WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.
The Wyoming statutes presented here are current with amendments received through March 18, 2024 of the 2024 Budget Session of the Wyoming Legislature. Please check to make sure there have been no changes since this time. You will find these and additional statutes online at the Wyoming Legislature website.
In the trial of civil cases before any circuit court in which the amount claimed, exclusive of costs, does not exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000.00), the procedure is as defined in W.S. 1-21-201 through 1-21-205. The department of revenue may consolidate claims for collection of taxes against a single taxpayer into a single case under the procedures in W.S. 1-21-201 through 1-21-205 subject to specified dollar limitations.
(a) As used in this act:
(i) “Communication” means any item of information disclosed during the mediation process through files, reports, interviews, discussions, memoranda, case summaries, notes, work products of the mediator, or any other item of information disclosed during the mediation, whether oral or written;
(ii) “Mediation” means a process in which an impartial third person facilitates communication between two (2) or more parties in conflict to promote reconciliation, settlement, compromise or understanding;
(iii) “Mediator” means an impartial third person not involved in the conflict, dispute or situation who engages in mediation;
(iv) “Party to the mediation” means a person who is involved in the conflict, dispute or situation and is rendered mediation services by a mediator or consults a mediator with a view to obtaining mediation services;
(v) “Representative of the mediator” means a person employed by the mediator to assist in the rendition of mediation services;
(vi) “Representative of the party” means a person having authority to obtain mediation services on behalf of the party to the mediation or to act on advice rendered by the mediator;
(vii) “This act” means W.S. 1-43-101 through 1-43-104.
(a) A person is guilty of interference with custody if, having no privilege to do so, he knowingly:
(i) Takes or entices a minor from the custody of the minor’s parent, guardian or other lawful custodian; or
(ii) Fails or refuses to return a minor to the person entitled to custody.
(b) Proof that the child was under the age of majority gives rise to an inference that the person knew the child’s age.
(c) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that:
(i) The action was necessary to preserve the child from an immediate danger to his welfare; or
(ii) The child was not less than fourteen (14) years old and the child was taken away or was not returned:
(A) At his own instigation; and
(B) Without intent to commit a criminal offense with or against the child.
(d) Interference with custody is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years if:
(i) The defendant is not a parent or person in equivalent relation to the child; or
(ii) The defendant knowingly conceals and harbors the child or refuses to reveal the location of the child to the parent, guardian or lawful custodian.
(e) Interference with custody which is not punishable under subsection (d) of this section is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than two (2) years.
(a) Any actor who inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim commits a sexual assault in the first degree if:
(i) The actor causes submission of the victim through the actual application, reasonably calculated to cause submission of the victim, of physical force or forcible confinement;
(ii) The actor causes submission of the victim by threat of death, serious bodily injury, extreme physical pain or kidnapping to be inflicted on anyone and the victim reasonably believes that the actor has the present ability to execute these threats;
(iii) The victim is physically helpless, and the actor knows or reasonably should know that the victim is physically helpless and that the victim has not consented; or
(iv) The actor knows or reasonably should know that the victim through a mental illness, mental deficiency or developmental disability is incapable of appraising the nature of the victim’s conduct.
(a) Any actor who inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim commits sexual assault in the second degree if, under circumstances not constituting sexual assault in the first degree: (i) The actor causes submission of the victim by threatening to retaliate in the future against the victim or the victim’s spouse, parents, brothers, sisters or children, and the victim reasonably believes the actor will execute this threat. “To retaliate” includes threats of kidnapping, death, serious bodily injury or extreme physical pain; (ii) The actor causes submission of the victim by any means that would prevent resistance by a victim of ordinary resolution; (iii) The actor administers, or knows that someone else administered to the victim, without the prior knowledge or consent of the victim, any substance which substantially impairs the victim’s power to appraise or control his conduct; (iv) The actor knows or should reasonably know that the victim submits erroneously believing the actor to be the victim’s spouse; (v) Repealed by Laws 2007, ch. 159, § 3. (vi) The actor is in a position of authority over the victim and uses this position of authority to cause the victim to submit; (vii) The actor is an employee, independent contractor or volunteer of a state, county, city or town, or privately operated adult or juvenile correctional system, including but not limited to jails, penal institutions, detention centers, juvenile residential or rehabilitative facilities, adult community correctional facilities or secure treatment facilities and the victim is known or should be known by the actor to be a resident of such facility or under supervision of the correctional system; (viii) Repealed by Laws 2018, ch. 80, § 3. (ix) The actor is an employee or volunteer of an elementary or secondary public or private school who, by virtue of the actor’s employment or volunteer relationship with the school, has interaction with the victim who is a student or participant in the activities of the school and is more than four (4) years older than the victim. (b) A person is guilty of sexual assault in the second degree if he subjects another person to: (i) Sexual contact or sexual intrusion in the person’s capacity as a health care provider in the course of providing care, treatment, services or procedures to maintain, diagnose or otherwise treat a patient’s physical or mental condition; (ii) Sexual contact and causes serious bodily injury to the victim under any of the circumstances listed in W.S. 6-2-302(a)(i) through (iv) or paragraphs (a)(i) through (vii) and (ix) of this section. (c) Repealed by Laws 1997, ch. 135, § 2.
(a) An actor commits sexual assault in the third degree if, under circumstances not constituting sexual assault in the first or second degree:
(i), (ii) Repealed by Laws 2007, ch. 159, § 3.
(iii) The actor subjects a victim to sexual contact under any of the circumstances of W.S. 6-2-302(a)(i) through (iv) or 6-2-303(a)(i) through (vii) and (ix) without inflicting sexual intrusion on the victim and without causing serious bodily injury to the victim.
(a) An actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree if:
(i) Being sixteen (16) years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than thirteen (13) years of age;
(ii) Being eighteen (18) years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than eighteen (18) years of age, and the actor is the victim’s legal guardian or an individual specified in W. S. 6-4-402;
(iii) Being eighteen (18) years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than sixteen (16) years of age and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a person convicted under subsection (a) of this section is subject to imprisonment for not more than fifty (50) years, unless the person convicted qualifies under W.S. 6-2-306(e).
(c) A person convicted under paragraph (a)(i) of this section, where the actor is at least twenty-one (21) years of age, is subject to imprisonment for not less than twenty-five (25) years nor more than fifty (50) years, unless the person convicted qualified under W.S. 6-2-306(e).
(a) Except under circumstance constituting sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree as defined by W.S. 6-2-314, an actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree if:
(i) Being seventeen (17) years of age or older, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is thirteen (13) through fifteen (15) years of age, and the victim is at least four (4) years younger than the actor;
(ii) Being sixteen (16) years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact of a victim who is less than thirteen (13) years of age;
(iii) Being eighteen (18) years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is less than eighteen (18) years of age and the actor is the victim’s legal guardian or an individual specified in W.S. 6-4-402; or
(iv) Being eighteen (18) years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is less than sixteen (16) years of age and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.
(b) A person convicted under subsection (a) of this section is subject to imprisonment for not more than twenty (20) years, unless the person convicted qualifies under W.S. 6-2-306(e).
(a) Except under circumstance constituting sexual abuse of a minor in the first or second degree as defined by W.S. 6-2-314 and 6-2-315, an actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree if:
(i) Being seventeen (17) years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is thirteen (13) through fifteen (15) years of age, and the victim is at least four (4) years younger than the actor;
(ii) Being twenty (20) years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual intrusion with a victim who is either sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age, and the victim is at least four (4) years younger than the actor, and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim;
(iii) Being less than sixteen (16) years of age, the actor inflicts sexual intrusion on a victim who is less than thirteen (13) years of age, and the victim is at least three (3) years younger than the actor; or
(iv) Being seventeen (17) years of age or older, the actor knowingly takes immodest, immoral or indecent liberties with a victim who is less than seventeen (17) years of age and the victim is at least four (4) years younger than the actor.
(b) A person convicted under subsection (a) of this section is subject to imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) years.
(c) A person charged with violating the provisions of paragraph (a)(iii) of this section shall be subject to the original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, except the matter may be transferred to the district court having jurisdiction of the offense as provided in W.S. 14-6-237.
(a) Except under circumstance constituting sexual abuse of a minor in the first, second or third degree as defined by W.S. 6-2-314 through 6-2-316, an actor commits the crime of sexual abuse of a minor in the fourth degree if:
(i) Being less than sixteen (16) years of age, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is less than thirteen (13) years of age, and the victim is at least three (3) years younger than the actor; or
(ii) Being twenty (20) years of age or older, the actor engages in sexual contact with a victim who is either sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age, and the victim is at least four (4) years younger than the actor, and the actor occupies a position of authority in relation to the victim.
(b) A person convicted under subsection (a) of this section is subject to imprisonment for not more than five (5) years.
(c) A person charged with violating the provisions of paragraph (a)(i) of this section shall be subject to the original jurisdiction of the juvenile court, except the matter may be transferred to the district court having jurisdiction of the offense as provided in W.S. 14-6-237.
Except under circumstances constituting sexual assault in the first, second or third degree as defined by W.S. 6-2-302 through 6-2-304, or sexual abuse of a minor in the first, second, third or fourth degree as defined by W.S. 6-2-314 through 6-2-317, anyone who has reached the age of majority and who solicits, procures or knowingly encourages anyone less than the age of fourteen (14) years, or a person purported to be less than the age of fourteen (14) years, to engage in sexual intrusion as defined in W.S. 6-2-301 is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be imprisoned for a term of not more than five (5) years.
(a) A person is guilty of simple assault if, having the present ability to do so, he unlawfully attempts to cause bodily injury to another.
(b) A person is guilty of battery if he intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another person by use of physical force.
(c) Simple assault is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00).
(d) Battery is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the term of probation imposed by a judge under this subsection may exceed the maximum term of imprisonment established for the offense under this subsection provided the term of probation, together with any extension thereof, shall in no case exceed one (1) year.
(e), (f) Repealed by Laws 2014, ch. 13, § 3, eff. July 1, 2014.
(g) A person is guilty of unlawful contact if he:
(i) Touches another person in a rude, insolent or angry manner without intentionally using sufficient physical force to cause bodily injury to another; or
(ii) Recklessly causes bodily injury to another person.
(h) An unlawful contact under subsection (g) of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00) or both.
(a) A person is guilty of aggravated assault and battery if he engages in any of the following:
(i) Causes or attempts to cause serious bodily injury to another intentionally, knowingly or recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life;
(ii) Attempts to cause, or intentionally or knowingly causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon;
(iii) Threatens to use a drawn deadly weapon on another unless reasonably necessary in defense of his person, property or abode or to prevent serious bodily injury to another;
(iv) Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to a woman whom he knows is pregnant;
(v) Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes female genital mutilation to be performed on a person who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years.
(b) Aggravated assault and battery is a felony punishable by imprisonment:
(i) For not more than ten (10) years for violations of paragraphs (a)(i) through (iv) of this section;
(ii) For not less than five (5) years and not more than twenty-five (25) years for violations of paragraph (a)(v) of this section.
(c) It is not a defense in a prosecution under paragraph (a)(v) of this section that a female under eighteen (18) years of age or the parent, guardian or custodian of the female under eighteen (18) years of age consented to the female genital mutilation. Religion, ritual, custom or standard practice shall not be a defense to the offense of female genital mutilation.
(a) A person is guilty of reckless endangering if he recklessly engages in conduct which places another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.
(b) Any person who knowingly points a firearm at or in the direction of another, whether or not the person believes the firearm is loaded, is guilty of reckless endangering unless reasonably necessary in defense of his person, property or abode or to prevent serious bodily injury to another or as provided for under W.S. 6-2-602.
(c) Reckless endangering is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year.
(a) A person is guilty of a terroristic threat if he threatens to commit any violent felony with the intent to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly or facility of public transportation, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such inconvenience.
(b) A terroristic threat is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years.
(a) As used in this section:
(i) “Course of conduct” means a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over any period of time evidencing a continuity of purpose;
(ii) “Harass” means to engage in a course of conduct, including but not limited to verbal threats, written threats, lewd or obscene statements or images, vandalism or nonconsensual physical contact, directed at a specific person that the defendant knew or should have known would cause:
(A) A reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress;
(B) A reasonable person to suffer substantial fear for their safety or the safety of another person; or
(C) A reasonable person to suffer substantial fear for the destruction of their property.
(b) Unless otherwise provided by law, a person commits the crime of stalking if, with intent to harass another person, the person engages in a course of conduct reasonably likely to harass that person, including but not limited to any combination of the following:
(i) Communicating, anonymously or otherwise, or causing a communication with another person by verbal, electronic, mechanical, telegraphic, telephonic or written means in a manner that harasses;
(ii) Following a person, other than within the residence of the defendant;
(iii) Placing a person under surveillance by remaining present outside his or her school, place of employment, vehicle, other place occupied by the person, or residence other than the residence of the defendant;
(iv) Using any electronic, digital or global positioning system device or other electronic means to place another person under surveillance or to surveil another person’s internet or wireless activity without authorization from the other person; or
(v) Otherwise engaging in a course of conduct that harasses another person.
(c) This section does not apply to an otherwise lawful demonstration, assembly or picketing.
(d) Except as provided under subsection (e) of this section, stalking is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both. If a person sentenced under this subsection is placed on probation, the court may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, impose a term of probation exceeding the maximum one (1) year imprisonment, provided the term of probation, including extensions, shall not exceed three (3) years.
(e) A person convicted of stalking under subsection (b) of this section is guilty of felony stalking punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, if:
(i) The act or acts leading to the conviction occurred within five (5) years of the completion of the sentence, including all periods of incarceration, parole and probation, of a prior conviction under this subsection, or under subsection (b) of this section, or under a substantially similar law of another jurisdiction;
(ii) The defendant caused serious bodily harm to the victim or another person in conjunction with committing the offense of stalking;
(iii) The defendant committed the offense of stalking in violation of any condition of probation, parole or bail; or
(iv) The defendant committed the offense of stalking in violation of a temporary or permanent order of protection issued pursuant to W.S. 7-3-508, 7-3-509, 35-21-104 or 35-21-105 or pursuant to a substantially similar law of another jurisdiction.
(f) An offense under this section may be deemed to have been committed at the place where any:
(i) Act within the course of conduct that constitutes stalking was initiated; or
(ii) Communication within the course of conduct that constitutes stalking was received by the victim then present in Wyoming; or
(iii) Act within the course of conduct that constitutes stalking caused an effect on the victim then present in Wyoming.(g) An act that indicates a course of conduct but occurs in more than one (1) jurisdiction may be used by any jurisdiction in which the act occurred as evidence of a continuing course of conduct.
(a) A person is guilty of strangulation of a household member if he intentionally and knowingly or recklessly causes or attempts to cause bodily injury to a household member by impeding the normal breathing or circulation of blood by: (i) Applying pressure on the throat or neck of the household member; or (ii) Blocking the nose and mouth of the household member. (b) Strangulation of a household member is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years. (c) For purposes of this section, “household member” means as defined in W.S. 35-21-102(a)(iv)(A) through (D), (G) and (H).
(a) A household member is guilty of domestic assault if, having the present ability to do so, he unlawfully attempts to cause bodily injury to another household member.
(b) Domestic assault is punishable as follows:
(i) By imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both;
(ii) By imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if the person has previously been convicted of domestic assault or if the person has previously been convicted of the following or similar offense against another household member:
(A) Domestic battery under W.S. 6-2-511;
(B) Simple assault under W.S. 6-2-501(a);
(C) Battery under W.S. 6-2-501(b);
(D) Aggravated assault and battery under W.S. 6-2-502;
(E) Child abuse under W.S. 6-2-503;
(F) Reckless endangering under W.S. 6-2-504.
(G) Unlawful contact under W.S. 6-2-501(g);
(H) Strangulation of a household member under W.S. 6-2-509;
(J) Kidnapping under W.S. 6-2-201;
(K) Felonious restraint under W.S. 6-2-202; or
(M) False imprisonment under W.S. 6-2-203.
(c) If a person sentenced under paragraph (b)(i) or (ii) of this section is placed on probation, the court may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, impose a term of probation exceeding the maximum one (1) year imprisonment, provided the term of probation, including extensions, shall not exceed three (3) years.
