Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
If you are a single mother in Wyoming and need legal help, start with Legal Aid of Wyoming for civil problems. Legal Aid says it provides free civil legal help to low-income people in Wyoming. Call 1-877-432-9955, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or use its apply online page.
For court forms, use the Wyoming Judicial Branch court forms page. For local referrals, use WYLawHelp or Wyoming 211. If you have a criminal charge, ask the court about appointed counsel or contact the public defender office.
Important: This guide is general information. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, deadlines, and program rules can change. If you have court papers, an eviction, or a benefits deadline, ask a lawyer or court clerk about filing steps right away.
Urgent help if you are in danger or have a court deadline
If you or your children are in immediate danger, call 911. If it is not safe to use your own phone or computer, use a safer device when you can.
- Domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking: The Wyoming courts say protection order forms are available online and at the courthouse, and you can file at Circuit Court. The court’s domestic violence page also lists the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
- Local safety advocates: The Wyoming DVSA coalition can connect survivors with domestic violence and sexual assault programs across the state.
- Eviction papers: Wyoming courts say people facing eviction should act as soon as they receive papers. Start with the court’s eviction page and call Legal Aid quickly.
- Child support or custody papers: Do not wait until the hearing date to ask for help. Call Legal Aid, ask your clerk where to find the right packet, and keep copies of every paper you file.
Where to start
Start by naming the problem. Then contact the office that matches it. A lawyer may not be available right away, so also get the official form, deadline, or referral list while you wait.
If you need a free lawyer
Apply with Legal Aid first for civil issues such as custody, child support, housing, public benefits, debt, wage problems, and protection from abuse. Eligibility depends on more than income, so the safest step is to apply.
If you need forms
Use Wyoming Judicial Branch forms instead of random forms from the web. Court staff can usually point you to forms and filing steps, but they cannot tell you what to argue or whether you will win.
If legal aid is full
Use WYLawHelp, Wyoming Free Legal Answers, Equal Justice Wyoming, the Wyoming State Bar, and local clinics. Ask each office, “Where should I try next?” before you hang up.
Quick legal help table
| Problem | Start here | Ask for | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custody, divorce, parenting time, or support | Legal Aid or court forms | Family law packet, intake, and deadline check | Forms must match your case. A wrong packet can delay you. |
| Domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault | Circuit Court and advocate | Protection order packet and safety help | Use a safer phone or computer if someone monitors you. |
| Eviction or lockout threat | Legal Aid and court eviction page | Answer form, hearing date, and rent records | Eviction moves fast. Act the day papers arrive. |
| Unpaid wages | Wyoming Labor Standards | Wage claim steps and proof needed | Keep time sheets, texts, pay stubs, and work dates. |
| Housing discrimination | HUD or legal aid | Fair housing complaint help | Save ads, messages, denials, and witness names. |
| Benefits denial or delay | Agency notice and legal aid | Appeal deadline and hearing rights | Use the date on the notice. Do not wait for a callback. |
Free and low-cost legal help in Wyoming
Legal Aid of Wyoming
Legal Aid of Wyoming is the main statewide place to try first for free civil legal help. Its online intake lists family law, protection from abuse, housing, money issues, end-of-life planning, employment, public benefits, health care, expungement, and power of attorney topics. It also says some issues, such as criminal matters, DUI, traffic tickets, personal injury, malpractice, and complicated probate, are usually handled by private lawyers.
When you apply, be honest and complete. If you do not know an answer, say that. If you have a hearing date, put it near the top of your notes. If you cannot use the online form, call the hotline. If Legal Aid cannot take the case, ask for referrals in writing if possible.
WYLawHelp and Equal Justice Wyoming
WYLawHelp helps you find providers by household size, income, and legal topic. It works well on a phone and lets you click to call, apply online, or go to a provider’s site. Equal Justice Wyoming also supports civil legal resources for low-income people through providers and community partners.
Wyoming Free Legal Answers
Free Legal Answers is a virtual legal clinic for qualifying users. It covers civil topics such as family, divorce, custody, housing, eviction, consumer rights, work, unemployment, health and disability, civil rights, income maintenance, juvenile, and education law. It is best for a focused question, not for full representation.
Wyoming State Bar options
If you do not qualify for free help or you need paid limited help, check the Wyoming State Bar State Bar options. The page lists Equal Justice Wyoming, Legal Aid, and the Modest Means Program. The Modest Means Program is for some people who are over legal-aid income limits but still cannot afford regular attorney fees. Ask about fees before you agree to anything.
