Wyoming Vital Records

State Records of Births and Deaths

Statewide registration of births and deaths in Wyoming began in July 1909, and was generally complied with by 1922. Individuals who were born prior to 1909, or who for some reason did not have a birth certificate, could apply for a delayed birth certificate. The Wyoming Vital Records Services began keeping delayed birth certificates in the 1920s.

For copies of state birth and death records write to:

Vital Records Services
Hathaway Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Telephone: 307-777-7591
Fax: 307-635-4103
Internet: http://wdh.state.wy.us/rfhd/vital_records/index.html

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in Where to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces (Hyattsville, Maryland: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1993; Family History Library book 973 V24wv). Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and at many Family History Centers. You can also write to the Vital Records Services for current information.

Copies of the birth records can only be released to those named on the certificate unless you can provide proof of the person's death. You will also need to state your relationship to the individual and your purpose for obtaining the record.

The Family History Library has not acquired copies of the state birth and death records.

County Records of Births and Deaths

A few Wyoming counties kept records of births and deaths a few years prior to state registration. For information about pre-1909 birth and death records, write to the local county clerk. The records in the county courthouses are open to the public, but the Family History Library has not acquired copies of these records. The library has a few records, such as birth registers and coroner's reports, that have been transcribed and published. The county clerk does not usually keep copies of birth and death records filed after July 1909.

State Records of Marriages

Statewide registration of marriages began in May 1941. For information about marriage records kept after that date, write to the Vital Records Services. Copies of the records can be released only to the individuals named on the certificate, unless you provide proof of death. The Family History Library does not have copies of these records.

Many of the marriages for the state are searchable online at no cost in the Western States Marriage Index.

County Records of Marriages

Many counties began recording marriages soon after the county was organized. Some county records begin as early as the 1860s, such as the Albany County marriage records that begin in 1869. The office of the county clerk for each county maintains the county marriage records from the earliest dates to the present. Most counties have indexed their marriage records, and the files are open to the public. Beginning in 1941, county clerks have sent duplicate copies of marriage records to the Vital Records Services.

The Family History Library has acquired copies of the marriage records for about half of the Wyoming counties from the Wyoming State Archives. These copies generally date from the earliest entries to about 1930. For example, the library has Sheridan County marriage records (1888 to 1925) and marriage licenses (1888 to 1916).

The Miscellaneous Marriage Records Index (Family History Library films820155 item 2 to 820173) is an index of marriage records for several Utah and Idaho counties, and includes names from Lincoln County, Wyoming. This incomplete but helpful index generally includes information on marriages that took place as late as the 1940s.

Web Sites

http://wyoarchives.state.wy.us/

http://wdh.state.wy.us/phsd/vital_records/index.html

http://www.publicrecordsindex.com/public_records/wyoming_public_records.htm

http://www.daddezio.com/records/room/RR-WY-NDX.html