Court records in Fremont County, Wyoming are maintained by the Clerk of the District Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. FremontCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Fremont County. Additional access points include the Wyoming Judicial Branch website, the Fremont County court information page, and the Clerk of District Court office in Lander.
Fremont Court System Overview
Fremont County is part of Wyoming's 9th Judicial District. The 9th Judicial District serves Fremont, Hot Springs, and Sublette counties. The district court in Fremont County hears major civil and criminal cases, while the circuit court (formerly magistrate court) handles misdemeanors, small claims, and other lower-level matters. Both courts operate under the administrative oversight of the district's administrative judge.
The Fremont County Courthouse is located in Lander:
A second circuit court location serves the Riverton area. You can view the weekly district court hearing schedule on the county website.
Courts Serving Fremont County
| Court | Address & Contact |
|---|---|
| 9th Judicial District Court – Fremont County | 450 N. 2nd Street |
| Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial District – Fremont County (Lander) | 450 N. 2nd Street |
| Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial District – Fremont County (Riverton) | 1160 Major Avenue, Suite 100 |
| U.S. District Court – District of Wyoming | 2120 Capitol Avenue, Room 2131 |
| Riverton Municipal Court | 816 N. Federal Blvd. |
Lander also operates a municipal court for city ordinance violations. Federal bankruptcy matters for Fremont County are handled through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wyoming in Cheyenne.
What Types of Cases Fremont County Courts Hear
Courts in Fremont County handle a broad range of case types across the district and circuit court levels:
- Felony criminal cases
- Misdemeanor criminal cases and infractions
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
- Small claims disputes
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity, protection orders
- Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile — delinquency proceedings and child protective cases
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
- Traffic violations and DUI cases
The sections below explain which court handles each category and how cases move through the system.
District Court Cases in Fremont County
The 9th Judicial District Court in Fremont County handles felony criminal cases after bindover from circuit court, civil cases exceeding the circuit court's jurisdictional dollar limit, and appeals from circuit court decisions. The district court also presides over post-conviction proceedings, probate matters, and certain family law cases such as divorce and custody disputes.
Felony cases typically begin with a preliminary hearing or grand jury indictment at the circuit court level. Once bound over, the case is assigned to a district court judge for arraignment, pretrial motions, and trial. Civil cases are filed directly with the Clerk of District Court, who manages case records for civil, criminal, and probate filings.
Magistrate Court Cases in Fremont County
Wyoming's circuit courts (which replaced the former magistrate courts) handle misdemeanor criminal cases, infractions, traffic violations, DUI arraignments, and felony preliminary hearings in Fremont County. The circuit court also hears civil cases where the amount in controversy is $50,000 or less under Wyoming law, and small claims disputes up to $6,000.
Circuit court judges in Fremont County sit in both Lander and Riverton. Cases are generally assigned based on where the offense occurred or where the parties reside. If you have a small claims matter or a traffic citation, the circuit court is typically where your case will be heard. Forcible entry and detainer (eviction) actions also fall within circuit court jurisdiction.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Fremont County
Family Law: Divorce, custody, child support, paternity, civil protection orders, and termination of parental rights cases are generally filed in district court. The Clerk of District Court processes these filings, and self-help forms for common family law matters are available through the Wyoming Judicial Branch.
Probate: Decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters are handled by the district court. Filings go through the Clerk of District Court in Lander. The county's court information page provides access to civil, felony, and probate records searches.
Juvenile: Juvenile Corrections Act proceedings and Child Protective Act cases are heard in district court. Juvenile court records are confidential under Wyoming law and are not available to the general public. Contact the Clerk of District Court for questions about juvenile case procedures.
How Cases Move Through the Fremont County Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A criminal case begins with a complaint or citation filed by law enforcement. Civil cases start with a complaint or petition filed by the plaintiff. Family and probate matters are initiated by petition.
- Assignment to Judge: Cases are assigned to a district or circuit court judge depending on the case type and jurisdiction.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants appear for arraignment, where charges are read and a plea is entered. Civil cases proceed to a scheduling conference.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in plea negotiations (criminal) or settlement discussions (civil).
- Trial or Resolution: Cases may resolve through a plea agreement, jury or bench trial verdict, settlement, or default judgment.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases proceed to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals from circuit court go to district court; appeals from district court go to the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Fremont County
The 9th Judicial District's administrative judge oversees court operations in Fremont County. Day-to-day administration is handled by the trial court administrator's office and the Clerk of District Court. Local court rules for the 9th Judicial District can be found through the Wyoming Judicial Branch website.
Public access to records: Under the Wyoming Public Records Act, most court records are generally open to the public. Exceptions include juvenile records, adoption records, sealed cases, and records subject to protective orders. The Public Records Ombudsman can help resolve disputes about access to government records. You can also review guidance on making public records requests in Wyoming.
Attending hearings: Court hearings in Fremont County are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be available by telephone or video — contact the Clerk of District Court to ask about remote attendance options for a specific hearing.
Clerk of District Court Contact:
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Fremont County
- Court records search: Fremont County offers a civil, felony, and probate records search through its website. The Wyoming Judicial Branch also provides statewide case lookup tools through its online portal.
- Court calendar: View the weekly district court hearing docket on the Fremont County website.
- Court forms: Fremont County clerk forms are available for land recording, marriage licenses, titles, and more. The Wyoming Judicial Branch self-help forms page covers family law, civil, and other common filings.
- Clerk of Court / public records requests: Contact the Clerk of District Court for certified copies, case file reviews, or public records requests. A public records request form is available on the Fremont County website.
- Wyoming criminal history records: The DCI Criminal Records Unit maintains Wyoming's central criminal history repository under Wyo. Stat. § 7-19-107.
- Inmate search: Use the Wyoming Offender Locator to search for individuals in the custody of the Wyoming Department of Corrections. For local jail information, see the Fremont County Detention Center page or inmate services.
- Parole information: The Wyoming Board of Parole provides information on parole hearings and offender status.
- Vital records: Certified copies of birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees are available through the Fremont County Clerk's vital records page, which directs requests to the Wyoming Department of Health.
- Historical court records: The Wyoming State Archives holds historical Fremont County court records including criminal appearance dockets dating back to 1869.