Custody, divorce, child support, and parenting issues
Family court issues can affect your home, money, school routine, and safety. Try to get legal advice before you file if there is domestic violence, a parent wants to move, a child has special needs, one parent is hiding income, or the other parent has a lawyer.
For custody, divorce, paternity, guardianship, name change, and support issues, start with Legal Aid and the Wyoming court forms. Some county clerks also make family law packets available. Use official forms and read the instructions before signing. Court clerks can explain filing procedures, but they cannot pick your legal strategy.
For child support, the Child Support Program says it can help with paying or receiving support, order changes, paternity, and related services. The state also lists child support offices by area. Bring your court order, case number, parent contact information, pay records, child-care costs, health insurance details, and any proof of payment or missed payment.
If your child support, custody, or parenting-time issue is connected to safety, tell the lawyer, advocate, or child support office. Do not put a private safe address in public paperwork without asking about safe address options and court procedures.
Safety, protection orders, and abuse-related legal help
Wyoming uses Orders of Protection for some domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking situations. The court’s domestic violence page says protection order form packets are available online and at the courthouse, and you can file at Circuit Court. You do not need to face this alone. A local advocate may help with safety planning, paperwork, court accompaniment, and referrals.
If someone monitors your phone, email, browser history, car, money, or mail, be careful about how you search for help. Use a safer device if you can. You can also call the national hotline for domestic violence support. The hotline is not a court and cannot file papers for you, but it can help you think through safer next steps.
Safety caution
Do not warn an abusive person that you are seeking a protection order if doing so could increase danger. Ask a victim advocate or lawyer how service, address privacy, children’s exchanges, and court notices work in your county.
Housing, eviction, lockouts, and discrimination
If you get eviction papers, read them the same day. Look for the hearing date, court name, case number, landlord name, and what the landlord claims. Wyoming courts warn tenants to get help quickly after receiving eviction papers because they must respond and prepare for court.
Call Legal Aid and say you have an eviction hearing. Ask the court clerk how to file an Answer or other response. If you live in public housing, have a voucher, or live in a subsidized unit, also contact your housing office and ask about grievance rights, reasonable accommodations, and what notice was required.
If you believe a landlord, housing provider, or housing authority treated you differently because you have children, are pregnant, have a disability, use a service animal, are from another country, use a language other than English, or are in another protected group, you can ask about a fair housing complaint. HUD has a HUD complaint form for housing discrimination. Save texts, emails, ads, notices, payment receipts, and witness names.
For help with rent, utilities, shelter, or moving costs, use Wyoming 211 and ASMOM’s Wyoming housing help and Wyoming emergency help guides. These are not legal defenses, but they can help you look for practical support while you deal with the legal case.
Work, debt, public benefits, and consumer problems
For unpaid wages, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services says workers can file a formal Claim for Wages when the work was done in Wyoming. Use the wage claim portal and gather pay stubs, time records, work dates, job title, employer contact information, and messages about pay.
For workplace discrimination, harassment, pregnancy-related discrimination, disability discrimination, or retaliation, start early. The EEOC portal explains that strict time limits apply for most discrimination charges. Legal Aid may also list employment issues in intake, so you can try both paths.
For scams, debt collection, identity theft, contracts, or unfair business conduct, Legal Aid may be able to review some civil problems. You can also file certain consumer complaints with the Wyoming Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit. That office cannot be your personal lawyer, so use it as a complaint path, not as a substitute for legal advice.
If you lost benefits or got a denial notice, check the notice for the appeal deadline. Keep the envelope, screenshot, or online message that shows when you got it. You may also want ASMOM’s guides to Wyoming TANF, Wyoming SNAP, Wyoming health care, and Wyoming utility help while you work on the legal side.
