Reviewed August 2026
Mediation in Wyoming
Wyoming has no dedicated, statewide mandatory mediation statute for custody cases, unlike states such as Wisconsin or Oregon. A full review of Wyoming Statutes Title 20, Domestic Relations, including the custody enforcement and modification statute at W.S. 20-2-204, and of the Uniform Rules for District Courts of the State of Wyoming, found no dedicated mediation referral or mediator qualification rules for family law. Wyoming's district courts hear custody and divorce cases. They are organized across nine judicial districts covering the state's 23 counties. Because there is no single statewide mediation statute or program, whether and how mediation happens in a given case depends more on the judge's case management practices, local court rules in that district, and whether the parties or their attorneys arrange it themselves. The Wyoming Uniform Rules for District Courts mention mediation once, in a cost-recovery context. Case law under Rule 502 has held that mediation costs are not automatically an allowable cost item unless Wyoming law separately authorizes them. This confirms mediation exists as a practical option in Wyoming cases, even though no statewide procedural rule spells out how it works.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how mediation works under Wyoming law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Wyoming paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Wyoming's district court structure
Wyoming's district courts handle divorce and custody cases. They are organized into nine judicial districts across the state's 23 counties. Wyoming does not run one centralized statewide mediation office or program. So a party's experience with mediation, including whether a judge suggests or orders it, can vary by district and judge.
What Wyoming's custody statutes actually cover
Wyoming Statutes Title 20, Chapter 2, covers disposition and maintenance of children. This includes W.S. 20-2-201 on the best interests of the child standard, and W.S. 20-2-204 on enforcement and modification of custody and visitation orders. These statutes address contempt for violating a custody order and the material change in circumstances standard for modification. They do not establish a mediation referral process, mediator qualifications, or a domestic violence exception specific to mediation.
No dedicated mediation rule in the district courts
The Uniform Rules for District Courts of the State of Wyoming contain no dedicated alternative dispute resolution or mediation rule. They do not lay out referral procedures, mediator qualifications, or confidentiality protections for family cases. The only substantive reference to mediation in the current rules and their annotations concerns whether mediation costs can be recovered as court costs under the general cost rule, not how or when mediation happens.
How mediation actually happens in a Wyoming case
Wyoming has no statewide referral system. So mediation in a custody or divorce case is typically arranged privately. This can happen by agreement between the parties and their attorneys, at the suggestion of the assigned judge as part of case management, or through a local practice specific to that judicial district. A party interested in mediating should raise it directly with their attorney or with the district court handling the case.
What to confirm with your district court
Wyoming's approach to family mediation is not centralized in statute or statewide rule. So a party should confirm directly with the district court handling their case whether that judge typically orders or encourages mediation, whether the district has adopted any local rule on mediation or domestic violence screening, and what a mediator would cost. No single statewide policy governs these specifics. Confirm them with the specific district court or a Wyoming family law attorney.
Sources: Wyoming Statutes Title 20, Domestic Relations, Chapter 2 (custody, W.S. 20-2-201 through 20-2-205), Uniform Rules for District Courts of the State of Wyoming, effective August 2026, Wyoming Judicial Branch, Court Rules index
Not independently confirmed
- Confirm directly with the relevant Wyoming judicial district court whether it has local rules or informal practices on custody mediation, mediator qualifications, or a domestic violence exception, as Title 20 and the Uniform Rules for District Courts contain no statewide provisions on these.
- Whether any individual Wyoming judicial district maintains its own family mediation roster, fee schedule, or referral practice was not independently confirmed for any of the nine districts.
- Typical private mediator costs in Wyoming were not independently confirmed and likely vary by mediator and district.
Mediation in Wyoming: frequently asked questions
Is mediation mandatory in a Wyoming custody case?+
No. Wyoming has no statewide statute or district court rule making mediation mandatory in custody cases. Whether mediation happens depends on the individual district, the judge, and whether the parties arrange it themselves.
What statute covers custody enforcement and modification in Wyoming?+
W.S. 20-2-204 covers enforcement and modification of custody and visitation orders. This includes contempt for violating an order and the material change in circumstances standard for modifying one. It does not address mediation.
Does Wyoming have a statewide mediator roster like some other states?+
Not one set statewide. Wyoming's district courts and the Uniform Rules for District Courts describe no centralized statewide mediator qualification or referral system for family cases, unlike some other states.
Can mediation costs be recovered in a Wyoming case?+
Not automatically. Wyoming case law interpreting the cost-recovery rule in the Uniform Rules for District Courts has held that mediation costs are not an allowable cost item unless Wyoming law separately authorizes them.
How do I find a mediator for my Wyoming custody case?+
Ask your attorney, or ask the district court handling your case. Wyoming does not run one uniform statewide mediator referral system. Practices vary by judicial district and by the individual judge assigned to the case.
Is there a domestic violence exception to mediation in Wyoming?+
Wyoming has no dedicated statewide mediation statute or rule, so there is no single uniform statewide policy on this. A party with a domestic violence history should raise the issue directly with the district court handling the case.
This page is general information about mediation in Wyoming, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Wyoming's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Wyoming. Virdix does not prepare or file Wyoming divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Wyoming.
More Wyoming divorce guides
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