(d) As used in this section:
(i) “Convicted” means a person has been convicted upon a plea of guilty or no contest or has been found guilty;
(ii) “Household member” means as defined in W.S. 35-21-102;
(iii) “Similar offense” means a substantially similar law of this or any other state, tribe or territory.
(a) A household member is guilty of domestic battery if he knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another household member by use of physical force.
(b) Domestic battery is punishable as follows:
(i) By imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both;
(ii) By imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both, if within the previous five (5) years, the person has been convicted of domestic battery or any of the following or similar offenses against another household member:
(A) Domestic assault under W.S. 6-2-510;
(B) Simple assault under W.S. 6-2-501(a);
(C) Battery under W.S. 6-2-501(b);
(D) Aggravated assault and battery under W.S. 6-2-502;
(E) Child abuse under W.S. 6-2-503;
(F) Reckless endangering under W.S. 6-2-504.
(G) Unlawful contact under W.S. 6-2-501(g);
(H) Strangulation of a household member under W.S. 6-2-509;
(J) Kidnapping under W.S. 6-2-201;
(K) Felonious restraint under W.S. 6-2-202; or
(M) False imprisonment under W.S. 6-2-203.
(iii) By imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if within the previous ten (10) years, the person has been convicted of domestic battery two (2) or more times or has been convicted of domestic battery and any of the following or similar offense against another household member:
(A) Domestic assault under W.S. 6-2-510;
(B) Simple assault under W.S. 6-2-501(a);
(C) Battery under W.S. 6-2-501(b);
(D) Aggravated assault and battery under W.S. 6-2-502;
(E) Child abuse under W.S. 6-2-503;
(F) Reckless endangering under W.S. 6-2-504.
(G) Unlawful contact under W.S. 6-2-501(g);
(H) Strangulation of a household member under W.S. 6-2-509;
(J) Kidnapping under W.S. 6-2-201;
(K) Felonious restraint under W.S. 6-2-202; or
(M) False imprisonment under W.S. 6-2-203.
(c) If a person sentenced under paragraph (b)(i) or (ii) of this section is placed on probation, the court may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, impose a term of probation exceeding the maximum imprisonment of one (1) year, provided the term of probation, including extensions, shall not exceed three (3) years.
(d) As used in this section:
(i) “Convicted” means a person has been convicted upon a plea of guilty or no contest or has been found guilty;
(ii) “Household member” means as defined in W.S. 35-21-102;
(iii) “Similar offense” means a substantially similar law of this or any other state, tribe or territory.
(a) Every person who willfully obtains personal identifying information of another person, and uses that information for any unlawful purpose, including to obtain, or attempt to obtain, credit, goods, services or medical information in the name of the other person without the consent of that person is guilty of theft of identity.
(b) As used in this section “personal identifying information” means the name or any of the following data elements of an individual person:
(i) Address;
(ii) Telephone number;
(iii) Social security number;
(iv) Driver’s license number;
(v) Account number, credit card number or debit card number in combination with any security code, access code or password that would allow access to a financial account of the person;
(vi) Tribal identification card;
(vii) Federal or state government issued identification card;
(viii) Shared secrets or security tokens that are known to be used for data based authentication;
(ix) A username or email address, in combination with a password or security question and answer that would permit access to an online account;
(x) A birth or marriage certificate;
(xi) Medical information, meaning a person’s medical history, mental or physical condition, or medical treatment or diagnosis by a health care professional;
(xii) Health insurance information, meaning a person’s health insurance policy number or subscriber identification number, any unique identifier used by a health insurer to identify the person or information related to a person’s application and claims history;
(xiii) Unique biometric data, meaning data generated from measurements or analysis of human body characteristics for authentication purposes;
(xiv) An individual taxpayer identification number.
(c) Theft of identity is:
(i) A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if no economic benefit was gained or was attempted to be gained, or if an economic benefit of less than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) was gained or was attempted to be gained by the defendant; or
(ii) A felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), or both, if an economic benefit of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more was gained or was attempted to be gained by the defendant.
(d) If a restitution plan is ordered pursuant to W.S. 7-9-101 through 7-9-115, the court may include, as part of its determination of amount owed pursuant to W.S. 7-9-103, payment for any costs incurred by the victim, including attorney fees, any costs incurred in clearing the credit history or credit rating of the victim or in connection with any civil or administrative proceeding to satisfy any debt, lien or other obligation of the victim arising as a result of the actions of the defendant.
(e) In any case in which a person willfully obtains personal identifying information of another person, and without the authorization of that person uses that information to commit a crime in addition to a violation of subsection (a) of this section, and is convicted of that crime, the court records shall reflect that the person whose identity was falsely used to commit the crime did not commit the crime.
(a) A person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both, if he knowingly and without consent intentionally impersonates another person or that person’s personal or organizational digital identity through, or on, an internet website or by other electronic means, including, but not limited to spoofing, and:
(i) Causes or attempts to cause harm;
(ii) Harasses or attempts to harass another person while using false self-identifying information related to the person impersonated; or
(iii) Uses or attempts to use false self-identifying information related to the person impersonated as an unauthorized deceptive means to facilitate contact with another person.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(i) “Electronic means” includes opening an e-mail account or an account or profile on a site transmitted via the internet;
(ii) “Internet” means as defined in W.S. 9-2-3219(a)(iii);
(iii) “Spoofing” means falsifying the name or phone number appearing on caller identification systems.
(iv) “Personal digital identity” means as defined in W.S. 8-1-102(a)(xviii);
(v) “Organizational digital identity” means as defined in W.S. 8-1-102(a)(xix).
(c) In addition to any other civil remedy available, a person who suffers damage or loss by reason of a violation of subsection (a) of this section may bring a civil action against the violator for compensatory damages and injunctive relief or other equitable relief.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both, if he, without the consent of the person being viewed, commits the crime of voyeurism by looking or viewing in a clandestine, surreptitious, prying or secretive nature into or within an area where the person being viewed has a reasonable expectation of privacy, including, but not limited to:
(i) Restrooms;
(ii) Baths;
(iii) Showers;
(iv) Dressing or fitting rooms;
(v) Bedrooms; or
(vi) Under the clothing being worn by another person, regardless of whether the person is in a place where the person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both, if he:
(i) Commits the offense specified in subsection (a) of this section by knowingly or intentionally capturing an image by means of a camera, a video camera or any other image recording device; or
(ii) Uses a camera, video camera or any other image recording device:
(A) For the purpose of observing, viewing, photographing, filming, recording, livestreaming or videotaping the intimate areas of another person;
(B) Under clothing being worn by the other person; and
(C) Without the consent of the other person.
(c) A minor convicted of violating subsection (b) of this section shall be guilty of a status offense as defined in W.S. 7-1-107(b)(iii) and may be fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).
(d) A person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older who commits an offense as specified in this section for which the victim is less than eighteen (18) years of age shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than ten (10) years, a fine of not greater than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
(e) If a person sentenced under subsection (a) of this section is placed on probation, the court may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, impose a term of probation exceeding the maximum imprisonment of six (6) months, provided the term of probation, including extensions, shall not exceed one (1) year.
(f) A person who is eighteen (18) years of age or older who commits an offense as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this section who has previously been convicted as an adult of an offense under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or of a similar offense under the laws of another state shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment of not greater than five (5) years, a fine of not greater than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
(g) As used in this section, “intimate area” means any portion of a person’s pubic area, buttocks, vulva, genitals, female breast or undergarments intended to cover those portions. “Intimate area” does not include intimate areas visible through a person’s clothing or intimate areas knowingly exposed in public.
(a) As used in this section:
(i) “Displaying sexual acts” means displaying an image of sexual acts regardless of whether a person’s intimate parts are visible in the image;
(ii) “Disseminate” means to sell, distribute, deliver, provide, exhibit, post on social media or otherwise make available to a third party, but shall not include displaying an intimate image in private to the person depicted in the image;
(iii) “Image” means a photograph, film, videotape, recording, digital file or any other recording, including a computer generated image that purports to represent an identifiable person;
(iv) “Intimate image” means an image of a person’s intimate parts or of a person engaging in sexual acts when the person depicted is identifiable from the image itself or from information displayed with or otherwise connected to the image;
(v) “Intimate parts” means the external genitalia, perineum, anus or pubic area of any person or the breast of a female person;
(vi) “Sexual acts” means sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, analingus, anal intercourse or any intrusion, however slight, by any object or any part of a person’s body into the genital or anal opening of another person’s body if the intrusion can reasonably be construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal, gratification or abuse;
(vii) “Social media” means any electronic medium, including an interactive computer service, telephone network or data network, that allows users to create, share, post or view user generated content, including but not limited to images, videos, still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant messages, electronic mail or internet website profiles.
(b) A person eighteen (18) years of age or older is guilty of the offense of disseminating an intimate image if the person:
(i) Disseminated an intimate image of another person;
(ii) Knew or should have known that the depicted person had a reasonable expectation that the image would remain private and the depicted person did not expressly give consent for the image’s dissemination; and
(iii) Intended:
(A) To humiliate, harm, harass, threaten or coerce another; or
(B) For sexual gratification or arousal of others or of the person disseminating the intimate image.
(c) Dissemination of an intimate image is a misdemeanor punishable by not more than one (1) year imprisonment, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
(d) Nothing in the section shall be construed to impose criminal liability on the provider of an interactive computer service as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 230, an information service as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 153 or a telecommunications service as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 153, for content provided by another person.
(a) Any person who willfully violates a protection order issued pursuant to W.S. 35-21-104 or 35-21-105 or valid injunction or order for protection against domestic violence as defined in W.S. 35-21-109(a), is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.
(b) Repealed by Laws 2018, ch. 97, § 2.
(a) A person commits a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or both, if he telephones another anonymously or under a false or fictitious name and uses obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests a lewd or lascivious act with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend.
(b) A person commits a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000. 00), or both, if:
(i) By repeated anonymous telephone calls, he disturbs the peace, quiet or privacy of persons where the calls were received; or
(ii) He telephones or otherwise electronically or in writing communicates with a person and threatens to:
(A) Inflict death to the person, to the person’s immediate family or to anyone at the school in which the person is a student or employee; or
(B) Inflict injury or physical harm to the person, to the person’s immediate family or to property of the person.
(c) A crime under this section is committed at the place where the calls or other electronic or written communications either originated or were received.
(d) For purposes of this section, “immediate family” means a spouse, parent, sibling, child or other person living in the person’s household.
(a) Any person who has previously pleaded guilty to or been convicted of committing or attempting to commit a violent felony, and has not been pardoned or has not had the person’s rights restored pursuant to W.S. 7-13-105(a) or (f) and who uses or knowingly possesses any firearm is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), or both.
(b) As used in this section “firearm” does not include an “antique firearm” as defined in W.S. 6-8-403(a)(viii).
(c) Any person who has previously pleaded guilty to or been convicted of committing or attempting to commit a felony that is not a violent felony and has not been pardoned or has not had the person’s rights restored pursuant to W.S. 7-13-105(a) or (f) and who uses or knowingly possesses any firearm is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.
(a) A personal firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition that is manufactured commercially or privately in Wyoming and that remains exclusively within the borders of Wyoming is not subject to federal law, federal taxation or federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of the United States congress to regulate interstate commerce. It is declared by the Wyoming legislature that those items have not traveled in interstate commerce. This section applies to a firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition that is manufactured in Wyoming from basic materials and that can be manufactured without the inclusion of any significant parts imported from another state or foreign country. Generic and insignificant parts that have other manufacturing or consumer product applications are not firearms, firearms accessories or ammunition, and their importation into Wyoming and incorporation into a firearm, firearm accessory or ammunition manufactured in Wyoming does not subject the firearm, firearm accessory or ammunition to federal regulation. It is declared by the Wyoming legislature that basic industrial materials, such as, but not limited to, polymers, unmachined metal, ferrous or nonferrous, bar stock, ingots or forgings and unshaped wood, are not firearms, firearms accessories or ammunition and are not subject to congressional authority to regulate firearms, firearms accessories and ammunition under interstate commerce as if they were actually firearms, firearms accessories or ammunition. The authority of the United States congress to regulate interstate commerce in basic materials does not include authority to regulate firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition made within Wyoming borders from those materials. Firearms accessories that are imported into Wyoming from another state and that are subject to federal regulation as being in interstate commerce do not subject a firearm to federal regulation under interstate commerce because the firearm accessory is attached to or used in conjunction with a firearm in Wyoming.
(b) A firearm manufactured or sold in Wyoming under this act shall have the words, “made in Wyoming” clearly stamped, inscribed or otherwise marked on a central part of the firearm, such as the receiver or frame.
(c) To possess a firearm covered by this section a person shall:
(i) Not have been convicted of any felony in any state, territory or other jurisdiction of the United States. This paragraph shall not apply to antique firearms;
(ii) Not currently be adjudicated to be legally incompetent; and
(iii) Not have been committed to a mental institution.
(d) To purchase a firearm covered by this section a person shall:
(i) Be at least:
(A) Twenty-one (21) years of age if the firearm is a handgun;
(B) Eighteen (18) years of age if the firearm is a shotgun or rifle.
(ii) Not have been convicted of any felony in any state, territory or other jurisdiction of the United States. This paragraph shall not apply to antique firearms;
(iii) Not currently be adjudicated to be legally incompetent; and
(iv) Not have been committed to a mental institution.
Crimes which may be punished by death or by imprisonment for more than one (1) year are felonies. All other crimes are misdemeanors.
(a) As used in W.S. 7-3-501 through 7-3-505 “judge” means a circuit court judge.
(b) When complaint is made by the district attorney or by any private person to any circuit court judge that a person has threatened or is about to commit a breach of the peace or an offense against the person or property of another, the judge shall:
(i) Examine under oath the complainant and any witnesses who may be produced;
(ii) Reduce the complaint and a concise statement of the testimony of the witnesses to writing; and
(iii) Cause the complaint to be subscribed and sworn to.
(c) If it appears there is probable cause to believe the offense will be committed, the judge shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the person complained against or issue a summons for him to appear and answer the complaint.
When the party complained against appears before the judge the testimony produced on both sides shall be heard if the allegations of the complaint are controverted. If, upon examination, it appears to the judge that there is no probable cause to believe that the offense will be committed, the person complained against shall be discharged. If, however, the judge finds that there is probable cause to believe that the offense will be committed, he shall order the person complained against to give a recognizance, with good and sufficient surety in the form of cash, bond or other property, in any sum the judge directs. The recognizance shall be conditioned that the person complained against shall keep the peace toward all people of this state, and especially towards the person against whom or whose property there is reason to believe the offense will be committed, for a period of time determined by the judge not exceeding twelve (12) months.
(a) If a person ordered to give recognizance complies with the order he shall be discharged and the recognizance returned to him.
(b) If a person ordered to give recognizance and surety refuses or neglects to do so, the judge may order the person to show cause why he should not be committed to jail. If the judge finds that the person’s default is willful or is due to his failure to make a good faith effort to obtain the surety required, the judge may order him committed to jail until the surety, or a specified part thereof is given, provided that such commitment shall not exceed six (6) months.
(a) If the person complained against is discharged after hearing because no probable cause is found and if the judge finds that the complaint was commenced maliciously and without reasonable cause on the part of the complainant, the judge may enter judgment against the complainant for the costs of the proceedings and the reasonable attorney’s fees of the person complained against. If the person complained against is required to give recognizance the judge may assess the costs of the proceedings against him.
(b) A proceeding to prevent an offense under this article shall not be dismissed because of any informality or insufficiency of the complaint or other document in the proceeding. The complaint may be amended by the judge to conform to the evidence in the case.
A recognizance taken in accordance with W.S. 7-3-501 through 7-3-505 shall be filed by the clerk of the court in the court records. Upon a breach of the condition of the recognizance, the court shall declare a forfeiture of the security in the manner provided for the forfeiture of bail in criminal cases, except for good cause shown.
(a) As used in W.S. 7-3-506 through 7-3-512:
(i) “Court” means the circuit court in the county where an alleged victim of stalking or sexual assault resides, or where the alleged perpetrator of the stalking or sexual assault is found;
(ii) “Order of protection” means a court order granted for the protection of a victim of stalking or a victim of sexual assault;
(iii) “Sexual assault” means any act made criminal pursuant to W.S. 6-2-302 and 6-2-303 and 6-2-314 through 6-2-318 or an attempt or conspiracy to commit such act;
(iv) “Stalking” means conduct as defined by W.S. 6-2-506(b).
