Wyoming genealogy records could be the key to finding out your ancestral history. If you have ever wanted to create a family tree, learn about the generation that came before your grandparents, or became interested in the origins of family secrets, conducting a search among a variety of public records is a very good way to begin.
You can find various Wyoming genealogy records, including birth records, death records, marriage records and divorce records online. The Wyoming Vital Records Services can provide you with these specific certificates and documents for a small fee upon request. You can either go in person to the Hathaway Building in Cheyenne, Wyoming, or send your request via mail. If you are sending your request by mail, you should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a money order or personal check payable to Vital Records Services. The fee is $12 for each record requested and it is nonrefundable.
There are, of course many other ways to find out information related to your family’s history and there are other Wyoming genealogy records that you can access. Immigration records, for example, can be traced. You may be able to discover the very first members of your family line to come to the United States! You can also find documents related to the naturalization or citizenship of your particular ancestors.
If you have relatives that were in the military, this is yet another angle you can take in researching your family history and building that family tree. If your grandfather or great grandfather was a part of the military many years ago, there will be a record of their service somewhere. This is particularly true if they served the country during a time of war. You should certainly investigate military records if you believe that you will find an ancestor.
It may be the case that you were adopted or one of your predecessors were adopted. If so, you should certainly take a look at adoption records as part of your family tree investigation. Adoption records are normally available to the public and you can find your birth parents (or the birth parents of your predecessor if they were the one adopted). Once you find this information, you can check their vital records for parents, marriages, divorces, and other information.
Aside from searching for purposes of finding the names of your ancestors, you can search Wyoming genealogy records to find out interesting facts about the people that came before you. For example, you can search old newspaper archives for stories. Perhaps your great, great grandparents were active in the community, or perhaps one of them wrote for the paper! Wills, testaments and probates can shed light on the deceased’s personality and who they care for the most. There many even be a family heirloom that you can track down and claim. It can be so interesting to find out the occupations and hobbies of your long since passed relatives. Maybe you have something in common.
Whatever you are looking for, the internet is the place to start.
The Wyoming Department of Health is responsible for maintaining a record of all the births, deaths, marriages and divorces that happen inside the state of Wyoming. Title 35 of the Wyoming state codes states that the department is required to "collect, compile, and tabulate reports of marriages, divorces and annulments, births, deaths and morbidity, and to require any person having information with regard to the same to make such reports". These are the records that are typically used as genealogy records.
Wyoming only issues birth certificates to the registrant and his or her parents or legal representative. Death certificates are only issued to the immediate family members of the decease or their lawyers. Marriage and divorce records are only available to the husband and wife and their lawyers. Wyoming genealogy records are carefully guarded to prevent misuse of the personal information contained in the records. They are not considered public record.