage records are confidential vital records restricted to eligible individuals who must pay a fee to access the record. To this end, there are alternate resources where non-eligible requesters may order informational copies of old and new records at no cost.

FamilySearch.org provides free access to statewide index marriage returns with microfilmed certificates from 1877 to 1920. In addition, you can browse through county collections of indexed name entries and digitized images of Wyoming marriages from 1869 to 1923. Users may access spouses' names, date of marriage, parents' names, officiant's information, and filing date on the platform.

Ancestry.com is a genealogy platform that offers access to indexed entries of county-level pre-1941 marriages and statewide marriage certificates from 1941 to 1972. Although the platform requires a subscription, users may access the records at no cost in person at public libraries. Information accessible on the platform includes the couple's full names, marriage dates, location, parents' names, certificate page number, and officiant information.

PublicRecords.us provides a searchable index of vital records, including marriage records, aggregated from several local and state resources to provide a comprehensive database of Wyoming marriage records. The platform provides access to more current marriage records, and users may access basic information, such as spouse names, marriage dates, and county of ceremony, at no cost. Detailed access to marriage records may require a minimal subscription fee.

What Is Required to Get a Wyoming Marriage License?

Couples intending to get married in Wyoming must meet state requirements and submit appropriate documentation to obtain a marriage license. In Wyoming, these include:

• Both parties must come together at the county clerk's office to obtain the license.
• Both parties must be 18 years or older to get married. Persons aged 16-17 must obtain a court order and present a notarized parental or guardian consent form.
• Present a valid government-issued photo ID.
• If either party was previously divorced, provide the exact date of the divorce.
• Social Security numbers of both parties.
• The marriage license fee.

It costs $30 to purchase a marriage license in Wyoming. Marriage licenses are valid immediately after issuance. Couples may get married immediately after they receive the document. However, marriage licenses are valid for one year from the issue date. If the couple does not marry within the year, the document expires, and the couple must reapply.

Can You Amend Marriage Records in Wyoming?

You may amend the following errors on your marriage records in Wyoming:

• Data entry errors, including misspelled names
• Omitted details, such as maiden name or parents' names
• Transposed information, in Social Security numbers or marriage dates
• Incorrect places, such as the wrong city or county of residence
• Legal name changes.

Amending the Wyoming Marriage License

You may amend inaccuracies on your marriage license before your wedding at the county clerk's office that issued the document. To amend the marriage licenses, bring the document with the error to the county clerk's office and documentary proof of the correct information.

Wyoming does not allow corrections on a marriage license once the document is issued. Therefore, to amend post-issuance errors, the clerk, after confirming the correct information, voids the original marriage license and issues a new document. The couple will pay the marriage license fee to obtain the document.

Amending the Wyoming Marriage Certificate

To amend your marriage certificate in Wyoming, complete the Wyoming Application for Correction form. Specify the error on the marriage certificate and list the correct information. Mail the application form, the certificate with the error, a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID, documentary evidence supporting the correction, a court order, if required, and the amendment fees to the WDH Vital Statistics Services. It costs $20 to amend a marriage certificate not involving a court order in Wyoming. Replacement certificates following a correction are charged at $15.