(a) A petition for an order of protection for a victim may be filed by:
(i) The victim;
(ii) If the victim consents, the district attorney on behalf of the victim; or
(iii) Any person with legal authority to act on behalf of the victim if the victim is:
(A) A minor;
(B) A vulnerable adult as defined in W.S. 35-20-102(a)(xviii);
(C) Any other adult who, because of age, disability, health or inaccessibility, cannot file the petition.
(b) The petition shall be accompanied or supplemented by one (1) or more sworn affidavits setting out specific facts showing the alleged stalking or sexual assault and the identity of the alleged perpetrator.
(c) No filing fee shall be charged for the filing of a petition under this section nor shall a fee be charged for service of process.
(d) The attorney general shall promulgate a standard petition form which may be used by petitioners. The clerk of the circuit or district court shall make standard petition forms available to petitioners, with instructions for completion, without charge. If the petition is not filed by the district attorney, the court may appoint an attorney to represent an indigent petitioner. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the victim from hiring an attorney or filing a petition pro se.
(e) A petition may be filed under this section whether or not the individual who is alleged to have engaged in a course of conduct prohibited under W.S. 6-2-506 or engaged in the conduct specified in W.S. 7-3-506(a)(iii) has been charged or convicted for the alleged crime.
(f) For any hearing required or authorized for proceedings under W.S. 7-3-506 through 7-3-512, the petitioner or other party to the hearing may petition the court to appear at the hearing by remote means. The court may, in its discretion, grant the petition for remote appearance at the hearing, provided that the court is equipped with appropriate audio or video technology to allow the petitioner or other party to fully participate in the hearing.
(a) Upon the filing of a petition for an order of protection, the court shall schedule a hearing on the petition to be conducted within seventy-two (72) hours after the filing of the petition, and shall cause each party to be served, either within or outside of this state, with an order to appear, a copy of the petition and a copy of the supporting affidavits. Service shall be made upon each party at least twenty-four (24) hours before the hearing. The failure to hold or complete the hearing within seventy-two (72) hours shall not affect the validity of the hearing or any order issued thereon.
(b) If the court determines from the specific facts shown by the petition and supporting affidavits that there exists a clear and present danger of further stalking, sexual assault or of serious physical adverse consequences to any person, the court may grant ex parte a temporary order of protection pending the hearing, and shall cause a copy of the temporary order of protection to be served on each party, either within or outside of this state. The court may prescribe terms in the temporary order of protection which it deems sufficient to protect the victim and any other person pending the hearing, including but not limited to the elements described in W.S. 7-3-509(a).
(c) A temporary order of protection issued under paragraph (b) of this section shall contain a notice that willful violation of any provision of the order constitutes a crime as defined by W.S. 7-3-510(c) and can result in immediate arrest. The order shall also state that a violation that constitutes the offense of stalking as defined by W.S. 6-2-506(b) may subject the perpetrator to enhanced penalties for felony stalking under W.S. 6-2-506(e).
(d) An ex parte temporary order of protection issued under this section shall not be admissible as evidence in any subsequent criminal proceeding or civil action for damages arising from the conduct alleged in the petition or the order.
(e) No testimony or evidence of the alleged actor in a hearing pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be admissible, including for impeachment purposes, or be deemed a waiver of any protection against self-incrimination under the constitution of the United States or of the state of Wyoming unless, prior to the hearing, an information or indictment has been filed in a district court charging the alleged actor of a violation of sexual assault as defined by W.S. 7-3-506(a)(iii).
(a) Following a hearing under W.S. 7-3-508(a) and upon a finding that conduct constituting stalking or sexual assault has been committed, the court shall enter an order of protection ordering the respondent to refrain from any further acts of stalking or sexual assault involving the victim or any other person. As a part of any order of protection, the court may direct that the respondent: (i) Stay away from the home, school, business or place of employment of the victim or any other locations the court may describe in the order; and (ii) Refrain from contacting, intimidating, threatening or otherwise interfering with the victim of the alleged offense and any other persons, including but not limited to members of the family or household of the victim, as the court may describe in the order. Prohibited contact under this paragraph includes telephone calls, mail, e-mail, texting, fax, contacting through social media using the internet or similar technology and any other form of communication. (b) The order shall contain a notice that willful violation of any provision of the order constitutes a crime as defined by W.S. 7-3-510(c) and can result in immediate arrest. The order shall also state that a violation that constitutes the offense of stalking as defined by W.S. 6-2-506(b) may subject the perpetrator to enhanced penalties for felony stalking under W.S. 6-2-506(e). (c) A request by the victim for the perpetrator to violate an order of protection issued under this section or a temporary order of protection issued under W.S. 7-3-508 shall constitute an affirmative defense to a charge of violation of the order by the perpetrator.
(a) An order of protection granted under W.S. 7-3-509 shall be served upon the respondent pursuant to the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure. A copy of the order of protection shall be filed with the sheriff of the county.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an order of protection granted by the court under W.S. 7-3-509 shall be effective for a fixed period of time not to exceed three (3) years. Either party may move to modify, terminate or extend the order. The order may be extended repetitively upon a showing of good cause for additional periods of time, not to exceed three (3) years each, if the court finds from specific facts that a clear and present danger to the victim continues to exist. If a party subject to an order of protection is sentenced and incarcerated or becomes imprisoned, the running of the time remaining for the order of protection shall be tolled during the term of incarceration or imprisonment. The conditions and provisions of an order of protection shall remain in effect during any period of tolling under this subsection. Upon release from incarceration or imprisonment the effective period of the order of protection shall be the amount of time remaining as of the first day of the term of incarceration or imprisonment or one (1) year from the date of release, whichever is greater.
(i), (ii) Repealed by Laws 2018, ch. 97, § 2.
(c) Willful violation of a temporary order of protection issued under W.S. 7-3-508 or of an order of protection issued under W.S. 7-3-509 is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both. A temporary order of protection issued under W.S. 7-3-508 and an order of protection issued under W.S. 7-3-509 shall have statewide applicability and a criminal prosecution under this subsection may be commenced in any county in which the respondent commits an act in violation of the order.
(d) The remedies provided by W.S. 7-3-506 through 7-3-512 are in addition to any other civil or criminal remedy available under the law.
(a) A person who allegedly has been a victim of stalking or sexual assault may request the assistance of a law enforcement agency, which shall respond to the request in a manner appropriate to the circumstances.
(b) A law enforcement officer or agency responding to the request for assistance may take whatever steps are reasonably necessary to protect the victim, including:
(i) Advising the victim of the remedies available under W.S. 7-3-506 through 7-3-512 and the availability of shelter, medical care, counseling, safety planning, victim’s rights counseling and other services;
(ii) Advising the victim, when appropriate, of the procedure for initiating proceedings under W.S. 7-3-506 through 7-3-512 or criminal proceedings and the importance of preserving evidence; and
(iii) Providing or arranging for transportation of the victim to a medical facility or place of shelter.
(c) Any law enforcement agency or officer responding to a request for assistance under W.S. 7-3-506 through 7-3-512 is immune from civil liability when complying with the request, provided that the agency or officer acts in good faith and in a reasonable manner.
The court shall enter an order providing for the confidentiality of the name, address, city and state of residence or any other information identifying residence of all parties involved in the sexual assault for all orders issued under W.S. 7-3-508 and 7-3-509.
(a) Upon receipt of a written application, the governor may issue to a person convicted of a felony under the laws of a state or the United States a certificate which restores the rights lost pursuant to W.S. 6-10-106 when:
(i) His term of sentence expires; or
(ii) He satisfactorily completes a probation period.
(b) The department of corrections shall issue a certificate of restoration of voting rights as provided in this subsection and subsection (c) of this section. Upon issuance of a certificate, voting rights lost pursuant to W.S. 6-10-106 shall be deemed restored. The department of corrections shall automatically issue a person convicted of a nonviolent felony or nonviolent felonies arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events a certificate of restoration of voting rights if:
(i) The person has not been convicted of any other felony other than convictions arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events for which restoration of rights is certified; and
(ii) The person has completed all of his sentence, including probation or parole.
(iii) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 189, § 2.
(c) The department of corrections shall issue a certificate of restoration of voting rights to eligible persons as follows:
(i) For persons convicted within Wyoming of a nonviolent felony or nonviolent felonies arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events who completed their sentence before January 1, 2010, the department shall require receipt of a written request on a form prescribed by the department and issue each eligible person a certificate of restoration of voting rights following a determination that the person has completed his sentence, including probation and parole. The department shall not require an application for restoration before issuing a certificate to eligible persons who complete their sentence on and after January 1, 2010;
(ii) For persons convicted outside of Wyoming or under federal law of a nonviolent felony or nonviolent felonies arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events, the department shall issue each eligible person a certificate of restoration of voting rights upon receipt of a written request on a form prescribed by the department and following a determination that the person has completed his sentence, including probation and parole.
(d) The department of correction’s determination that a person is ineligible for a certificate of restoration of voting rights is a final action of the agency subject to judicial review. The clerk of the district court and the division of criminal investigation shall cooperate with the department of corrections in providing information necessary for determining a person’s eligibility to receive a certificate of restoration of voting rights. The department of corrections shall notify the secretary of state when any person’s voting rights have been restored. If the person was convicted in Wyoming, the department of corrections shall submit the certificate of restoration of voting rights to the clerk of the district court in which the person was convicted and the clerk shall file the certificate in the criminal case in which the conviction was entered.
(e) As used in this section:
(i) “Same occurrence or related course of events” means the same transaction or occurrence or a series of events closely related in time or location;
(ii) “Violent felony” means as defined by W.S. 6-1-104(a)(xii), including offenses committed in another jurisdiction which if committed in this state would constitute a violent felony under W.S. 6-1-104(a)(xii). “Nonviolent felony” includes all felony offenses not otherwise defined as violent felonies.
(f) All other rights a person has lost pursuant to W.S. 6-10-106 shall be restored five (5) years after the person has completed their sentence, including applicable periods of probation or parole. A person shall only be eligible for restoration of their rights under this subsection if the person has not been convicted of any other felony other than convictions arising out of the same occurrence or related course of events for which restoration of rights is to be certified. The date on which all rights are restored under this subsection shall be noted on a certificate issued by the department which shall be the same certificate issued under subsections (b) and (c) of this section if the certificate is issued on or after July 1, 2023, or a separate certificate issued upon receipt of a written request on a form prescribed by the department for a person eligible for restoration of rights under this subsection prior to July 1, 2023. A conviction for a new felony upon the issuance of any certificate under this section shall render the certificate void.
(g) When a certificate of restoration of rights is issued pursuant to subsections (a) or (f) of this section, the department of corrections shall:
(i) Notify the federal bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms when any person’s right to use or possess any firearm have been restored pursuant to subsections (a) or (f) of this section;
(ii) File a copy of the certificate with the secretary of state.
As used in this chapter “peace officer” has the meaning specified in W.S. 7-2-101.
(a) In addition to arrests specified in W.S. 7-2-102, any peace officer who has probable cause to believe that a violation of W.S. 6-2-510(a) or 6-2-511(a) has taken place within the preceding twenty-four (24) hours or is taking place or that a violation of W.S. 6-2-502(a) or 6-2-504(a) or (b) has taken place within the preceding twenty-four (24) hours or is taking place and that the person who committed or is committing the violation is a household member as defined by W.S. 35-21-102(a)(iv), may arrest the violator without a warrant for that violation, regardless of whether the violation was committed in the presence of the peace officer.
(b) A peace officer, without a warrant, may arrest and take into custody a person if:
(i) An order of protection has been issued by a circuit or district court as authorized by W.S. 35-21-104 or 35-21-105 stating on its face the period of time for which the order is valid and specifically restraining or enjoining a household member, as defined by W.S. 35-21-102(a)(iv), from entering onto premises, from physical abuse, threats of personal abuse or acts which unreasonably restrain the personal liberty of any household member, or from abducting, removing or concealing any child in the custody of another household member or from transferring, concealing, encumbering or otherwise disposing of petitioner’s property or the joint property of the parties;
(ii) A true copy and proof of service of the order has been filed with the sheriff’s office having jurisdiction of the area in which the moving party resides;
(iii) The person named in the order has received notice of the injunctive order;
(iv) The person named in the order is acting in violation of the order or the peace officer has probable cause to believe that the person violated the order within the preceding twenty-four (24) hours; and
(v) The order states on its face that a violation of its terms subjects the person to a criminal penalty pursuant to W.S. 6-4-404.
(a) Any person arrested pursuant to W.S. 7-20-102 shall be brought before the court having jurisdiction in the cause without unnecessary delay. At the initial appearance under this section the court shall:
(i) Set a time for a hearing on the alleged violation of the order of protection within seventy-two (72) hours after the person is initially brought before the court under this subsection;
(ii) Set a reasonable bond pending the hearing;
(iii) If the arrest is pursuant to W.S. 7-20-102(b), notify the party who procured the order of protection and direct that party to appear at the hearing and give evidence on the alleged violation; and
(iv) If the defendant is found guilty of an offense referred to in W.S. 7-20-102(a) and 35-21-106(c) and if probation is otherwise available for the offense, the court, without entering a judgment of guilt and with the concurrence of the prosecutor and consent of the defendant, may defer further proceedings and place the defendant on probation as provided in this paragraph. The terms and conditions of probation shall include those necessary to provide for the protection of the alleged victim and other specifically designated persons and additional conditions and requirements which the court deems appropriate, including any counseling or diversionary programs available to the defendant. On violation of a term or condition of probation, the court may enter an adjudication of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided for revocation of probation. On fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the defendant and dismiss the proceedings against the defendant. This subsection does not apply in any case in which the defendant has previously been found guilty of an offense referred to in W.S. 7-20-102(a) and 35-21-106(c), or in which charges under this section have previously been dismissed in accordance with this subsection.
At the time of arrest under W.S. 7-20-102 or as soon thereafter as is practicable, the peace officer shall advise the victim of the availability of a program that provides services to victims of battering in the community and give the victim notice of the legal rights and remedies available. The notice shall include furnishing the victim a copy of the following statement:
“IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, you can ask the district attorney to file a criminal complaint. You also have the right to go to the circuit or district court and file a petition requesting any of the following orders for relief: (a) An order restraining your attacker from abusing you; (b) An order directing your attacker to leave your household; (c) An order preventing your attacker from entering your residence, school, business or place of employment; (d) An order awarding you or the other parent custody of or visitation with a minor child or children; (e) An order restraining your attacker from molesting or interfering with minor children in your custody; (f) An order directing the party not granted custody to pay support for minor children, or for support of the other party if that party has a legal obligation to do so.
You also have the right to sue for losses suffered as a result of the abuse, including medical and moving expenses, loss of earnings or support and other out-of-pocket expenses for injuries sustained and damage to your property. This can be done without an attorney in small claims court if the total amount claimed is under $…. (Officer to insert current jurisdictional limit of small claims court).
1. Name, address and phone number of local family violence program
2. Name, address and phone number of district attorney’s office.”
(a) Law enforcement agencies and the Wyoming law enforcement academy shall provide peace officers with a uniform education and training program approved by the peace officer standards and training commission designed to inform the officers of the problems of family and household abuse, procedures to deal with these problems, the provisions of this chapter and the services and facilities available to abused family and household members. The amount and degree of peace officer training shall include the following:
(i) Officers who are currently employed by a law enforcement agency and have already completed and been certified through a state basic skills course shall be provided eight (8) hours of training through the local law enforcement agency at which the officer is employed. The law enforcement agency may contact the family violence program in the county to assist in designing and implementing this training;
(ii) Officers who have not yet completed and been certified through the Wyoming state basic skills course shall be provided twelve (12) hours of training as part of the basic skills course at the Wyoming law enforcement academy. The department of health may be contacted to assist in designing and implementing this training.
A peace officer making an arrest pursuant to this chapter is not civilly or criminally liable for that arrest if the officer acts upon probable cause and without malice.
(a) The Wyoming division of criminal investigation within the office of the attorney general shall develop and each law enforcement agency shall use a domestic violence identification code or codes by January 1, 1988. In all incidents of domestic violence, a report shall be written and shall be thus identified on the face of the report as a domestic violence incident.
