Reviewed August 2026
Protective Orders in Wyoming
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. Wyoming's civil remedy for domestic abuse is the Order of Protection. It comes from the Domestic Violence Protection Act, Wyo. Stat. Section 35-21-101 and following. The law covers household members. That term is broad: spouses, former spouses, people who live or lived together, parents and their adult children, co-parents, and people in a current or former dating relationship. Wyoming moves fast. Once you file a petition, the court immediately grants an ex parte temporary order if the facts show danger of further abuse. A hearing must follow within 72 hours. There is never a filing fee. This page covers eligibility, the 72-hour process, duration, and how the order interacts with divorce.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how protective orders 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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Who qualifies
Under Wyo. Stat. Section 35-21-102, domestic abuse means physically abusing someone, threatening to physically abuse them, or attempting or causing physical harm. It also means unreasonably restraining a household member's personal liberty, placing them in reasonable fear of imminent physical harm, or causing involuntary sexual activity by force, threat, or duress. Household member is a broad term. It includes people who are or were married, people who live or lived together as if married, and parents with their adult children. It also includes other adults sharing common living quarters, co-parents of a child regardless of whether they live together, and people who are or have been in a dating relationship.
Filing: no fee, and no divorce required first
Under Wyo. Stat. Section 35-21-103, several people can petition the circuit court: the victim, a district attorney with the victim's consent, or someone with legal authority to act for a minor, vulnerable adult, or otherwise incapacitated victim. No petitioner has to file for divorce, annulment, or separation before seeking an order of protection. Leaving the residence to escape abuse does not affect the right to petition. No filing fee or other court cost may be charged to a petitioner under this Act. The court cannot deny relief just because time passed between the abuse and the filing.
The 72-hour hearing rule
Under Wyo. Stat. Section 35-21-104, once you file a petition, the court must act fast. If the facts show a danger of further domestic abuse, the court immediately grants an ex parte temporary order. It must then have that order and hearing notice served on the respondent right away. A hearing on whether to continue the order must happen within 72 hours of granting the temporary order, or as soon after as the court can hear it. If the court does not grant an ex parte order, it instead serves notice to appear on both parties. It holds the hearing within 72 hours of the petition being filed.
Duration and interaction with divorce
Under Wyo. Stat. Section 35-21-106, an order of protection lasts for a fixed period, up to three years. Either party can ask the court to modify, terminate, or extend it. Extensions can renew repeatedly, up to three years each, on a showing of good cause. If the respondent is incarcerated, the remaining time on the order pauses during incarceration and resumes upon release. The order then runs for whichever is longer: the time remaining, or one year from release. The statute is explicit on one point: filing for divorce does not supersede an order of protection already in place.
Firearms
Wyoming's Domestic Violence Protection Act does not contain a specific state provision requiring firearm surrender or authorizing a firearm possession ban as part of an order of protection. Federal law is separate. Under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(8), a person subject to a qualifying domestic violence protective order can be independently barred from possessing firearms, regardless of what Wyoming's own order specifies. Ask the court whether your order meets that federal standard.
Not independently confirmed
- Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault's own statewide hotline number could not be independently confirmed on its site during verification; this page uses only the National Domestic Violence Hotline number, though a number (1-844-264-8080) was found via automated search and should be reconfirmed before publishing
Protective Orders in Wyoming: frequently asked questions
How do I get an Order of Protection in Wyoming?+
File a petition with the circuit court. If the facts show danger of further abuse, the court immediately grants an ex parte temporary order. A hearing on continuing it must happen within 72 hours.
Who qualifies for an Order of Protection in Wyoming?+
You must be a household member of the person who abused you, under Wyo. Stat. Section 35-21-102. That covers spouses, former spouses, people who live or lived together, parents and adult children, co-parents, and current or former dating partners.
Does it cost money to file for an Order of Protection in Wyoming?+
No. Wyo. Stat. Section 35-21-103 states that no filing fee or other court cost may be charged to a petitioner.
Do I have to file for divorce first in Wyoming to get a protective order?+
No. The statute is explicit: no petitioner has to file for annulment, separation, or divorce before seeking an order of protection. Filing for divorce later does not cancel an order already in place.
How long does a Wyoming Order of Protection last?+
Up to three years. It can be extended repeatedly, up to three more years at a time, on a showing of good cause.
Does a Wyoming Order of Protection take away someone's guns?+
Wyoming's own statute does not include a specific firearm surrender provision. Federal law is separate: it can still bar firearm possession for a person subject to a qualifying protective order. Ask the court whether your order meets that standard.
This page is general information about protective orders 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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