What to gather before you call or apply
You do not need every paper before asking for help. But having the basics ready can make intake faster and reduce missed callbacks.
| Bring or save | Why it matters | Quick tip |
|---|---|---|
| Court papers and notices | Shows deadlines, case number, court, and parties | Take clear photos if you cannot scan. |
| Proof of income | Legal aid and courts may ask for income details | Use pay stubs, benefit letters, or bank records. |
| Child-related costs | May matter in child support or custody cases | Save child care, health, school, and medical bills. |
| Rent and utility records | Helps with eviction, shutoff, deposit, or repair disputes | Keep notices, receipts, photos, and messages. |
| Safety evidence | May help an advocate or lawyer understand risk | Store it in a safe place the other person cannot access. |
| A written timeline | Helps the intake worker see what happened first | Use dates, names, places, and what each notice said. |
If you are denied, delayed, ignored, or overwhelmed
Legal aid offices have limited staff and must follow case priorities. A denial from one office does not always mean you have no options. Ask why the office cannot help, whether you can reapply if facts change, and whether there is a clinic, online advice site, bar referral, or court self-help path.
| If this happens | Next step | What to say |
|---|---|---|
| No callback yet | Call again and leave a short message | “I have a hearing on [date]. Please note the deadline.” |
| Legal Aid cannot take it | Ask for WYLawHelp and clinic referrals | “Can you tell me two places to try next?” |
| You cannot afford filing fees | Ask the clerk about fee-waiver forms | “Where is the indigency or fee waiver form?” |
| You missed a benefits call | Use the written notice deadline | “I need to appeal or reschedule before the deadline.” |
| You need one paid consult | Ask about limited scope help | “Can I pay for document review only?” |
Keep a call log
Write down the date, time, office name, person you spoke with, phone number, and next step. This helps if you need to show a judge or agency that you tried to get help.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling Legal Aid
“Hi, my name is [name]. I live in Wyoming and I need help with [custody / eviction / child support / benefits / protection order]. I have a court date or deadline on [date]. Can I complete intake today, and what documents should I send?”
Calling the court clerk
“I understand you cannot give legal advice. I need the correct form packet for [case type]. Can you tell me where to find the forms, filing fee, fee-waiver form, and how to confirm my hearing date?”
Calling child support
“I need help with [opening a case / changing an order / enforcing support / paternity]. I have my case number, court order, and pay records. Which office should I work with, and what is the next step?”
Calling 211 or a local advocate
“I am a single parent in [county]. I need help with [safe shelter / rent / utilities / transportation / legal referrals]. Are there programs open now, and can you text or email the referrals?”
Backup options if the first door does not open
- Ask for limited help. A lawyer may not be able to take the whole case but may review a form, explain a hearing, or help draft one motion.
- Use clinics. Legal clinics often offer short advice. Bring one clear question and your most important papers.
- Use official forms. Do not copy forms from another state. Wyoming courts may reject the wrong form.
- Ask for accommodations. If disability, language, transportation, or safety affects your ability to attend court or agency meetings, ask the office how to request an accommodation.
- Get support around the legal problem. Rent help, food help, child care, health care, and transportation help will not replace a lawyer, but they may give you more room to handle the case.
Resumen en español
Si usted es madre soltera en Wyoming y necesita ayuda legal, empiece con Legal Aid of Wyoming para problemas civiles como custodia, manutención de niños, vivienda, beneficios públicos, deudas, trabajo y órdenes de protección. Si hay peligro inmediato, llame al 911. Para violencia doméstica, agresión sexual o acoso, busque ayuda de un programa local de apoyo o de la línea nacional de violencia doméstica.
Guarde todos los papeles de la corte, avisos, mensajes, recibos y fechas importantes. Si tiene una audiencia o fecha límite, diga la fecha al principio de cada llamada. Esta página es información general, no consejo legal.
FAQ
Can Legal Aid of Wyoming help with every legal problem?
No. Legal Aid focuses on civil legal problems for people who qualify. Its intake page lists many civil topics, but some issues are usually handled by private lawyers or other offices. Apply or call to confirm.
What should I do if I received eviction papers?
Read the papers right away, note the hearing date, call Legal Aid, and use the Wyoming court eviction page for official information. Do not wait until the hearing day to ask for help.
Where do I get Wyoming court forms?
Use the Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help forms page or ask the clerk of the court handling your case. Clerks can usually point you to forms and filing steps, but they cannot give legal advice.
How do I get help with child support in Wyoming?
Contact the Wyoming Child Support Program or your local child support office. Ask about opening a case, paternity, support orders, enforcement, or modification.
What if I am in danger from the other parent or partner?
Call 911 if there is immediate danger. For protection orders, the Wyoming courts list forms online and at the courthouse. A local domestic violence or sexual assault advocate can help you think through safer next steps.
Can I ask one legal question online?
Maybe. Wyoming Free Legal Answers lets qualifying users post civil legal questions for volunteer attorneys. It is best for a focused question and is not the same as having a lawyer for the full case.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.