(b) The division of criminal investigation shall compile a quarterly and annual statistical report which shall include the number of reported incidents of domestic abuse for each county and for the state as a whole, the types of crime involved in the domestic abuse, the days of the week and hours of the day the incidents occurred and the final disposition of each reported incident. The statistical reports shall not include the names of any of the persons involved in an incident of domestic abuse or any information which would serve to identify such persons as individuals. Copies of the quarterly and annual statistical reports shall be published in the “Uniform Crime Reporting, Crime in Wyoming” publication and shall be made available to the public upon request.
(a) The parent-child legal relationship may be terminated if any one (1) or more of the following facts is established by clear and convincing evidence:
(i) The child has been left in the care of another person without provision for the child’s support and without communication from the absent parent for a period of at least one (1) year. In making the above determination, the court may disregard occasional contributions, or incidental contacts and communications. For purposes of this paragraph, a court order of custody shall not preclude a finding that a child has been left in the care of another person;
(ii) The child has been abandoned with no means of identification for at least three (3) months and efforts to locate the parent have been unsuccessful;
(iii) The child has been abused or neglected by the parent and reasonable efforts by an authorized agency or mental health professional have been unsuccessful in rehabilitating the family or the family has refused rehabilitative treatment, and it is shown that the child’s health and safety would be seriously jeopardized by remaining with or returning to the parent;
(iv) The parent is incarcerated due to the conviction of a felony and a showing that the parent is unfit to have the custody and control of the child;
(v) The child has been in foster care under the responsibility of the state of Wyoming for fifteen (15) of the most recent twenty-two (22) months, and a showing that the parent is unfit to have custody and control of the child;
(vi) The child is abandoned at less than one (1) year of age and has been abandoned for at least six (6) months;
(vii) The child was relinquished to a safe haven provider in accordance with W.S. 14-11-101 through 14-11-109, and neither parent has affirmatively sought the return of the child within three (3) months from the date of relinquishment;
(viii) The parent is convicted of murder or homicide of the other parent of the child under W.S. 6-2-101through 6-2-104;
(ix) The parent committed sexual assault and the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault. For the purposes of this paragraph, the following shall apply:
(A) A person committed sexual assault if the person was convicted of an offense under W.S. 6-2-302, 6-2-303, 6-2-314 through 6-2-316 or other similar law of another jurisdiction;
(B) Reasonable effort to reunify the family is not required to terminate parental rights;
(C) This paragraph shall not apply if the parent seeking termination was married to or cohabiting with the parent committing the sexual assault resulting in the birth of the child for not less than two (2) years immediately after the birth of the child. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed as limiting a parent from seeking termination under another provision of this section or from seeking sole custody under title 20, chapter 5 of the Wyoming statutes.
(b) Proof by clear and convincing evidence that the parent has been convicted of any of the following crimes may constitute grounds that the parent is unfit to have custody or control of any child and may be grounds for terminating the parent-child relationship as to any child with no requirement that reasonable efforts be made to reunify the family:
(i) Murder or voluntary manslaughter of another child of the parent or aiding and abetting, attempting, conspiring to commit or soliciting such a crime; or
(ii) Commission of a felony assault which results in serious bodily injury to a child of the parent. As used in this paragraph “serious bodily injury” means as defined by W.S. 6-1-104.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, evidence that reasonable efforts have been made to preserve and reunify the family is not required in any case in which the court determines any one (1) or more of the following by clear and convincing evidence:
(i) The parental rights of the parent to any other child have been terminated involuntarily;
(ii) The parent abandoned, chronically abused, tortured or sexually abused the child;
(iii) The parent has been convicted of committing one (1) or more of the following crimes against the child or another child of that parent:
(A) Sexual assault under W.S. 6-2-302 through 6-2-304;
(B) Sexual battery under W.S. 6-2-313;
(C) Sexual abuse of a minor under W.S. 6-2-314 through 6-2-317.
(iv) The parent is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to W.S. 7-19-302 if the offense involved the child or another child of that parent. This shall not apply if the parent is only required to register for conviction under W.S. 6-2-201;
(v) Other aggravating circumstances exist indicating that there is little likelihood that services to the family will result in successful reunification.
(a) At the time of marriage the parties shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age except as otherwise provided. No person shall marry who is under the age of sixteen (16) years.
(b) All marriages involving a person sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age are prohibited and voidable, unless before contracting the marriage a judge of a court of record in Wyoming approves the marriage and authorizes the county clerk to issue a license therefor. All marriages involving a person under sixteen (16) years of age are void.
(c) When either party is sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age, no license shall be granted without the verbal consent, if present, and written consent, if absent, of the father, mother, guardian or person having the care and control of the person sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age. Written consent shall be proved by the testimony of at least one (1) competent witness.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, parties may marry without the authorization of a judge of a court of record or the consent of any other person if both of the parties are not less than sixteen (16) years of age and if every party that is under eighteen (18) years of age meets the requirements for the right to contract under W.S. 14-1-102 or has received a declaration of emancipation pursuant to W.S. 14-1-203.
(a) Marriages contracted in Wyoming are void without any decree of divorce:
(i) When either party has a husband or wife living at the time of contracting the marriage;
(ii) When either party is mentally incompetent at the time of contracting the marriage;
(iii) When the parties stand in the relation to each other of parent and child, grandparent and grandchild, brother and sister of half or whole blood, uncle and niece, aunt and nephew, or first cousins, whether either party is illegitimate. This paragraph does not apply to persons not related by consanguinity;
(iv) When either party is under sixteen (16) years of age at the time of contracting the marriage.
(b) A marriage is voidable if solemnized when either party was sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age unless a judge gave consent, if they separated during nonage and did not cohabit together afterwards, or if the consent of one (1) of the parties was obtained by force or fraud and there was no subsequent voluntary cohabitation of the parties.
(c) Either party may file a petition in the district court of the county where the parties or one (1) of them reside, to annul a marriage for reasons stated in subsections (a) and (b) of this section and proceedings shall be held as in the case of a petition for divorce except as otherwise provided. Upon due proof the marriage shall be declared void by a decree of nullity.
(d) An action to annul a marriage on the ground that one of the parties was under the age of legal consent provided by W.S. 20-1-102(a) may be filed by the parent or guardian entitled to the custody of the minor. The marriage may not be annulled on the application of a party who was of the age of legal consent at the time of the marriage nor when it appears that the parties, after they had attained the age of consent, had freely cohabited as man and wife.
(e) An action to annul a marriage on the grounds of mental incompetency may be commenced on behalf of a mentally incompetent person by his guardian or next friend. A mentally incompetent person restored to competency may maintain an action of annulment, but no decree may be granted if the parties freely cohabited as husband and wife after restoration of competency.
(f) An action to annul a marriage on the grounds of physical incapacity may only be maintained by the injured party against the party whose incapacity is alleged and may only be commenced within two (2) years from the solemnization of the marriage.
(g) All decrees of annulment may include provisions for the custody and support of children pursuant to this article, W.S. 20-2-201 through 20-2-204 and 20-2-301 through 20-2-315 and for the division of property pursuant to W.S. 20-2-114.
When the husband and wife are living separately, or when they are living together but one (1) spouse does not support the other spouse or children within his means, and no proceeding for divorce is pending, the other spouse or the department of family services may institute a proceeding for support. No less than five (5) days after notice is personally served upon the nonsupporting spouse, the court may hear the petition and grant such order concerning the support of the spouse or children as it might grant were it based on a proceeding for divorce. If the nonsupporting spouse cannot be personally served within this state but has property within the jurisdiction of the court, or debts owing to him, the court may order such constructive service as appears sufficient and proper and may cause an attachment of the property. Upon completion of constructive service the court may grant relief as if personal service was had.
A divorce may be decreed by the district court of the county in which either party resides on the complaint of the aggrieved party on the grounds of irreconcilable differences in the marital relationship.
(a) A divorce may be granted when either party has become incurably insane and the insane person has been confined in a mental hospital of this state or of another state or territory for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the commencement of the action for divorce.
(b) Upon the filing of a verified complaint showing that a cause of action exists under this section, the district court shall appoint some person to act as guardian of the insane person in the action. The summons and complaint in the action shall be served upon the defendant by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the guardian and to the county attorney of the county in which the action is brought.
(c) The county attorney upon whom the summons and complaint is served shall appear for and defend the defendant in the action. No divorce shall be granted under this section except in the presence of the county attorney.
(d) In any action brought under this section, the district courts possess all the powers relative to the payment of alimony, the distribution of property and the care, custody and maintenance of the children of the parties as in other actions for divorce.
(e) Costs in the action, as well as the actual expenses of the county attorney and the expenses and fees of the guardian, shall be paid by the plaintiff. The expenses of the county attorney and expenses and fees of the guardian shall be fixed and allowed by the court, and the court may make such order as to the payment of fees and expenses as may seem proper.
(a) When circumstances are such that grounds for a divorce exist, the aggrieved party may institute a proceeding by complaint in the same manner as if petitioner were seeking a decree of divorce, but praying instead to be allowed to live separate and apart from the offending party.
(b) No separation by decree entered hereunder shall be grounds for a divorce on the grounds of desertion or two (2) year separation unless those grounds existed at the time of petitioning for judicial separation. A decree of divorce may be granted after the decree of judicial separation is entered upon proper grounds arising thereafter.
(c) The court may make such orders as appear just, including custody of the children, provision for support, disposition of the properties of the parties, alimony, restraint of one (1) or both spouses during litigation and restraint of disposition of property. The court may impose a time limitation on the order or render a perpetual separation. The parties may at any time move the court to be discharged from the order.
(d) All defenses available in an action for divorce are available under this section.
(a) No divorce shall be granted unless one of the parties has resided in this state for sixty (60) days immediately preceding the time of filing the complaint, or the marriage was solemnized in this state and one of the parties has resided in this state from the time of the marriage until the filing of the complaint.
(b) A married person who at the time of filing a complaint for divorce resides in this state is a resident although his spouse may reside elsewhere.
In every action brought for divorce, the court may require either party to pay any sum necessary to enable the other to carry on or defend the action and for support and the support of the children of the parties during its pendency. The court may decree costs against either party and award execution for the costs, or it may direct costs to be paid out of any property sequestered, in the power of the court, or in the hands of a receiver. The court may also direct payment to either party for such purpose of any sum due and owing from any person.
(a) In a proceeding for divorce, the court may cause the attendance of either party and compel an answer under oath concerning his property, rights or interests, or money that he may have or money due or to become due to him from others, and make such order thereon as is just and equitable. To enforce its orders concerning alimony, temporary or permanent, or property or pecuniary interests, the court may require security for obedience thereto, or may enforce the orders by attachment, commitment, injunction or by other means.
(b) On the application of either party, the court may make such order concerning the care and custody of the minor children of the parties and their suitable maintenance during the pendency of the action as is proper and necessary and may enforce its order and decree in the manner provided in subsection (a) of this section. The party applying for the order shall notify the court of any known protection or custody orders issued on behalf of the parties from any other court. The court shall consider evidence of spouse abuse or child abuse as being contrary to the best interest of the children. If the court finds that family violence has occurred, the court shall make arrangements for visitation during temporary custody that best protect the children and the abused spouse from further harm.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in granting a divorce, the court shall make such disposition of the property of the parties as appears just and equitable, having regard for the respective merits of the parties and the condition in which they will be left by the divorce, the party through whom the property was acquired and the burdens imposed upon the property for the benefit of either party and children. The court may decree to either party reasonable alimony out of the estate of the other having regard for the other’s ability to pay and may order so much of the other’s real estate or the rents and profits thereof as is necessary be assigned and set out to either party for life, or may decree a specific sum be paid by either party.
(b) In making a disposition of property pursuant to this section, a court shall not do any of the following:
(i) Consider any federal disability benefits awarded to a veteran for service-connected disabilities pursuant to title 38, chapter 11 of the United States Code;
(ii) Indemnify a veteran’s spouse or former spouse for any waiver or reduction in military retirement or retainer pay related to receipt of veteran disability benefits pursuant to title 38, chapter 11 of the United States Code;
(iii) Award any other income or property of the veteran to the veteran’s spouse or former spouse as compensation for any waiver or reduction in military retirement or retainer pay related to receipt of veteran disability benefits pursuant to title 38, chapter 11 of the United States Code.
After a decree for alimony or other allowance for a party or children and after a decree for the appointment of trustees to receive and hold any property for the use of a party or children pursuant to W.S. 20-2-314, the court may from time to time, on the petition of either of the parties, revise and alter the decree respecting the amount of the alimony or allowance or the payment thereof and respecting the appropriation and payment of the principal and income of the property so held in trust and may make any decree respecting any of the matters which the court might have made in the original action.
(a) In granting a divorce, separation or annulment of a marriage or upon the establishment of paternity pursuant to W.S. 14-2-401 through 14-2-907, the court may make by decree or order any disposition of the children that appears most expedient and in the best interests of the children. In determining the best interests of the child, the court shall consider, but is not limited to, the following factors:
(i) The quality of the relationship each child has with each parent;
(ii) The ability of each parent to provide adequate care for each child throughout each period of responsibility, including arranging for each child’s care by others as needed;
(iii) The relative competency and fitness of each parent;
(iv) Each parent’s willingness to accept all responsibilities of parenting, including a willingness to accept care for each child at specified times and to relinquish care to the other parent at specified times;
(v) How the parents and each child can best maintain and strengthen a relationship with each other;
(vi) How the parents and each child interact and communicate with each other and how such interaction and communication may be improved;
(vii) The ability and willingness of each parent to allow the other to provide care without intrusion, respect the other parent’s rights and responsibilities, including the right to privacy;
(viii) Geographic distance between the parents’ residences;
(ix) The current physical and mental ability of each parent to care for each child;
(x) Any other factors the court deems necessary and relevant.
(b) In any proceeding in which the custody of a child is at issue the court shall not prefer one (1) parent as a custodian solely because of gender.
(c) The court shall consider evidence of spousal abuse or child abuse as being contrary to the best interest of the children. If the court finds that family violence has occurred, the court shall make arrangements for visitation that best protects the children and the abused spouse from further harm.
(d) The court shall order custody in well defined terms to promote understanding and compliance by the parties. Custody shall be crafted to promote the best interests of the children, and may include any combination of joint, shared or sole custody.
(e) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the noncustodial parent shall have the same right of access as the parent awarded custody to any records relating to the child of the parties, including school records, activities, teachers and teachers’ conferences as well as medical and dental treatment providers and mental health records.
(f) At any time the court may require parents to attend appropriate parenting classes, including but not limited to, parenting classes to lessen the effects of divorce on children.
(g) At anytime a court is considering the custody or visitation rights of a service member, as defined by W.S. 20-2-205, the court shall comply with W.S. 20-2-205.
(h) A court finding of physical placement of a child in a child support order shall not be considered a disposition of custody under this section.
(a) The court may order visitation it deems in the best interests of each child and the court shall:
(i) Order visitation in enough detail to promote understanding and compliance;
(ii) Provide for the allocation of the costs of transporting each child for purposes of visitation;
(iii) Require either parent who plans to change their home city or state of residence, to give written notice thirty (30) days prior to the move, both to the other parent and to the clerk of district court stating the date and destination of the move. In the event a confidentiality order has been entered pursuant to W.S. 35-21-112 or any other court order allowing a party to maintain confidentiality of addresses or other information identifying the residence of the victim of domestic abuse, the address, city or state of residence or other information identifying the residence of the victim of domestic abuse shall remain confidential.
(a) A court in this state which enters a custody order under W.S. 20-2-201 has continuing subject matter jurisdiction to enforce or modify the decree concerning the care, custody and visitation of the children as the circumstances of the parents and needs of the child require, subject to the provisions of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. A service member’s temporary duty, deployment or mobilization, as defined in W.S. 20-2-205, shall not alter any court’s continuing jurisdiction under this section. A court which has jurisdiction to enforce or modify an order under this section may decline to exercise its jurisdiction if it finds it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances of the case and that the court which entered the original order is a more appropriate forum and has jurisdiction as set forth in the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.
(b) A court in any county in Wyoming in which the child has lived with his parents, a parent or a person acting as a parent for six (6) consecutive months immediately prior to commencement of the custody proceeding may assert subject matter jurisdiction and adjudicate any proceedings involving the child. Periods of temporary absence of any of the named persons shall be included as part of the six (6) month period.
