Wyoming Death Records: Are They Public + How to Get One

Wyoming is a closed-record state for death certificates. Certified copies go to immediate family, a lawyer representing the family, a bank, executor, or insurer paying a policy or death benefit, and in some cases a person establishing a personal or property right. The state Department of Health holds death records confidential for 50 years after the date of death, after which they open to the public for research.

Are Death Records Public in Wyoming?

No. Wyoming is a closed-record state, so a death certificate is not a public document during the first 50 years after the death. During that window, the Department of Health releases certified copies only to people who qualify under state rules.

Wyoming's Vital Records Act makes it unlawful to inspect, disclose, or copy a vital record except as authorized by the office's regulations. The governing provision is Wyo. Stat. Ann. Section 35-1-426, Disclosure of records.

Fifty years after the date of death, the record opens to the public. Older death certificates move to the Wyoming State Archives, where they can be searched for genealogical and historical research.

This closed-record approach is common for vital records. If you are comparing states, see our Death Records by State guide for how each one handles access.

Who Can Request a Wyoming Death Record?

During the 50-year confidential period, only entitled parties can obtain a certified copy. Wyoming Vital Statistics Services limits eligibility to requesters with a direct connection to the deceased or a documented reason to need the record.

Entitled requesters include:

• An immediate family member: a parent, current spouse, or child.
• A lawyer representing the immediate family.
• A bank, executor of the estate, insurance company, or anyone who needs the certificate to pay a policy or death benefit on the decedent.
• In some cases, an individual or organization authorized to obtain the certificate when determining a personal or property right.

Requesters in the last three categories must demonstrate why they need the certificate. The department's application form also notes that the entitlement list is a general one and that exceptions exist, so someone with an unusual but legitimate need should call Vital Statistics Services rather than assume they are shut out.

Every request must include a clear photocopy of the requester's government-issued photo ID. Acceptable ID includes a driver license, state ID card, or passport, and an ID within 60 days of expiration is still accepted.

Whoever signs the application must be 18 or older. That age rule attaches to the person signing rather than to a child's entitlement, though the department's summary web page words the family category as a child over 18.

Once 50 years have passed, anyone may access the record for research, because it is no longer confidential.

How to Get a Wyoming Death Certificate

Death certificates are issued by the Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services, in Cheyenne. The office accepts requests by mail and in person; online ordering is not currently available.

The current fee is $25 for the first certified copy and $20 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. If you do not know the exact date of death, a search fee of $35 covers every five years searched and includes a certified copy or a verification if the record is found.

To order, you will need:

• A completed application for a certified copy of a Wyoming death record.
• A photocopy of your valid government-issued photo ID.
• Payment by money order or a personalized check made payable to Vital Statistics Services.

The office is located in the Hathaway Building, 2300 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82002, and can be reached at (307) 777-7591. Walk-in service is offered Monday through Thursday, with Friday by appointment. Because the office processes requests in the order received, allow extra time during busy periods and confirm current fees before sending payment.

Is the Cause of Death Public in Wyoming?

The cause of death is part of the certified Wyoming death record, and it is released only to entitled requesters during the 50-year confidential period. It is not available to the general public while the record remains closed.

This mirrors how many states treat sensitive medical detail on a death certificate. For broader context, see our explainer on whether cause of death records are public and how an autopsy report is handled.

After 50 years, when the death certificate opens for research, the cause-of-death information on the historical record becomes accessible along with the rest of the document.

How Far Back Do Wyoming Death Records Go?

Statewide death registration in Wyoming began in 1909, when the state started collecting vital records centrally. Certificates from then forward are held by Vital Statistics Services, and those older than 50 years are considered public.

Death certificates that have passed the 50-year mark are transferred to the Wyoming State Archives, where indexes and microfilm copies support genealogical research. Researchers can search the archives reading room or contact the archives directly for older records.

For nationwide research, the Social Security Death Index is a common starting point. Note that the Social Security Administration's public Death Master File excludes deaths within the last three calendar years under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, and there is no federal death-records database. The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics confirms that death certificates are issued by individual states, not the federal government.

You may also find our guide on whether birth certificates are public records useful when researching family vital records.

Wyoming Death Records: Quick Facts

Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information about access to Wyoming death records, not legal advice. Eligibility rules, fees, and processing times change. Always verify current requirements with the Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services, before submitting a request.

Sources

This article relies on primary government sources from the Wyoming Department of Health, the Wyoming Legislature, the CDC, and the Social Security Administration, listed below.