Wyoming Divorce With Children — Custody and Child Support (2026)

Wyoming District Court applies the "best interests of the child" standard in all custody decisions (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-201).

Wyoming Custody Framework

Legal Custody

• Joint legal custody: Both parents share major decisions — strongly preferred
• Sole legal custody: One parent — when cooperation is impossible or harmful

Physical Custody

• Primary physical custody: Child primarily lives with one parent; other has visitation
• Shared/joint physical custody: Substantial time with each parent

Best Interests of the Child — Wyoming Factors (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-201(a))

Wyoming District Court considers all relevant factors including:

1. Quality of the relationship each child has with each parent
2. Ability of each parent to provide adequate care — food, clothing, medical care
3. Relative competency and fitness of each parent
4. Each parent's willingness to accept all responsibilities of parenting
5. How the parents and child can best maintain and strengthen a relationship with each other
6. How the parents and child interact and communicate with each other and how such interaction and communication may be improved
7. The ability and disposition of each parent to allow the child frequent and continuing contact with the other parent
8. Geographic distance between the parents' residences
9. The current physical and mental ability of each parent to care for the child
10. Any other factors the court deems necessary and relevant

Domestic violence: Wyoming courts must consider evidence of domestic violence (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-201(c)).

Parenting Plan — Required

Wyoming requires a comprehensive Parenting Plan filed with the divorce packet. It must address:

• Legal custody designation
• Primary residence and regular parenting schedule
• Holiday and vacation schedule
• Healthcare decision-making
• Educational decisions
• Transportation and exchange logistics
• Communication protocols
• Relocation provisions
• Dispute resolution

Wyoming Child Support Guidelines — Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304

Wyoming uses a percentage-of-income model:

1. Determine the non-custodial parent's net monthly income
2. Apply Wyoming percentage based on number of children:
   • 1 child: 20%
   • 2 children: 25%
   • 3 children: 28%
   • 4 children: 31%
   • 5+ children: 35%
3. Adjust for: shared custody time, health insurance, childcare

Duration: Wyoming child support generally continues to age 18 (or 20 if enrolled in secondary school).

Income Withholding Order: Routinely issued by Wyoming courts.

Last reviewed: March 2026 | Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-201 best interests | Joint legal custody preferred | Parenting Plan required — filed with complaint packet | Wyoming Child Support Guidelines (Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-304) | Support generally ends at 18 (or 20 in secondary school) | Domestic violence considered | District Court | courts.state.wy.us/court-self-help

Last reviewed: March 2026 · Verify current fees and forms with your local court before filing.