(c) Any party seeking to enforce or modify a custody order pursuant to this section shall attach a certified copy of the custody order to the petition to be enforced or modified. A certified copy of an order entered by a Wyoming court providing for the care, custody or visitation of children may be filed in the office of the clerk of the district court of any county in this state in which either parent resides if neither parent resides in the county of original jurisdiction. The district court for the county in which the order is filed has jurisdiction to enforce the order, provided:
(i) Upon request of the district court for the county in which a certified copy of the order has been filed, the court which originally entered the order shall forward certified copies of the transcript of the court record and pleadings, orders, decrees, records of hearings, social studies and other pertinent documents relating to the original proceeding; and
(ii) The district court for the county in which a certified copy of the order has been filed shall give due consideration to the transcript of the record and all other documents submitted to it in accordance with paragraph (i) of this subsection.
(d) In any proceeding to enforce or modify an order concerning the care, custody and visitation of children, any required notice or pleading shall be served as provided by the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure.
(a) Either parent may petition to enforce or modify any court order regarding custody and visitation.
(b) A court having jurisdiction under W.S. 20-2-203 may, upon appropriate motion of a party, require a parent to appear before the court and show just cause why the parent should not be held in contempt, upon a showing that the parent has willfully violated an order concerning the care, custody and visitation of the children. In order to enforce and require future compliance with an order the court may find that the parent is in contempt of court, award attorney’s fees, costs and any other relief as the court may deem necessary under the circumstances to the party aggrieved by the violation of an order.
(c) A court having jurisdiction may modify an order concerning the care, custody and visitation of the children if there is a showing by either parent of a material change in circumstances since the entry of the order in question and that the modification would be in the best interests of the children pursuant to W.S. 20-2-201(a). In any proceeding in which a parent seeks to modify an order concerning child custody or visitation, proof of repeated, unreasonable failure by the custodial parent to allow visitation to the other parent in violation of an order may be considered as evidence of a material change of circumstances. Any modification under this subsection shall be subject to the limitations and requirements of W.S. 20-2-205.
(a) When a service member who has custody or visitation of a child receives temporary duty, deployment or mobilization orders from the military which require the service member to move a substantial distance from the service member’s residence or otherwise have a temporary but material effect on the service member’s ability to exercise custody or visitation responsibilities:
(i) Any order establishing the terms of custody or visitation in place at the time the service member receives the temporary duty, deployment or mobilization orders may only be temporarily modified so as to provide for the child’s best interests;
(ii) Any order modifying an existing custody or visitation order that is determined necessary due to the temporary duty, deployment or mobilization of a service member shall specify that the service member’s military service is the basis for the order and shall further state that it is entered by the court solely as a temporary order;
(iii) In issuing any temporary custody or visitation order under this section, the court shall consider whether the temporary order should automatically terminate;
(iv) For purposes of determining custody and visitation after the return of a service member and upon motion under W.S. 20-2-204, the temporary duty, mobilization or deployment of the service member, and the resulting temporary disruption to a child’s schedule, shall be neutral factors in determining a material change in circumstances and shall not, alone, constitute a material change in circumstances warranting a permanent modification of custody or visitation rights.
(b) If a service member with visitation rights receives temporary duty, deployment or mobilization orders that require the service member to move a substantial distance from the service member’s residence or otherwise have a material effect on the service member’s ability to exercise visitation rights, the court may, upon motion of the service member, order that the service member’s visitation rights, or a portion thereof, may be exercised by a family member with a close and substantial relationship to the minor child for the duration of the service member’s absence, if the alternate visitation is in the child’s best interest.
(c) Upon motion of a service member who has received temporary duty, deployment or mobilization orders, the court shall, for good cause shown, expedite any pending hearing in custody and visitation matters when the military duties of the service member have a material effect on the service member’s ability, or anticipated ability, to appear in person at a regularly scheduled hearing.
(d) Upon motion of a service member who has received temporary duty, deployment or mobilization orders together with reasonable advanced notice and proof that the service member’s military duties have a material effect on his ability to appear in person, the court may allow the service member to present testimony and evidence by electronic means in pending custody and visitation matters. The phrase “electronic means” includes communication by telephone, video teleconference or the Internet.
(e) Nothing in this section shall alter the duty of the court to consider the best interest of the child in deciding custody or visitation matters.
(f) As used in this section:
(i) “Deployment” means federal service of the United States under title 10, United States Code, in compliance with military orders received by a service member to report for combat operations, contingency operations, peacekeeping operations, a temporary duty assignment or other federal service for which the service member is required to report and to be unaccompanied by family members. “Deployment” also shall encompass any federal service that includes a period during which a service member is listed by the United States department of defense as missing in action, a prisoner of war or remains subject to his deployment orders on account of security sequestration, sickness, wounds, leave or other lawful cause. The term shall not apply to any service member who is absent without leave or considered a deserter from the armed forces;
(ii) “Mobilization” means the recall to active duty of a retired service member or the call-up of a national guard or reserve component service member to extended active duty status pursuant to title 10 United States Code, sections 12301, 12302, 12303 and 12304. “Mobilization” does not include national guard or reserve annual or weekend training;
(iii) “Return” means official release or termination of temporary duty, deployment or mobilization orders or the resumption of a service member’s physical presence within the state of Wyoming or state of permanent residence if other than Wyoming. “Return” does not include presence during temporary leave periods;
(iv) “Service member” means a member of the uniformed services as defined in W.S. 8-1-102(a)(xxii);
(v) “Temporary duty” means the temporary transfer of a service member from one (1) military installation to a different location for a period of more than forty-five (45) days but less than one hundred eighty (180) days in order to accomplish training, assist in the performance of any military mission or for medical treatment.
Where necessary and appropriate, the court shall enter orders, whether temporary or permanent, pursuant to and in compliance with this article for the maintenance of children in actions for divorce, annulment, paternity, support, out-of-home placement and any other action for the maintenance or support of children.
(a) Child support shall be expressed in a specific dollar amount. The following child support tables shall be used to determine the total child support obligation considering the combined income of both parents. The appropriate table is based upon the number of children for whom the parents share joint legal responsibility and for whom support is being sought. After the combined net income of both parents is determined it shall be used in the first column of the tables to find the appropriate line from which the total child support obligation of both parents can be computed from the third column. The child support obligation computed from the third column of the tables shall be divided between the parents in proportion to the net income of each. The noncustodial parent’s share of the joint child support obligation shall be paid to the custodial parent through the clerk as defined by W.S. 20-6-102(a)(x):
(i) One (1) child:
Net Monthly Income of Both Parents
Percentage of Income Allocated For One Child
Base Support Plus Marginal Percentage
$1,000.00
23.0
$230.00 + 23.0% over $1,000.00
$2,000.00
23.0
$461.00 + 23.0% over $2,000.00
$3,200.00
23.0
$737.00 + 20.1% over $3,200.00
$4,000.00
22.5
$898.00 + 13.4% over $4,000.00
$4,500.00
21.4
$965.00 + 11.8% over $4,500.00
$8,000.00
17.2
$1,379.00 + 11.1% over $8,000.00
$15,000.00
14.4
$2,157.00 + 10.3% of anything over $15,000.00
(ii) Two (2) children:
Net Monthly Income of Both Parents
Percentage of Income Allocated For Two Children
Base Support Plus Marginal Percentage
$1,000.00
35.1
$351.00 + 35.1% over $1,000.00
$2,000.00
35.1
$702.00 + 33.9% over $2,000.00
$3,200.00
34.6
$1,108.00 + 31.0% over $3,200.00
$4,000.00
33.9
$1,356.00 + 19.6% over $4,000.00
$4,500.00
32.3
$1,454.00 + 17.0% over $4,500.00
$8,000.00
25.6
$2,048.00 + 16.0% over $8,000.00
$15,000.00
21.1
$3,171.00 + 15.3% of anything over $15,000.00
(iii) Three (3) children:
Net Monthly Income of Both Parents
Percentage of Income Allocated For Three Children
Base Support Plus Marginal Percentage
$1,000.00
42.4
$424.00 + 42.4% over $1,000.00
$2,000.00
42.4
$848.00 + 40.4% over $2,000.00
$3,200.00
41.7
$1,334.00 + 36.5% over $3,200.00
$4,000.00
40.6
$1,626.00 + 22.8% over $4,000.00
$4,500.00
38.7
$1,740.00 + 19.2% over $4,500.00
$8,000.00
30.2
$2,412.00 + 18.4% over $8,000.00
$15,000.00
24.7
$3,698.00 + 18.1% of anything over $15,000.00
(iv) Four (4) children:
Net Monthly Income of Both Parents
Percentage of Income Allocated For Four Children
Base Support Plus Marginal Percentage
$1,000.00
47.4
$474.00 + 47.4% over $1,000.00
$2,000.00
47.4
$948.00 + 45.2% over $2,000.00
$3,200.00
46.6
$1,490.00 + 40.8% over $3,200.00
$4,000.00
45.4
$1,816.00 + 25.5% over $4,000.00
$4,500.00
43.2
$1,943.00 + 21.5% over $4,500.00
$8,000.00
33.7
$2,694.00 + 20.5% over $8,000.00
$15,000.00
27.5
$4,130.00 + 20.2% of anything over $15,000.00
(v) Five (5) or more children:
Net Monthly Income of Both Parents
Percentage of Income Allocated For Five Children
Base Support Plus Marginal Percentage
$1,000.00
52.1
$521.00 + 52.1% over $1,000.00
$2,000.00
52.1
$1,042.00 + 49.7% over $2,000.00
$3,200.00
51.2
$1,639.00 + 44.8% over $3,200.00
$4,000.00
49.9
$1,997.00 + 28.0% over $4,000.00
$4,500.00
47.5
$2,137.00 + 23.6% over $4,500.00
$8,000.00
37.0
$2,964.00 + 22.6% over $8,000.00
$15,000.00
30.3
$4,543.00 + 22.2% of anything over $15,000.00
(b) Repealed by Laws 2018, ch. 42, § 2.
(c) When each parent keeps the children overnight for more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the year and both parents contribute substantially to the expenses of the children in addition to the payment of child support, a shared responsibility child support obligation shall be determined by multiplying the parents’ total child support obligation as derived from subsection (a) of this section by one hundred fifty percent (150%). After the shared responsibility child support obligation is determined, that amount shall be divided between the parents in proportion to the net income of each. The proportionate share of the total obligation of each parent shall then be multiplied by the percentage of time the children spend with the other parent to determine the theoretical support obligation owed to the other parent. The parent owing the greater amount of child support shall pay the difference between the two (2) amounts as the net child support obligation.
(d) When each parent has physical custody of at least one (1) of the children, a shared responsibility child support obligation for all of the children shall be determined by use of the tables. The shared responsibility child support amount shall be divided by the number of children to determine the presumptive support obligation for each child, which amount shall then be allocated to each parent based upon the number of those children in the physical custody of that parent. That sum shall be multiplied by the percentage that the other parent’s net income bears to the total net income of both parents. The obligations so determined shall then be offset, with the parent owing the larger amount paying the difference between the two (2) amounts to the other parent as a net child support obligation.
(e) If a proportion of a support obligor’s social security or veteran’s benefit is paid directly to the custodian of the obligor’s dependents who are the subject of the child support order, the total amount of the social security or veteran’s benefit, including the amounts paid to the obligor and custodian under the child support order, shall be counted as gross income to the obligor. However, in determining the support amount, the amount of the social security or veteran’s benefit sent directly to the custodian shall be subtracted from the obligor’s share of presumptive support. If the subtraction of the social security or veteran’s benefit sent directly to the custodian results in a negative dollar amount, the support amount shall be set at zero. The child support obligation shall be offset by the amount of the social security or veteran’s benefit sent directly to the custodian, beginning from the time the custodian began receiving the social security or veteran’s benefit. The obligor or the department of family services may apply to the court to receive a credit against arrears for any social security or veteran’s benefits that are paid retroactively to the custodian. For purposes of this subsection, “custodian” means the custodian of dependent children under a child support order and the physical custodian of dependent children who are the subject of a child support order.
(f) If the difference between the obligor’s net income and the self-support reserve is less than the support obligation as calculated from the tables in subsection (a) of this section, the support obligation shall be set using the difference between the obligor’s net income and the self-support reserve. As used in this subsection “self-support reserve” means the current poverty line for one (1) person as specified by the poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the United States department of health and human services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2).
(a) The presumptive child support established by W.S. 20-2-304 shall be rebuttably presumed to be the correct amount of child support to be awarded in any proceeding to establish or modify temporary or permanent child support amounts. Every order or decree providing for the support of a child shall set forth the presumptive child support amount and shall state whether the order or decree departs from that amount.
(b) A court may deviate from the presumptive child support established by W.S. 20-2-304 upon a specific finding that the application of the presumptive child support would be unjust or inappropriate in that particular case. In any case where the court has deviated from the presumptive child support, the reasons therefor shall be specifically set forth fully in the order or decree. In determining whether to deviate from the presumptive child support established by W.S. 20-2-304, the court shall consider the following factors:
(i) The age of the child;
(ii) The cost of necessary child day care;
(iii) Any special health care and educational needs of the child;
(iv) The responsibility of either parent for the support of other children, whether court ordered or otherwise;
(v) The value of services contributed by either parent;
(vi) Any expenses reasonably related to the mother’s pregnancy and confinement for that child, if the parents were never married or if the parents were divorced prior to the birth of the child;
(vii) The cost of transportation of the child to and from visitation;
(viii) The ability of either or both parents to furnish health, dental and vision insurance through employment benefits;
(ix) The amount of time the child spends with each parent;
(x) Any other necessary expenses for the benefit of the child;
(xi) Whether either parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. In such case the child support shall be computed based upon the potential earning capacity (imputed income) of the unemployed or underemployed parent. In making that determination the court shall consider:
(A) Prior employment experience and history;
(B) Educational level and whether additional education would make the parent more self-sufficient or significantly increase the parent’s income;
(C) The presence of children of the marriage in the parent’s home and its impact on the earnings of that parent;
(D) Availability of employment for which the parent is qualified;
(E) Prevailing wage rates in the local area;
(F) Special skills or training; and
(G) Whether the parent is realistically able to earn imputed income.
(xii) Whether or not either parent has violated any provision of the divorce decree, including visitation provisions, if deemed relevant by the court; and
(xiii) Other factors deemed relevant by the court.
(c) If the parties fail to agree that the presumptive child support amount under W.S. 20-2-304 is appropriate, the court may order the party seeking to deviate from the presumptive child support amount to pay reasonable attorney fees and court costs to the other party unless, after hearing the evidence and considering the factors contained in subsection (b) of this section, the court deviates from the presumptive support amount.
(d) Agreements regarding child support may be submitted to the court. All such agreements shall be accompanied by a financial affidavit as required by W.S. 20-2-308. The court shall use the presumed child support amounts to review the adequacy of child support agreements negotiated by the parties. If the agreed amount departs from the presumed child support, the parties shall furnish statements of explanation which shall be included with the forms and shall be filed with the court. The court shall review the agreement and inform the parties whether or not additional or corrected information is needed, or that the agreement is approved or disapproved. No agreement which is less than the presumed child support amount shall be approved if means tested sources of income such as aid under the personal opportunities with employment responsibilities (POWER) program, health care benefits under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, supplemental nutrition assistance program, supplemental security income (SSI) or other similar benefits are being paid on behalf of any of the children.
If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health, safety or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of specific identifying information, that information shall be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or the public. After a hearing in which a tribunal takes into consideration the health, safety or liberty of the party or child, the tribunal may order disclosure of information that the tribunal determines to be in the interest of justice.
