What is a background check?
A background check is an investigation into an individual’s criminal record, employment history, driving record, education, finances, or other aspects of their personal history.
Background checks are often performed by an organization or company in order to screen a subject before a significant financial or legal agreement. However, individuals regularly perform background checks on themselves to make sure that the public information on them matches their personal records.
For more general information on background checks, consult our Background Checks FAQS page.
How do I run a criminal background check in Wyoming?
Wyoming allows individuals to request a copy of their state criminal history information, to use as they see fit.
The criminal history record will include information from the official Wyoming database, as well as any information in the Western Identification Network, which includes the following additional seven states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
Note that unauthorized individuals may not request the criminal history information of others in the state. The official request requires a person to pay a fee of $15 and submit an official fingerprint card containing all ten of their fingerprints.
Follow these steps in order to request Wyoming criminal history record information:
- Visit a local law enforcement agency such as a police department or sheriff’s office and have your fingerprints taken on an official FBI 8 X 8 BLUE fingerprint card. You may also have your fingerprints taken at the Division of Criminal Investigation office for $5 (address below).
- Fill out your personal information on the top portion of the fingerprint card in black ink.
- Prepare a $15 payment in the form of a money order or certified check payable to the “Office of the Attorney General”.
- Write a brief note stating your request for criminal history record information. Include a physical address and phone number if submitting the request through the mail.
- Enclose the fingerprint card, note, and payment in an envelope and mail or deliver it in person to:
Division of Criminal Investigation
ATTN: ATS
208 South College Drive
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Please wait up to six weeks for the application to be processed. If you have any questions or concerns about the request, contact the DCI at 307-777-7181.
What can I do if my Wyoming criminal history record has incomplete or inaccurate information?
If your Wyoming criminal history record contains inaccurate or incomplete information, you may submit a challenge to the information free-of-charge as described in Wyoming Statute 7-19-109.
The process may require a fingerprint card or additional documentation to support your claim, depending on the nature of the challenge.
Contact the Division of Criminal Information at 307-777-7181 for instruction on how to proceed.
How do I search Wyoming court records?
The Wyoming Supreme Court Clerk’s Office has a free online docket search that the public can use to search by case, issue, or participant.
Unfortunately, records from other Wyoming courts are not available online. In order to obtain records from district courts, circuit courts, and municipal courts in Wyoming, you will have to contact the individual court in possession of the record directly.
The following links provide contact information for all Wyoming courts:
Where can I find Wyoming driving records online?
Wyoming driving records can be ordered online, in person, or by mail from the Wyoming Department of Transportation. The fee is $5 per record, and the record includes between 3 to 5 years of history depending on the nature of the incident or violation. A 10-year history can also be ordered.
Follow these steps to order a copy of your Wyoming driving record online:
- Download and complete a Release of Driving Record & Personal Information form.
- Include your email address so that the Wyoming Department of Transportation may send a link where you can pay by credit or debit card.
- Email the completed form to [email protected].
Please wait 7-10 days for your request to be processed.
How to obtain a Wyoming driving record in person
- Bring your Wyoming driver’s license or state ID to any state driver examination station.
- Request a copy of your Wyoming driving record.
- Pay a $5 fee.
How to obtain a Wyoming driving record by mail
- Download and complete a Release of Driving Record & Personal Information form. Alternatively, you can prepare a written request that includes your name, date of birth, social security number or Wyoming driver’s license number.
- Enclose a check or money order for $5 payable to “WYDOT”.
- Mail the form and payment to:
Wyoming Department of Transportation
Driver Services, Driving Records
5300 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY 82009-3340
How do I look up Wyoming vital records such as birth certificates and marriage licenses?
Vital records are records of important life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that are kept by government agencies and accessible upon request.
Vital records are not public records that can be viewed by anyone, but the subject(s) of the record and authorized family members can view them in-person or order copies through a number of means. Additionally, one or more vital records may be required to complete a background check.
Obtaining vital records in Wyoming is a bit more difficult than in other states since there is no online ordering option. However, birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage and divorce certificates can be ordered through the mail from the Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Statistics Services.
Follow these steps to order one of the available vital records through the mail:
- Download and print the appropriate application from the Wyoming Department of Health website.
- Complete the form with the required personal information.
- Prepare a personalized bank check or money order for the appropriate fee (fees are listed at the bottom of the application) payable to “Vital Statistics Services”.
- Mail the application and the form of payment to:
Vital Statistics Services
2300 Capital Avenue
Hathaway Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002
If you have any questions, you can email Vital Statistics Services, or call them at (307) 777-7591.
How do I search for a person’s sex offender status in Wyoming?
Individuals convicted of sex-related crimes or certain crimes against minors in the state of Wyoming are required to register as sex offenders. Offenders in each county are tracked by that county’s sheriff’s office.
The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation makes the Wyoming Sex Offender Registry available online to the general public in the interest of public safety.
The online registry offers six types of searches:
- Area search
- Name search
- City search
- Non-compliant offenders search
- Internet names or email search
- Phone number search
How do I perform a credit history background check in Wyoming?
Performing a credit check in Wyoming follows the same process as in other states. A federal law known as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) grants every American one free annual credit report each from the three main U.S. credit bureaus:
In order to obtain your free credit report from one of these three bureaus, you must provide the following information:
- Full name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social security number
