A Protection Order

A victim of domestic abuse by a household member may petition the circuit court for an order of protection, under oath or with a sworn affidavit of specific facts. No filing fee or court cost is charged, and the victim does not have to file for divorce first or lose the right by leaving home.

• §W.S. 35-21-103StatutePetition for order of protection; contents; prerequisites; appointment of an attorney; award of costs and fees; remote appearance at hearingsOpens wyoleg.gov ↗

• Household members include spouses and former spouses, people living or who lived together as a couple, parents and adult children, other adults sharing a home, parents of a child together, and people in or formerly in a dating relationship.
• Domestic abuse is physical abuse or threats of it, causing physical harm, unreasonably restraining someone's liberty, putting them in reasonable fear of imminent harm, or forced sexual activity, not counting self defense.

• §W.S. 35-21-102StatuteDefinitionsOpens wyoleg.gov ↗

If the petition shows a danger of further abuse, the court grants a temporary order at once, without the other side present, and holds a hearing within seventy two hours or as soon after as it can.

• §W.S. 35-21-104StatuteTemporary order of protection; setting hearingOpens wyoleg.gov ↗

• The order can give the petitioner sole possession of the home, bar contact, protect the children and property, and require counseling.
• It can move a phone number the petitioner or a child uses onto the petitioner's own account.
• An order lasts a fixed time of up to three years and can be extended for good cause, three years at a time.

• §W.S. 35-21-105StatuteOrder of protection; contents; remedies; order not to affect title to property; conditionsOpens wyoleg.gov ↗
• §W.S. 35-21-106StatuteService of order; duration and extension of order; violation; remedies not exclusive; order effective during appeal or reviewOpens wyoleg.gov ↗