(a) As used in this act:
(i) “Abandoned” means left without provision for reasonable and necessary care or supervision;
(ii) “Child” means an individual who has not attained eighteen (18) years of age;
(iii) “Child custody determination” means a judgment, decree or other order of a court providing for the legal custody, physical custody or visitation with respect to a child, including a permanent, temporary, initial or modification order. “Child custody determination” shall not include an order relating to child support or other monetary obligation of an individual;
(iv) “Child custody proceeding” means a proceeding in which legal custody, physical custody or visitation with respect to a child is an issue, including a proceeding for divorce, separation, neglect, abuse, dependency, guardianship, paternity, termination of parental rights or protection from domestic violence in which the issue may appear. “Child custody proceeding” shall not include a proceeding involving juvenile delinquency, contractual emancipation or enforcement under article 4 of this act;
(v) “Commencement” means the filing of the first pleading in a proceeding;
(vi) “Court” means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce or modify a child custody determination;
(vii) “Home state” means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six (6) consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding or, in the case of a child less than six (6) months of age, the state in which the child lived from birth with a parent or a person acting as a parent. A period of temporary absence of any of the persons mentioned is part of the period;
(viii) “Initial determination” means the first child custody determination concerning a particular child;
(ix) “Issuing court” means the court that makes a child custody determination for which enforcement is sought under this act;
(x) “Issuing state” means the state in which a child custody determination is made;
(xi) “Modification” means a child custody determination that changes, replaces, supersedes or is otherwise made after a previous determination concerning the same child, whether or not it is made by the court that made the previous determination;
(xii) “Person” means as defined by W.S. 8-1-102(a)(vi);
(xiii) “Person acting as a parent” means a person, other than a parent, who:
(A) Has physical custody of the child or has had physical custody for a period of six (6) consecutive months, including any temporary absence, within one (1) year immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding; and
(B) Has been awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to legal custody under the law of this state.
(xiv) “Physical custody” means the physical care and supervision of a child;
(xv) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States;
(xvi) “Tribe” means an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan native village, which is recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a state;
(xvii) “Warrant” means an order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to take physical custody of a child;
(xviii) “This act” means W.S. 20-5-201 through 20-5-502.
(a) A court of this state shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States for the purpose of applying articles 2 and 3 of this act.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a child custody determination made in a foreign country under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this act shall be recognized and enforced under article 4 of this act.
(c) A court of this state may not apply this act if the child custody law of a foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights.
(a) A child custody proceeding that pertains to an Indian child as defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq., shall not be subject to this act to the extent that it is governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act.
(b) A court of this state shall treat a tribe as if the tribe were a state of the United States for the purpose of applying articles 2 and 3 of this act.
(c) A child custody determination made by a tribe under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this act shall be recognized and enforced under article 4 of this act.
(d) A child custody proceeding that pertains to an Indian child as defined by W.S. 14-6-702(a)(iv) shall not be subject to this act to the extent that the proceeding is governed by the Wyoming Indian Child Welfare Act.
A child custody determination made by a court of this state that had jurisdiction under this act shall bind all persons who have been served in accordance with the laws of this state or notified in accordance with W.S. 20-5-208 or who have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court and who have been given an opportunity to be heard. As to those persons, the determination shall be conclusive as to all decided issues of law and fact except to the extent the determination is modified.
If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under this act is raised in a child custody proceeding, the question, upon request of a party, shall be given priority on the calendar and handled expeditiously.
(a) Notice required for the exercise of jurisdiction when a person is outside this state may be given in a manner prescribed by the law of this state for service of process or by the law of the state in which the service is made. Notice shall be given in a manner reasonably calculated to give actual notice but may be by publication if other means are not effective.
(b) Proof of service may be made in the manner prescribed by the law of this state or by the law of the state in which the service is made.
(c) Notice shall not be required for the exercise of jurisdiction with respect to a person who submits to the jurisdiction of the court.
(a) A party to a child custody proceeding, including a modification proceeding, or a petitioner or respondent in a proceeding to enforce or register a child custody determination, shall not be subject to personal jurisdiction in this state for another proceeding or purpose solely by reason of having participated, or of having been physically present for the purpose of participating, in the proceeding.
(b) A person who is subject to personal jurisdiction in this state on a basis other than physical presence shall not be immune from service of process in this state. A party present in this state who is subject to the jurisdiction of another state shall not be immune from service of process allowable under the laws of that state.
(c) The immunity granted by subsection (a) of this section shall not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to the participation in a proceeding under this act committed by an individual while present in this state.
(a) A court of this state may communicate with a court in another state concerning a proceeding arising under this act.
(b) The court may allow the parties to participate in the communication. If the parties are not able to participate in the communication, the parties shall be given the opportunity to present facts and legal arguments before a decision on jurisdiction may be made.
(c) Communication between courts on schedules, calendars, court records and similar matters may occur without informing the parties. A record need not be made of the communication made pursuant to this subsection.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a record shall be made of a communication under this section. The parties shall be informed promptly of the communication and granted access to the record.
(e) For the purposes of this section, “record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(a) In addition to other procedures available to a party, a party to a child custody proceeding may offer testimony of witnesses who are located in another state, including testimony of the parties and the child, by deposition or other means allowable in this state for testimony taken in the other state. The court on its own motion may order that the testimony of a person be taken in another state and may prescribe the manner in which and the terms upon which the testimony shall be taken.
(b) A court of this state may permit an individual residing in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means or other electronic means before a designated court or at another location in that state. A court of this state shall cooperate with courts of other states in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
(c) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a court of this state by technological means that do not produce an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
(a) A court of this state may request the appropriate court of another state to:
(i) Hold an evidentiary hearing;
(ii) Order a person to produce or give evidence pursuant to procedures of that state;
(iii) Order that an evaluation be made with respect to the custody of a child involved in a pending proceeding;
(iv) Forward to the court of this state a certified copy of the transcript of the record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise presented and any evaluation prepared in compliance with the request; and
(v) Order a party to a child custody proceeding or any person having physical custody of the child to appear in the proceeding with or without the child.
(b) Upon request of a court of another state, a court of this state may hold a hearing or enter an order described in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Travel and other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred under subsections (a) and (b) of this section may be assessed against the parties according to the law of this state.
(d) A court of this state shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees, records of hearings, evaluations and other pertinent records with respect to a child custody proceeding until the child attains eighteen (18) years of age. Upon appropriate request by a court or law enforcement official of another state, the court shall forward a certified copy of those records.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in W.S. 20-5-304, a court of this state has jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination only if:
(i) This state is the home state of the child on the date of the commencement of the proceeding, or was the home state of the child within six (6) months before the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this state but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this state;
(ii) A court of another state does not have jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with paragraph (i) of this subsection, or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that this state is the more appropriate forum under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-307 or 20-5-308, and:
(A) The child and the child’s parents, or the child and at least one (1) parent or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this state other than mere physical presence; and
(B) Substantial evidence is available in this state concerning the child’s care, protection, training and personal relationships.
(iii) All courts of another state having jurisdiction under provisions of law from that state in substantial conformity with paragraph (i) or (ii) of this subsection have declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this state is the more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the child under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-307 or 20-5-308; or
(iv) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in paragraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of this subsection.
(b) Subsection (a) of this section shall be the exclusive jurisdictional basis for making a child custody determination by a court of this state.
(c) Physical presence of, or personal jurisdiction over, a party or a child shall not be necessary or sufficient to make a child custody determination.
(a) Except as provided in W.S. 20-5-304, a court of this state which has made a child custody determination consistent with W.S. 20-5-301 or 20-5-303 has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination until:
(i) A court of this state determines that the child, the child’s parents and any person acting as a parent do not have a significant connection with this state and that substantial evidence is no longer available in this state concerning the child’s care, protection, training and personal relationships; or
(ii) A court of this state or a court of another state determines that the child, the child’s parents and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in this state.
(b) A court of this state which has made a child custody determination and does not have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under this section may modify that determination only if it has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under W.S. 20-5-301.
(a) Except as provided in W.S. 20-5-304, a court of this state may not modify a child custody determination made by a court of another state unless the court of this state has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under W.S. 20-5-301(a)(i) or (ii) and:
(i) The court of the other state determines it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-302 or that a court of this state would be a more convenient forum under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-307; or
(ii) A court of this state or a court of the other state determines that the child, the child’s parents and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in the other state.
(a) A court of this state has temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child is present in this state and the child has been abandoned or it is necessary in an emergency to protect the child because the child, the child’s sibling or a parent of the child is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse.
(b) If there is no previous child custody determination that is entitled to be enforced under this act and a child custody proceeding has not been commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303, a child custody determination made under this section remains in effect until an order is obtained from a court of a state having jurisdiction under a provision of law in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303. If a child custody proceeding has not been or is not commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303, a child custody determination made under this section becomes a final determination, if it so provides and this state becomes the home state of the child.
(c) If there is a previous child custody determination that is entitled to be enforced under this act, or a child custody proceeding has been commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303, any order issued by a court of this state under this section shall specify in the order a period that the court considers adequate to allow the person seeking an order to obtain an order from the state having jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303. The order issued in this state remains in effect until an order is obtained from the other state within the period specified or the period expires.
(d) A court of this state which has been asked to make a child custody determination under this section, upon being informed that a child custody proceeding has been commenced in, or a child custody determination has been made by, a court of another state having jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303, shall immediately communicate with the other court. A court of this state which is exercising jurisdiction pursuant to W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303, upon being informed that a child custody proceeding has been commenced in, or a child custody determination has been made by, a court of another state under a statute similar to this section shall immediately communicate with the court of that state to resolve the emergency, protect the safety of the parties and the child and determine a period for the duration of the temporary order.
(a) Before a child custody determination is made under this act, notice and an opportunity to be heard in accordance with the standards of W.S. 20-5-208 shall be given to all persons entitled to notice under the law of this state as in child custody proceedings between residents of this state, any parent whose parental rights have not been previously terminated and any person having physical custody of the child.
(b) This act shall not govern the enforceability of a child custody determination made without notice or an opportunity to be heard.
(c) The obligation to join a party and the right to intervene as a party in a child custody proceeding under this act are governed by the law of this state as in child custody proceedings between residents of this state.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in W.S. 20-5-304, a court of this state may not exercise its jurisdiction under this article if, at the time of the commencement of the proceeding, a proceeding concerning the custody of the child has been commenced in a court of another state having jurisdiction substantially in conformity with this act, unless the proceeding has been terminated or is stayed by the court of the other state because a court of this state is a more convenient forum under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-307.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in W.S. 20-5-304, a court of this state, before hearing a child custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents and other information supplied by the parties pursuant to W.S. 20-5-309. If the court determines that a child custody proceeding has been commenced in a court in another state having jurisdiction substantially in accordance with this act, the court of this state shall stay its proceeding and communicate with the court of the other state. If the court of the state having jurisdiction under the laws of that state in substantial conformity with this act does not determine that the court of this state is a more appropriate forum, the court of this state shall dismiss the proceeding.
(c) In a proceeding to modify a child custody determination, a court of this state shall determine whether a proceeding to enforce the determination has been commenced in another state. If a proceeding to enforce a child custody determination has been commenced in another state, the court may:
(i) Stay the proceeding for modification pending the entry of an order of a court of the other state enforcing, staying, denying or dismissing the proceeding for enforcement;
(ii) Enjoin the parties from continuing with the proceeding for enforcement; or
(iii) Proceed with the modification under conditions it considers appropriate.
(a) A court of this state which has jurisdiction under this act to make a child custody determination may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if it determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon motion of a party, the court’s own motion, or request of another court.
(b) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this state shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of another state to exercise jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shall allow the parties to submit information and shall consider all relevant factors, including:
(i) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child;
(ii) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;
(iii) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;
(iv) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;
(v) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;
(vi) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child;
(vii) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and
(viii) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.
(c) If a court of this state determines that it is an inconvenient forum and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, it shall stay the proceedings upon condition that a child custody proceeding be promptly commenced in another designated state and may impose any other condition the court considers just and proper.
(d) A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under this act if a child custody determination is incidental to an action for divorce or another proceeding while still retaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other proceeding.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in W.S. 20-5-304 or by other law of this state, if a court of this state has jurisdiction under this act because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction unless:
(i) The parents and all persons acting as parents have acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction;
(ii) A court of the state otherwise having jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303 determines that this state is a more appropriate forum under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-307; or
(iii) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303.
(b) If a court of this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, it may provide an appropriate remedy to ensure the safety of the child and prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a child custody proceeding is commenced in a court having jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-301 through 20-5-303.
(c) If a court dismisses a petition or stays a proceeding because it declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, it shall assess against the party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction necessary and reasonable expenses including costs, communication expenses, attorney fees, investigative fees, expenses for witnesses, travel expenses and child care during the course of the proceedings, unless the party from whom fees are sought establishes that the assessment would be clearly inappropriate. The court may not assess fees, costs or expenses against this state unless authorized by law other than this act.
(a) Subject to a confidentiality order entered pursuant to W.S. 35-21-112 or any other court order allowing a party to maintain confidentiality of addresses or other identifying information or other law providing for the confidentiality of procedures, addresses and other identifying information, in a child custody proceeding each party in its first pleading or in an attached affidavit shall give information, if reasonably ascertainable, under oath as to the child’s present address or whereabouts, the places where the child has lived during the last five (5) years and the names and present addresses of the persons with whom the child has lived during that period. The pleading or affidavit shall state whether the party:
(i) Has participated, as a party or witness or in any other capacity, in any other proceeding concerning the custody of or visitation with the child, and if so, the pleading or affidavit shall identify the court, the case number and the date of the child custody determination, if any;
(ii) Knows of any proceeding that could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings for enforcement and proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders, termination of parental rights and adoptions, and if so, the pleading or affidavit shall identify the court, the case number and the nature of the proceeding; and
(iii) Knows the names and addresses of any person not a party to the proceeding who has physical custody of the child or claims rights of legal custody or physical custody of, or visitation with, the child, and if so, the pleading or affidavit shall list the names and addresses of those persons.
(b) If the information required by subsection (a) of this section is not furnished, the court, upon motion of a party or its own motion, may stay the proceeding until the information is furnished.
(c) If the declaration as to any of the items described in paragraphs (a)(i) through (iii) of this section is in the affirmative, the declarant shall give additional information under oath as required by the court. The court may examine the parties under oath as to details of the information furnished and other matters pertinent to the court’s jurisdiction and the disposition of the case.
(d) Each party has a continuing duty to inform the court of any proceeding in this or any other state that could affect the current proceeding.
(e) If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, the information shall be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or the public unless the court orders the disclosure to be made after a hearing in which the court takes into consideration the health, safety or liberty of the party or child and determines that the disclosure is in the interest of justice.
(a) In a child custody proceeding in this state, the court may order a party to the proceeding who is in this state to appear before the court in person with or without the child. The court may order any person who is in this state and who has physical custody or control of the child to appear in person with the child.
(b) If a party to a child custody proceeding whose presence is desired by the court is outside this state, the court may order that a notice given pursuant to W.S. 20-5-208 include a statement directing the party to appear in person with or without the child and informing the party that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the party.
(c) The court may enter any orders necessary to ensure the safety of the child and of any person ordered to appear under this section.
(d) If a party to a child custody proceeding who is outside this state is directed to appear under subsection (b) of this section or desires to appear personally before the court with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party so appearing and of the child.
(a) As used in this article:
(i) “Petitioner” means a person who seeks enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination;
(ii) “Respondent” means a person against whom a proceeding has been commenced for enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination.
Under this article, a court of this state may enforce an order for the return of the child made under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction as if it were a child custody determination.
(a) A court of this state shall recognize and enforce a child custody determination of a court of another state if the latter court exercised jurisdiction in substantial conformity with this act or the determination was made under factual circumstances meeting the jurisdictional standards of this act and the determination has not been modified in accordance with this act.
(b) A court of this state may utilize any remedy available under other law of this state to enforce a child custody determination made by a court of another state. The remedies provided in this article are cumulative and do not affect the availability of other remedies to enforce a child custody determination.
(a) A court of this state which does not have jurisdiction to modify a child custody determination may issue a temporary order enforcing:
(i) A visitation schedule made by a court of another state; or
(ii) The visitation provisions of a child custody determination of another state that does not provide for a specific visitation schedule.
(b) If a court of this state makes an order under paragraph (a)(ii) of this section, it shall specify in the order a period that it considers adequate to allow the petitioner to obtain an order from a court having jurisdiction under the criteria specified in article 3 of this act. The order remains in effect until an order is obtained from the other court or the period expires.
(a) A child custody determination issued by a court of another state may be registered in this state, with or without a simultaneous request for enforcement, by sending to the appropriate court in this state:
(i) A letter or other document requesting registration;
(ii) Two (2) copies, including one (1) certified copy, of the determination sought to be registered, and a statement under penalty of perjury that to the best of the knowledge and belief of the person seeking registration the order has not been modified; and
(iii) Except as otherwise provided in W.S. 20-5-309, the name and address of the person seeking registration and any parent or person acting as a parent who has been awarded custody or visitation in the child custody determination sought to be registered.
