Adoption Cases

Adoption Cases are the statutory process of granting adoptive parents the legal rights and duties for children. 

Child Support Cases

The Clerk of District Court office is the official record keeper for Court ordered child support.  All child support is processed through POSSE (Parental Obligation System for Support Enforcement), the statewide network.

Child support ordered in Park County, Fifth Judicial District, or support enforcement actions initiated and established by either the non-custodial or custodial parent in Park County, would require payment through the Clerk of District Court office or the State of Wyoming State Disbursement Unit (SDU).  Non-custodial parents should contact his/her attorney or the office of the Clerk of District Court if there are questions regarding payment location.

Support payments ordered through the Clerk of District Court office should be mailed to:  

Clerk of District Court
Child Support
P.O. Box 1960
Cody, WY 82414-1960

Civil Cases

Civil Cases relate to private rights and remedies that are sought by legal action.  Civil cases include torts, contract disputes, real property rights, domestic relation matters, and other miscellaneous civil cases.

Felony Criminal cases

Criminal Cases are those brought by the state where there is an allegation that a crime has been committed against the community at large.  Only felony cases are filed in District Court. 

Juvenile Cases

Juvenile Cases involve individuals who have not reached the age of majority.  These cases consist of:

1) Delinquency – juvenile has committed a crime.

2) Neglect – abuse or neglect of a minor.

3) Children in need of supervision – child is ungovernable or beyond control;      this includes truancy.

Probate Cases

Probate Cases include all cases filed to settle probate, will, or the estate of an intestate (without a will) decedent.  This category also includes cases filed for guardianship, conservatorship, and trusteeship. 

Jury Trials

District Court Jury panels are drawn twice a year using Clearview Jury, a statewide jury management system. The names are randomly drawn from Park County’s registered voters and licensed drivers. If your name is drawn and you need to be excused for any reason during the term, you will need to present your written request to the Judge for consideration. You may also qualify to be exempt from jury duty. Wyoming Statues §1-11-103 and 104 provide information regarding exemption and excusals from jury duty. Jurors must appear at trials unless notified and/or excused by the Judge in advance.

Jurors receive $30.00 for each full or part day of actual attendance. Mileage is reimbursed to those jurors whose roundtrip travel to the courthouse in Cody exceeds ten (10) miles.

Jurors are asked to give their undivided attention to the jury selection process.  Cell phones, recording, or other electronic devices should not be brought into the courtroom.  Jurors are asked to remain seated until everyone in the room is allowed to leave.  Morning, lunch, and afternoon breaks are given. 

Visitors are welcome to observe most jury trials.  Anyone visiting the courtroom should be respectful.  There is not a required dress code, but appropriate attire should be worn.  Talking should not occur among spectators or jurors unless absolutely necessary.

Filing Fees

DISTRICT COURT FILING FEES

Effective July 1, 2017

Filing Fees are as follows:

Civil Action $120.00*
        Modification or Reopened $120.00
Jury Demand (12)$150.00
Jury Demand (6)$50.00
Adoption$120.00*
Abatement/Objection$10.00
Probate (Estate, Guardian or Conservatorship) $160.00*
Inventory/Appraisal Fee (see W.S. 2-2-401) 
Foreign Judgment $120.00
Lower Court Appeal or Judicial Review$100.00
Notice of Appeal or Certification to Supreme Court 
        Payable to District Court $100.00
        Payable to Supreme Court $140.00
                    (Both fees collected at the time of filing) 
Miscellaneous Fees: 
        Copies – First Page$1.00
        Copies – Each Additional Page $0.50
        Certification$0.50
        Fax or Email – Each Page       $1.00

* Fifty dollars ($50.00) of the filing fee shall be for court automation and civil legal service fees. Both are paid to the Wyoming Supreme Court.

 Filing Fee for Reopened Cases: Issues not addressed in the complaint, modifications of previous orders, etc. will be considered reopening the case.  Enforcement of an existing order will not be considered reopening the case.  If you have difficulty deciding whether a filing fee is required, please call 527-8690 or 754-8690.

Restitution

Court ordered restitution for District Court cases is paid in this office.
(Personal checks are not accepted.)

Passport Applications

Obtain Passport Application Online Here

United States citizens wishing to obtain a passport can  process an application at the office of the Clerk of District Court.  The process requires the applicant to complete an application to be signed in the presence of an employee of our office.  Along with the completed application the applicant must provide a certified copy of their birth certificate, proof of identity (driver’s license), and two identical passport pictures.  The specifications for the passport pictures are listed on the back of the passport application.

The fees for passport books are as follows:

16 and over
 
     Passport Fee 
$130.00
     Execution Fee
  $35.00
     (10 year Passport)
 
 
 
15 and under
 
     Passport Fee 
  $100.00
     Execution Fee
  $35.00
     (5 Year Passport)
 
 
 

The fees for passport cards are as follows:

16 and over
 
     Passport Fee 
  $30.00
     Execution Fee
  $35.00
     (10 year Passport)
 
 
 
15 and under
 
     Passport Fee 
  $15.00
     Execution Fee
  $35.00
     (5 Year Passport)
 
 
 

Those applicants age 16 & 17 must have a parent or legal guardian appear with them to sign the minor child’s application.  If a parent is unable to appear with a child 16 or over the child may pay for the passport with a parent’s personal check.  This is not the ideal situation but a parent’s personal check does imply parental consent.  

Applications for children under the age of 16 require the signatures of both parents.  If only one parent is available a written statement from the other parent giving their consent for the minor child to obtain a passport must be submitted with the application.  

It takes approximately 8-10 weeks, or more, to obtain a passport so please plan accordingly. 

An application may be expedited with an additional fee of $60.00 to Passport Services.   

Passports may also be renewed directly with the U.S. State Department for a total fee of $110.00 if:  

    1. The most recent passport can be submitted.
    2. The applicant was at least 16 years old when the most recent passport was issued.
    3. The most recent passport was issued less than 15 years ago.
    4. The applicant uses the same name as shown on the most recent passport, or has had their name changed by marriage or court order and can submit proper documentation to reflect the name change.  

Information may not always be up to date, for current information please call our office at 527-8690 or 754-8690. You may also reference the
Department of State / Passport Services web site at www.travel.state.gov.

Naturalization

The Honorable Bill Simpson, Fifth Judicial District Judge, and Clerk of District Court, Patra Lindenthal, conduct Naturalization Ceremonies each year for those people who have completed the requirements to become a citizen of the United States.  This ceremony is special to all who attend because of the tremendous gratitude these new citizens feel for their opportunities in the United States.  For information regarding the next scheduled ceremony, call (307) 527-8690 or 754-8690.

The Park County District Court does not participate in the process to become a citizen. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service in Denver, Colorado is the agency responsible for establishing the appropriateness for U.S. citizenship.  For information regarding obtaining U.S. citizenship, call (303) 371-3041.

Record Searches

Pursuant to Wyoming Rules for Fees and Costs for District Court, Rule 2,
we charge a $10.00 fee for record searches.  Requests must be in writing and must be paid in advance by cash, check, credit/debit card or money order.  If you will be conducting search requests on a regular basis, you may set up an account and the fee will be deducted on a per search basis.  Once a month, a statement will be sent to you showing your account balance.  (Only those who have established an account with us may request searches by FAX to 307-527-8687). In-Person record searches are done at no cost.

Please note regarding criminal record searches: this office does criminal felony record searches only; criminal misdemeanor searches are conducted through the Park County Clerk of Circuit Court Office (307-527-8590).