Free Wyoming Marriage Records Online
Wyoming joined the Union as the 44th state on July 10, 1890. The Equality State sits landlocked in the Mountain West, bordered by Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and other western neighbors. Marriage records here give genealogists a direct line to family connections, dates, locations, and sometimes occupations or birthplaces of brides and grooms. These documents expose extended family networks across Wyoming’s sparse but historically rich field.
Wyoming marriage records typically list both parties, the marriage date, the county, and often parents or witnesses. For family historians, these records fill gaps in census gaps. They confirm maiden names. They anchor ancestors in specific decades. The state’s territorial records stretch back to the 1860s, when this land was Dakota Territory. They reveal homesteaders, ranchers, and the families that built the Cowboy State.
Wyoming Vital Records Office
The Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Records Services holds official Wyoming marriage records. The Cheyenne office is the central vault for births, deaths, and marriages. The office holds marriages from 1907 onward. It covers all twenty-three counties.
Request certified copies directly. The office issues marriage certificates for marriages on file. Fees and processing times vary by request method. Walk-in service gets you immediate results. Mail and online requests take longer.
Vital Records Services runs an Automated Vital Records System. It retrieves recent records fast. Specify certified copies for legal use. Specify informational copies for research. Fees differ.
Free Online Sources
Several free databases offer free Wyoming marriage records. Coverage varies by time period.
- FamilySearch.org â The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints runs this massive genealogical database. Search the Wyoming State Archives collections for digitized marriage registers. FamilySearch offers indexed records. It offers digital images. View them at Family History Centers.
- Wyoming State Archives â Inside the Wyoming State Museum, the archives preserve historical vital records. Their website guides you to public records and genealogical resources. The archives hold territorial records from the 1860s through recent decades.
- Wyoming GenWeb â Part of the US GenWeb project. Free. Volunteers transcribed marriage records by county. Many contributed indexed information from original courthouse records.
- Ancestry and MyHeritage â Subscriptions cost money. But library systems often offer free access. Check your local library. Check Family History Centers.
County-Level Records
Wyoming marriage records live in a decentralized county courthouse system. Each of the 23 counties records marriages within their jurisdiction. This local system means researchers often contact multiple counties. An ancestor moved. You need to follow.
Primary counties include Albany County (Laramie). Laramie County (Cheyenne). Natrona County (Casper). Rural counties like Sheridan, Park, and Teton. County courthouses hold original marriage licenses. The state office holds duplicates. Start with county-level records. They yield more detail. They yield marriage applications. They yield supporting documentation.
Most county clerk offices handle vital records requests. Some counties digitized older marriage records. Some made them available through local history websites. Some used the state archives system. Territorial records (pre-1907) are particularly valuable. They are often in county courthouses. They are often in regional archives.
How to Search Step by Step
- Determine the approximate date and county. Check census records. Check family letters. Check other sources. Narrow down location. Narrow down time.
- Begin with free online indexes. Use FamilySearch. Use Wyoming GenWeb. Find the marriage record. Note names, date, and county. Note exact details.
- Contact the specific county courthouse. Provide names. Provide approximate marriage date.
- If the county record is unavailable or you need statewide verification, contact the Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Records Services. Records from 1907 to present.
- For records before 1907, contact the Wyoming State Archives. Search their digitized collections. These older territorial records are there.
- Visit Family History Centers. Visit the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City. Access additional indexes. Access digital images. Access not available online.
- Search neighboring counties. If you cannot locate records in the expected county, search adjacent counties. Couples sometimes married in adjacent counties.
Requirements and Fees
Requesting Wyoming marriage records requires certain requirements. The record type matters. The request method matters.
For certified copies for legal use, valid government-issued photo identification is required. Driver’s licenses. State ID cards. Passports. The fee for certified marriage copies typically ranges from $10 to $20 per certificate. Additional fees for expedited processing. Additional fees for multiple copies.
Informational copies for genealogical research may be available at reduced fees. Sometimes free from county courthouses. Some counties offer reduced fees for senior citizens. Some for historical research.
Request forms are available through the state vital records office. Request forms are available through county clerk offices. Online requests through authorized third-party services may include additional convenience fees. Standard processing times are generally 5-10 business days for mail requests. Online requests may take longer. Verification requirements vary.
Historical Records
Wyoming marriage records from the territorial period (1868-1890) are held at the Wyoming State Archives. They are at county courthouses. These early records often include more detail. They include the couple’s origins. They include witnesses. They include additional genealogical clues.
Marriage records from 1907 to 1940 are frequently found in state archives microfilm collections. They are through FamilySearch. The Wyoming State Archives at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne maintains historical vital records. Researchers can request photocopies. Researchers can request microfilm loans.
Records from 1940 to 1970 may be partially restricted. Privacy laws. Genealogical access is often available. County courthouses maintain marriage registers. These mid-century years include military marriages. They include destination weddings. They include valuable information.
For the most comprehensive results, combine state office records. Combine county courthouse documents. Combine digitized online collections. The combination reveals details. The combination reveals not found in any single location. The combination provides a fuller picture. The combination provides Wyoming marriages throughout Wyoming’s history.