(b) On receipt of the documents required by subsection (a) of this section, the registering court shall:
(i) Cause the determination to be filed as a foreign judgment, together with one (1) copy of any accompanying documents and information, regardless of their form; and
(ii) Serve notice upon the persons named pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this section and provide them with an opportunity to contest the registration in accordance with this section.
(c) The notice required by paragraph (b)(ii) of this section shall state that:
(i) A registered determination is enforceable as of the date of the registration in the same manner as a determination issued by a court of this state;
(ii) A hearing to contest the validity of the registered determination must be requested within twenty (20) days after service of notice; and
(iii) Failure to contest the registration will result in confirmation of the child custody determination and preclude further contest of that determination with respect to any matter that could have been asserted.
(d) A person seeking to contest the validity of a registered order shall request a hearing within twenty (20) days after service of the notice. At that hearing, the court shall confirm the registered order unless the person contesting registration establishes that:
(i) The issuing court did not have jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act;
(ii) The child custody determination sought to be registered has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act; or
(iii) The person contesting registration was entitled to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with standards under a provision of law from that state in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-208, in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which registration is sought.
(e) If a timely request for a hearing to contest the validity of the registration is not made, the registration is confirmed as a matter of law and the person requesting registration and all persons served shall be notified of the confirmation.
(f) Confirmation of a registered order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration.
(a) A court of this state may grant any relief normally available under the law of this state to enforce a registered child custody determination made by a court of another state.
(b) A court of this state shall recognize and enforce, but shall not modify except in accordance with article 3 of this act, a registered child custody determination of a court of another state.
If a proceeding for enforcement under this article is commenced in a court of this state and the court determines that a proceeding to modify the determination is pending in a court of another state having jurisdiction to modify the determination under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act, the enforcing court shall immediately communicate with the modifying court. The proceeding for enforcement shall continue unless the enforcing court, after consultation with the modifying court, stays or dismisses the proceeding.
(a) A petition under this article in which the petitioner is seeking expedited enforcement shall be verified. Certified copies of all orders sought to be enforced and of any order confirming registration shall be attached to the petition. A copy of a certified copy of an order may be attached instead of the original.
(b) A petition for enforcement of a child custody determination shall state:
(i) Whether the court that issued the determination identified the jurisdictional basis it relied upon in exercising jurisdiction and, if so, what the basis was;
(ii) Whether the determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court whose decision is enforceable under this act and, if so, the identity of the court, the case number and the nature of the proceeding;
(iii) Whether any proceeding has been commenced that could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders, termination of parental rights and adoptions and, if so, the identity of the court, the case number and the nature of the proceeding;
(iv) The present physical address of the child and the respondent, if known;
(v) Whether relief in addition to the immediate physical custody of the child and attorney fees is sought, including a request for assistance from law enforcement officials and, if so, the relief sought; and
(vi) If the child custody determination has been registered and confirmed under W.S. 20-5-405, the date and place of registration.
(c) Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall issue an order directing the respondent to appear in person with or without the child at a hearing and may enter any order necessary to ensure the safety of the parties and the child. The hearing shall be held on the next judicial day after service of the order unless that date is impossible. In the event that the next judicial day after service of the order is impossible, the court shall hold the hearing on the first judicial day possible. The court may extend the date of hearing at the request of the petitioner.
(d) An order issued under subsection (c) of this section shall state the time and place of the hearing and advise the respondent that at the hearing the court will order that the petitioner may take immediate physical custody of the child and the payment of fees, costs and expenses under W.S. 20-5-412, and may schedule a hearing to determine whether further relief is appropriate, unless the respondent appears and establishes either that:
(i) The child custody determination has not been registered and confirmed under W.S. 20-5-405 and that:
(A) The issuing court did not have jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act;
(B) The child custody determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act; or
(C) The respondent was entitled to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with the standards under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-208, in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which enforcement is sought.
(ii) The child custody determination for which enforcement is sought was registered and confirmed under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-404, but has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act.
Except as provided in W.S. 20-5-411, the petition and order shall be served by any method authorized by the law of this state upon the respondent and any person who has physical custody of the child.
(a) Unless the court issues a temporary emergency order pursuant to W.S. 20-5-304, upon a finding that a petitioner is entitled to immediate physical custody of the child, the court shall order that the petitioner may take immediate physical custody of the child unless the respondent establishes either that:
(i) The child custody determination for which enforcement is sought was registered and confirmed under W.S. 20-5-405 but has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under article 3 of this act; or
(ii) The child custody determination has not been registered and confirmed under W.S. 20-5-405 and that:
(A) The issuing court did not have jurisdiction under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act;
(B) The child custody determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act; or
(C) The respondent was entitled to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with the standards under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with W.S. 20-5-208, in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which enforcement is sought.
(b) The court shall award the fees, costs and expenses authorized under W.S. 20-5-412 and may grant additional relief, including a request for the assistance of law enforcement officials, and set a further hearing to determine whether additional relief is appropriate.
(c) If a party called to testify refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-incriminating, the court may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.
(d) A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses and a defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child may not be invoked in a proceeding under this article.
(a) Upon the filing of a petition seeking enforcement of a child custody determination, the petitioner may file a verified application for the issuance of a warrant to take physical custody of the child if the child is immediately likely to suffer serious physical harm or be removed from this state.
(b) If the court, upon the testimony of the petitioner or other witness, finds that the child is imminently likely to suffer serious physical harm or be removed from this state, it may issue a warrant to take physical custody of the child. The petition shall be heard on the next judicial day after the warrant is executed unless that date is impossible. In the event that the next judicial day after service of the order is impossible, the court shall hold the hearing on the first judicial day possible. The application for the warrant shall include the statements required by W.S. 20-5-408(b).
(c) A warrant to take physical custody of a child shall:
(i) Recite the facts upon which a conclusion of imminent serious physical harm or removal from the jurisdiction is based;
(ii) Direct law enforcement officers to take physical custody of the child immediately; and
(iii) Provide for the placement of the child pending final relief.
(d) The respondent shall be served with the petition, warrant and order immediately after the child is taken into physical custody.
(e) A warrant to take physical custody of a child is enforceable throughout this state. If the court finds on the basis of the testimony of the petitioner or other witness that a less intrusive remedy is not effective, it may authorize law enforcement officers to enter private property to take physical custody of the child. If required by exigent circumstances of the case, the court may authorize law enforcement officers to make a forcible entry at any hour.
(f) The court may impose conditions upon placement of a child to ensure the appearance of the child and the child’s custodian.
(a) The court shall award the prevailing party, including a state, necessary and reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of the party, including costs, communication expenses, attorney fees, investigative fees, expenses for witnesses, travel expenses and child care during the course of the proceedings, unless the party from whom fees or expenses are sought establishes that the award would be clearly inappropriate.
(b) The court may not assess fees, costs or expenses against a state unless authorized by law other than this act.
A court of this state shall accord full faith and credit to an order issued by another state and consistent with this act which enforces a child custody determination by a court of another state unless the order has been vacated, stayed or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under a provision of law from that state that is in substantial conformity with article 3 of this act.
An appeal may be taken from a final order in a proceeding under this article in accordance with expedited appellate procedures in other civil cases. Unless the court enters a temporary emergency order under W.S. 20-5-304, the enforcing court may not stay an order enforcing a child custody determination pending appeal.
(a) In a case arising under this act or involving the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the prosecutor or other appropriate public official may take any lawful action, including resort to a proceeding under this article or any other available civil proceeding, to locate a child, obtain the return of a child or enforce a child custody determination if there is:
(i) An existing child custody determination;
(ii) A request to do so from a court in a pending child custody proceeding;
(iii) A reasonable belief that a criminal statute has been violated; or
(iv) A reasonable belief that the child has been wrongfully removed or retained in violation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
(b) A prosecutor or other appropriate public official acting under this section acts on behalf of the court and may not represent any party.
If the respondent is not the prevailing party, the court may assess against the respondent all direct expenses and costs incurred by the prosecutor or other appropriate public official and law enforcement officers under W.S. 20-5-415 or 20-5-416.
At the request of a prosecutor or other appropriate public official acting under W.S. 20-5-415, a law enforcement officer may take any lawful action reasonably necessary to locate a child or a party and assist a prosecutor or other appropriate public official with responsibilities under W.S. 20-5-415.
In applying and construing this act, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
A motion or other request for relief made in a child custody proceeding or to enforce a child custody determination which was commenced before the effective date of this act is governed by the law in effect at the time the motion or other request was made.
(a) A grandparent may bring an original action against any person having custody of the grandparent’s minor grandchild to establish reasonable visitation rights to the child. If the court finds, after a hearing, that visitation would be in the best interest of the child and that the rights of the child’s parents are not substantially impaired, the court shall grant reasonable visitation rights to the grandparent. In any action under this section for which the court appoints a guardian ad litem, the grandparent shall be responsible for all fees and expenses associated with the appointment.
(i) through (iii) Repealed by Laws 1997, ch. 71, § 2.
(b) Repealed by Laws 1997, ch. 71, § 2.
(c) No action to establish visitation rights may be brought by a grandparent under subsection (a) of this section if the minor grandchild has been adopted and neither adopting parent is related by blood to the child.
(d) In any action or proceeding in which visitation rights have been granted to a grandparent under this section, the court may for good cause upon petition of the person having custody or who is the guardian of the child, revoke or amend the visitation rights granted to the grandparent.
(e) As used in this section:
(i) “Grandparent” includes a great-grandparent; and
(ii) “Grandchild” includes a great-grandchild.
(a) With notice or reasonable efforts to provide notice to the noncustodial parent, a person may bring an original action against any person having custody of the child to establish reasonable visitation rights to the child if the person bringing the original action has been the primary caregiver for the child for a period of not less than six (6) months within the previous eighteen (18) months. If the court finds, after a hearing, that visitation would be in the best interest of the child and that the rights of the child’s parents are not substantially impaired, the court shall grant reasonable visitation rights to the primary caregiver. In any action under this section for which the court appoints a guardian ad litem, the person bringing the original action under this section shall be responsible for all fees and expenses associated with the appointment.
(b) No action to establish visitation rights under subsection (a) of this section may be brought by a person related to the child by blood or by a person acting as primary caregiver for the child prior to the adoption of the minor child when neither adopting parent is related by blood to the child.
(c) In any action or proceeding in which visitation rights have been granted to a primary caregiver under this section, the court may for good cause upon petition of the person having custody or who is the guardian of the child, revoke or amend the visitation rights granted to the primary caregiver.
(a) As used in this act:
(i) “Abandonment” means leaving a vulnerable adult without financial support or the means or ability to obtain food, clothing, shelter or health care;
(ii) “Abuse” means the intentional or reckless infliction, by the vulnerable adult’s caregiver, person of trust or authority, professional, family member or other individual of:
(A) Injury;
(B) Unreasonable confinement which threatens the welfare and well being of a vulnerable adult;
(C) Cruel punishment with resulting physical or emotional harm or pain to a vulnerable adult;
(D) Photographing vulnerable adults in violation of W.S. 6-4-304(b);
(E) Sexual abuse;
(F) Intimidation; or
(G) Exploitation.
(iii) “Administrator” means the director of the department of family services or his designee;
(iv) “Caregiver” means any person or in-home service provider responsible for the care of a vulnerable adult because of:
(A) A family relationship;
(B) Voluntary assumption of responsibility for care;
(C) Court ordered responsibility or placement;
(D) Rendering services in an adult workshop or adult residential program;
(E) Rendering services in an institution or in a community-based program; or
(F) Acceptance of a legal obligation or responsibility to the vulnerable adult through a power of attorney, advanced health care directive or other legal designation.
(v) “Court” means the district court in the district where the vulnerable adult resides or is found;
(vi) Repealed by Laws 2002, Sp. & Bud. Sess., ch. 86, § 3, eff. July 1, 2002.
(vii) “Department” means the state department of family services or its designee;
(viii) “Emergency services” means those services that may be provided to assist vulnerable adults to prevent or terminate abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimidation or abandonment until the emergency has been resolved;
(ix) “Exploitation” means the reckless or intentional act taken by any person, or any use of the power of attorney, conservatorship or guardianship of a vulnerable adult, to:
(A) Obtain control through deception, harassment, intimidation or undue influence over the vulnerable adult’s money, assets or property with the intention of permanently or temporarily depriving the vulnerable adult of the ownership, use, benefit or possession of his money, assets or property;
(B) In the absence of legal authority:
(I) Employ the services of a third party for the profit or advantage of the person or another person to the detriment of a vulnerable adult;
(II) Force, compel, coerce or entice a vulnerable adult to perform services for the profit or advantage of another against the will of the vulnerable adult.
(C) Intentionally misuse the principal’s property and, in so doing, adversely affect the principal’s ability to receive health care or pay bills for basic needs or obligations; or
(D) Abuse the fiduciary duty under a power of attorney, conservatorship or guardianship.
(x) Repealed by Laws 2002, Sp. & Bud. Sess., ch. 86, § 3.
(xi) “Neglect” means the deprivation of, or failure to provide, the minimum food, shelter, clothing, supervision, physical and mental health care, other care and prescribed medication as necessary to maintain a vulnerable adult’s life or health, or which may result in a life-threatening situation. The withholding of health care from a vulnerable adult is not neglect if:
(A) Treatment is given in good faith by spiritual means alone, through prayer, by a duly accredited practitioner in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination;
(B) The withholding of health care is in accordance with a declaration executed pursuant to W.S. 35-22-401 through 35-22-416; or
(C) Care is provided by a hospice licensed in accordance with and pursuant to W.S. 35-2-901 through 35-2-910.
(xii) “Protective services” means those emergency services that are provided in a coordinated effort facilitated by the department within communities to assist vulnerable adults to prevent or terminate abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimidation or abandonment until the vulnerable adult no longer needs those services. These services may include social casework, case management, emergency, short term in-home services such as homemaker, personal care or chore services, day care, social services, psychiatric or health evaluations and other emergency services consistent with this act;
(xiii) Repealed by Laws 2002, Sp. & Bud. Sess., ch. 86, § 3.
(xiv) “Capacity to consent” means the ability to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of making decisions concerning one’s person, including, provisions for health or mental health care, food, shelter, clothing, safety or financial affairs. This determination may be based on assessment or investigative findings, observation or medical or mental health evaluations;
(xv) “Injury” means any harm, including disfigurement, impairment of any bodily organ, skin bruising, laceration, bleeding, burn, fracture or dislocation of any bone, subdural hematoma, malnutrition, dehydration or pressure sores;
(xvi) “Mental disability” means a condition causing mental dysfunction resulting in an inability to manage resources, carry out the activities of daily living or protect oneself from neglect, abuse, exploitation or hazardous situations without assistance from others. Whether or not a mental dysfunction of such degree exists is subject to an evaluation by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist or other qualified licensed mental health professional or licensed physician, if disputed;
(xvii) “Self neglect” means when a vulnerable adult is unable, due to physical or mental disability, or refuses to perform essential self-care tasks, including providing essential food, clothing, shelter or medical care, obtaining goods and services necessary to maintain physical health, mental health, emotional well-being and general safety, or managing financial affairs;
(xviii) “Vulnerable adult” means any person eighteen (18) years of age or older who is unable to manage and take care of himself or his money, assets or property without assistance as a result of advanced age or physical or mental disability;
(xix) “Substantiated report” means any report of abandonment, abuse, exploitation, intimidation or neglect pursuant to this act that is determined upon investigation to establish by a preponderance of the evidence the alleged abandonment, abuse, exploitation, intimidation or neglect;
(xx) “Intimidation” means the communication by word or act to a vulnerable adult that he, his family, friends or pets will be deprived of food, shelter, clothing, supervision, prescribed medication, physical or mental health care and other medical care necessary to maintain a vulnerable adult’s health, financial support or will suffer physical violence;
(xxi) “Advanced age” means a person who is sixty (60) years of age or older;
(xxii) “Sexual abuse” means sexual contact including, but not limited to, unwanted touching, all types of sexual assault or battery as defined in W.S. 6-2-302 through 6-2-304, sexual exploitation and sexual photographing;
(xxiii) “This act” means W.S. 35-20-101 through 35-20-116.
This act may be cited as the “Domestic Violence Protection Act”.
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(a) As used in this act:
(i) “Adult” means a person who is sixteen (16) years of age or older, or legally married;
(ii) “Court” means the circuit court or, if the county does not have a circuit court, the district court in the county where an alleged victim of domestic abuse resides or is found;
(iii) “Domestic abuse” means the occurrence of one (1) or more of the following acts by a household member but does not include acts of self defense:
(A) Physically abusing, threatening to physically abuse, attempting to cause or causing physical harm or acts which unreasonably restrain the personal liberty of any household member;
(B) Placing a household member in reasonable fear of imminent physical harm; or
(C) Causing a household member to engage involuntarily in sexual activity by force, threat of force or duress.
(iv) “Household member” includes:
(A) Persons married to each other;
(B) Persons living with each other as if married;
(C) Persons formerly married to each other;
(D) Persons formerly living with each other as if married;
(E) Parents and their adult children;
(F) Other adults sharing common living quarters;
(G) Persons who are the parents of a child but who are not living with each other; and
(H) Persons who are in, or have been in, a dating relationship.
(v) “Order of protection” means a court order granted for the protection of victims of domestic abuse;
(vi) “Financial responsibility” means an obligation to pay to a provider service fees and other costs and charges associated with the provision of commercial mobile services;
(vii) “Provider” means a person or entity that provides commercial mobile services as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 332(d);
(viii) “This act” means W.S. 35-21-101 through 35-21-111.
(a) A victim of domestic abuse may petition the court under this act by filing a petition with the circuit court clerk or the district court clerk if the county does not have a circuit court for an order of protection.
(b) The petition shall be made under oath or be accompanied by a sworn affidavit setting out specific facts showing the alleged domestic abuse.
(c) No petitioner is required to file for annulment, separation or divorce as a prerequisite to obtaining an order of protection nor is a person’s right to petition for relief affected by that person’s leaving the residence or household to avoid domestic abuse.
(d) No filing fee or other court costs or fees shall be assessed or charged to a petitioner seeking an order of protection under this act.
(e) The clerk of the court shall make available standard petition forms with instructions for completion to be used by a petitioner. Forms are to be prepared by the victim services division within the office of the attorney general. Upon receipt of the initial petition by the clerk of the court, the clerk shall refer the matter to the court. The court may appoint an attorney to assist and advise the petitioner or the petitioner may hire an attorney or file pro se.
(f) The court shall not deny a petitioner relief requested pursuant to this act solely because of a lapse of time between an act of domestic abuse and the filing of the petition for an order of protection.
(g) It shall not be a bar to filing a petition or receiving an order of protection under this act that:
(i) A criminal or civil order is entered in a case pending against the respondent or between the petitioner and respondent;
(ii) The petitioner has petitioned for or received orders of protection in the past or that the petitioner has withdrawn a petition or asked to have orders rescinded; or
(iii) There is evidence of some domestic abuse on the part of the petitioner.
(h) The court may require the respondent to pay costs and fees incurred in bringing an action pursuant to this act including reasonable attorney’s fees whether the attorney is court appointed or retained by petitioner.
(j) For any hearing required or authorized for proceedings under this act, the petitioner or other party to the hearing may petition the court to appear at the hearing by remote means. The court may, in its discretion, grant the petition for remote appearance at the hearing, provided that the court is equipped with appropriate audio or video technology to allow the petitioner or other party to fully participate in the hearing.
(a) Upon the filing of a petition for order of protection, the court shall: (i) Immediately grant an ex parte temporary order of protection if it appears from the specific facts shown by the affidavit or by the petition that there exists a danger of further domestic abuse; (ii) Cause the temporary order of protection, together with notice of hearing, to be served on the alleged perpetrator of the domestic abuse immediately, either within or outside of this state; (iii) Hold a hearing on the petition within seventy-two (72) hours after the granting of the temporary order of protection or as soon thereafter as the petition may be heard by the court on the question of continuing the order; or (iv) If an ex parte order is not granted, serve notice to appear upon the parties and hold a hearing on the petition for order of protection within seventy-two (72) hours after the filing of the petition or as soon thereafter as the petition may be heard by the court. (b) An order of protection issued under this section shall contain a notice that willful violation of any provision of the order constitutes a crime as defined by W.S. 6-4-404, can result in immediate arrest and may result in further punishment. Orders shall also contain notice that a violation that constitutes the offense of stalking as defined by W.S. 6-2-506(b) may subject the perpetrator to enhanced penalties for felony stalking under W.S. 6-2-506(e).
(a) Upon finding that an act of domestic abuse has occurred, the court shall enter an order of protection ordering the respondent household member to refrain from abusing the petitioner or any other household member. The order shall specifically describe the behavior that the court has ordered the respondent to do or refrain from doing. As a part of any order of protection, the court may:
(i) Grant sole possession of the residence or household to the petitioner during the period the order of protection is effective or order the respondent to provide temporary suitable alternative housing for petitioner and any children to whom the respondent owes a legal obligation of support;
(ii) Repealed by Laws 1987, ch. 196, § 2.
(iii) Order that the respondent shall not initiate contact with the petitioner;
(iv) Prohibit the respondent from abducting, removing or concealing any child in the custody of the petitioner;
(v) Restrain the respondent from transferring, concealing, encumbering or otherwise disposing of petitioner’s property or the joint property of the parties;
(vi) Order other injunctive relief as the court deems necessary for the protection of the petitioner;
(vii) If, after a hearing, it finds by a preponderance of evidence that an act of domestic abuse has occurred or that there exists a danger of further domestic abuse, require the respondent to participate in counseling or other appropriate treatment for a specified period of time not to exceed the term of the order of protection and any extension of the order of protection granted under W.S. 35-21-106(b);
(viii) If the petitioner is not the account holder, grant the petitioner and order a provider to transfer to the petitioner the sole right to use and sole financial responsibility for a telephone number used by the petitioner or a minor child in the petitioner’s custody and terminate in the provider’s system the respondent’s ability to use, and to access any data associated with, the telephone number. An order issued under this paragraph shall list the name and billing telephone number of the account holder, the name and contact information of the petitioner and each telephone number to be transferred to the petitioner. In issuing an order under this paragraph, the court shall ensure that the petitioner’s contact information is not disclosed to the respondent or any account holder. The order shall be served on the provider pursuant to W.S. 35-21-106(e). A provider may, not later than five (5) business days after being served with an order under this paragraph, notify the petitioner and the court that compliance with the order is not possible or practicable because an account holder named in the order has terminated the account, differences in network technology would prevent the functionality of a device on the network or there are geographic limitations on network or service availability. In complying with an order issued under this paragraph, a provider may apply any customary requirements for establishing an account and transferring a telephone number. A provider is immune from civil liability for complying with an order issued under this paragraph;
(ix) Grant sole possession of any household pet, as defined in W.S. 6-3-1001(a)(iii), owned, possessed or kept by the petitioner, the respondent or a minor child residing in the residence or household of either the petitioner or the respondent to the petitioner during the period the order of protection is effective if the order is for the purpose of protecting the household pet;
(x) Order that the respondent shall not have contact with any household pet, as defined in W.S. 6-3-1001(a)(iii), in the custody of the petitioner and prohibit the respondent from abducting, removing, concealing or disposing of the household pet if the order is for the purpose of protecting the household pet.
(b) As part of any order of protection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the court shall:
(i) When the court finds it to be in the best interests of the children, award temporary custody of any children involved to the petitioner. The court shall in this instance provide for visitation with the respondent only if adequate provision can be made for the safety of the children and the petitioner. To provide for the safety of the children and the petitioner, the court may:
(A) Order an exchange of children to occur in a protected setting;
(B) Order that visitation be arranged and supervised by another person or agency, and if the other person is a family or household member, establish conditions to be followed during the visitation;
(C) Order the respondent to attend and complete to the court’s satisfaction a program of intervention or other designated counseling as a condition of visitation;
(D) Order the respondent to abstain from the consumption of alcohol or controlled substances for up to twenty-four (24) hours before the visitation and during the visitation;
(E) Order the respondent to pay a fee through the court to defray the costs of supervised visitation;
(F) Prohibit overnight visitation;
(G) Require the respondent to post a bond to secure the return and safety of any children; or
(H) Impose any other condition it deems necessary for the safety of the petitioner, the children, or other family or household member.
(ii) Order the payment of child support and when appropriate, temporary support for the petitioner;
(iii) Order the payment of any medical costs incurred by the petitioner as a result of the abuse inflicted by the respondent.
(c) The order shall contain a notice that willful violation of any provision of the order constitutes a crime as defined by W.S. 6-4-404, can result in immediate arrest and may result in further punishment. Orders shall also contain notice that a violation that constitutes the offense of stalking as defined by W.S. 6-2-506(b) may subject the perpetrator to enhanced penalties for felony stalking under W.S. 6-2-506(e).
(d) No order issued under this act shall affect title to any property nor allow the petitioner to transfer, conceal, encumber or otherwise dispose of respondent’s property or the joint property of the parties.
(e) Regardless of whether the court provides visitation under subsection (b) of this section, the court shall, if requested by the petitioner, order the address of the petitioner and any children of the petitioner and respondent be kept confidential.
(f) The court may refer an adult petitioner to attend counseling relating to the petitioner’s status or behavior as a victim but shall not order or make as a condition of receiving protection that an adult petitioner attend such counseling.
(g) No act of the petitioner or the respondent may be construed to waive or nullify any provision of an order of protection.
(h) The court shall not make any provisions of a single order of protection mutually effective. The court may issue a separate order of protection to each party, provided:
(i) Each party has filed a separate written petition for an order of protection; and
(ii) The court makes specific findings on the record that both parties have committed acts of domestic abuse and that each party is entitled to a separate order of protection.
(j) The form of the order shall be as provided by rule adopted by the Wyoming supreme court.
(a) An order of protection granted under this act shall be filed with the clerk of court and a copy shall be sent by the clerk to the county sheriff who shall, after service, notify the local law enforcement agency within the county in which the petitioner resides. The order shall be personally served upon the respondent, unless he or his attorney was present at the time the order was issued.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, an order of protection granted by the court under W.S. 35-21-105 shall be effective for a fixed period of time not to exceed three (3) years. Either party may move to modify, terminate or extend the order. The order may be extended repetitively upon a showing of good cause for additional periods of time not to exceed three (3) years each. If a party subject to an order of protection is sentenced and incarcerated or becomes imprisoned the running of the time remaining for the order of protection shall be tolled during the term of incarceration or imprisonment. The conditions and provisions of an order of protection shall remain in effect during any period of tolling under this subsection. Upon release from incarceration or imprisonment the effective period of the order of protection shall be the amount of time remaining as of the first day of the term of incarceration or imprisonment or one (1) year from the date of release, whichever is greater. The filing of an action for divorce shall not supersede an order of protection granted under this act.
(c) Willful violation of an order of protection is a crime as defined by W.S. 6-4-404. An order of protection granted under this act has statewide applicability and a criminal prosecution under this subsection may be commenced in any county in which the respondent commits an act in violation of the order of protection.
(d) The remedies provided by this act are in addition to any other civil or criminal remedy available to the petitioner.
(e) The clerk of the court shall cause that part of an order of protection directing the transfer of a telephone number to a petitioner as provided in W.S. 35-21-105(a)(viii) to be served on the affected provider pursuant to W.S. 17-28-104.
(a) A person who allegedly has been a victim of domestic abuse may request the assistance of a local law enforcement agency.
(b) A local law enforcement officer responding to the request for assistance may take whatever steps are reasonably necessary to protect the victim from further domestic abuse, including:
(i) Advising the victim of the remedies available under this act and the availability of shelter, medical care, counseling and other services;
(ii) Providing or arranging for transportation of the victim to a medical facility or place of shelter;
(iii) Accompanying the victim to the residence to remove the victim’s personal clothing and effects required for immediate needs and the clothing and personal effects of any children then in the care of the victim;
(iv) Arresting the abusing household member when appropriate;
(v) Advising the victim, when appropriate, of the procedure for initiating proceedings under this act or criminal proceedings and the importance of preserving evidence.
(c) Any law enforcement officer responding to a request for assistance under this act is immune from civil liability when complying with the request, providing [that] the officer acts in good faith and in a reasonable manner.
(a) Any order entered in a district court in this state in a proceeding where the petitioner and respondent are parties shall supersede any inconsistent language in any other order entered under this act or in any other court proceeding in this state.
(b) Any order entered under this act shall supersede any inconsistent language in any other order other than one issued by a district court proceeding described in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Any order allowing the conditional release of a defendant in a criminal proceeding in this state where either the petitioner or the respondent is the named defendant shall include by reference all terms and conditions of an order entered under this act where the petitioner and respondent are parties.
(a) A valid injunction or order for protection against domestic violence is defined as one:
(i) That was issued by a court of another state, tribe or territory;
(ii) Where the issuing court had jurisdiction over the parties and the matter under the laws of the state, tribe or territory;
(iii) Where the respondent was given reasonable notice and the opportunity to be heard before the order of the foreign state, tribe or territory was issued, provided, in the case of ex parte orders, notice and opportunity to be heard was given as soon as possible after the order was issued, consistent with due process; and
(iv) Which has not expired.
(b) There shall be a presumption in favor of validity where an order appears valid on its face. The presumption may be rebutted by a showing that the respondent was not given reasonable notice and opportunity to be heard.
(c) A valid protection order shall be accorded full faith and credit by the courts of this state and enforced as if it were issued in this state.
(a) The Wyoming attorney general or another agency designated by the governor shall establish a statewide registry of protection orders related to domestic violence and shall maintain a complete and systematic record and index of all valid temporary and final civil and criminal court orders of protection.
(b) The data fields of the statewide registry shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information if available:
(i) The names of the petitioner and any protected parties;
(ii) The name and address of the respondent;
(iii) The date the order was entered;
(iv) The date the order expires;
(v) The relief granted which shall specifically identify the relief awarded and citations related thereto, and designate which of the violations are offenses subject to arrest;
(vi) The judicial district and contact information for court administration for the court in which the order was entered; and
(vii) The social security number, date of birth and physical description of the respondent.
(c) The clerk of the issuing court or the clerk of the court where a foreign order of protection is registered shall send a copy of the protection order to the local sheriff and chief of police who shall promptly enter the protection order into the statewide protection order registry.
(d) The statewide protection order registry shall be accessible twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week to provide courts, prosecutors, dispatchers, the department of corrections and law enforcement officers with data concerning valid protection orders issued within the state or filed as a foreign order for purposes of enforcement in the state.
(a) A petitioner who obtains a valid order of protection in another state, tribe or territory may file that order by presenting a certified copy of the foreign order to the clerk of district court in the judicial district where the petitioner believes enforcement may be necessary.
(b) Filing shall be without fee or cost.
(c) The clerk of district court shall forward a copy of the foreign protection order to the local sheriff’s office and the chief of police for entry into the statewide protection order registry upon application of a petitioner seeking enforcement.
(d) The clerk of district court shall provide the petitioner with a receipt bearing proof of submission of the foreign protection order for entry into the statewide protection order registry system.
(e) Filing and registration of the foreign order in the statewide protection order registry shall not be prerequisites for enforcement of the foreign protection order in this state.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, in any proceedings before a court of the state of Wyoming, the confidentiality of the address, city and state of residence or any other information identifying the residence of a victim of domestic abuse shall remain confidential as provided in this section.
(b) The victim of domestic abuse may at any point during the court proceedings file a motion with the court for entry of an order providing for the confidentiality of the address, city and state of residence or any other information identifying the residence of the victim of domestic abuse and any children residing with the victim of domestic abuse during the court proceedings. The motion may be accompanied with all relevant affidavits or documents to establish that the person requesting confidentiality is a victim of domestic abuse and that the person may be subject to additional acts of domestic abuse if confidentiality is not maintained.
(c) Upon a filing of a motion pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the court shall issue an order prohibiting the release of the address, city and state of residence and any other information identifying the residence of a person if:
(i) The person filing the motion has been granted an order of protection under this act or similar act in another state or territory of the United States and the order of protection remains in effect; or
(ii) The court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person is a victim of domestic abuse and that the person may be subject to additional acts of domestic abuse if confidentiality is not maintained.
(d) An order issued under this section shall only provide confidentiality in the action in which it is granted and for those additional purposes specified by law referencing an order issued pursuant to this section.
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