Park County Public Records /Park County Court Records

Park County Court Records

How To Find Court Records in Park County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Park County may access publicly available case information through several official channels. ParkRecords.us provides access to publicly available information that may relate to court records and related documents maintained by government agencies. Records available through official sources may include, depending on case type and applicable access rules:

Criminal case filings, docket entries, and disposition records
Civil complaints, judgments, and orders
Family law matters including divorce decrees and custody orders
Probate filings and estate records
Traffic and misdemeanor case information
Small claims filings and judgments

Court records in Park County may be searched through five primary methods:

1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office. The clerk of court is the official custodian of case files for each court. Members of the public may present a case number, party name, or approximate filing date to request access to a file. The District Court Clerk's office and Circuit Court Clerk's office each maintain records for their respective jurisdictions.

2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals. As noted by the Wyoming Judicial Branch eFiling system, "access to filed documents are available for free public viewing at designated access terminals located in courthouses across the state and at the Wyoming State Law Library." These terminals allow in-person review of electronic case documents without charge.

3. Online Court Search. The Wyoming Judicial Branch provides statewide online access to case information. Members of the public may search by party name or case number. Not all document images are available online; availability depends on case type and filing date.

4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools. Wyoming's statewide case management system allows searches across multiple courts. Searches may be conducted by party name, attorney, or case number. Results reflect currently active and recently closed cases; older records may require in-person or written requests.

5. Written or Mail Requests. Members of the public who cannot appear in person may submit written requests to the clerk of court. Requests should identify the case by party name, case number, or approximate filing date. Fees for copies apply, and processing times vary by office.

Are Court Records Public in Park County

Court records in Park County are presumptively public under Wyoming law and applicable court rules. Under Wyoming Statute § 16-4-201, public records are open for inspection by any person, and this principle extends to judicial records maintained by court clerks. The Rules Governing Access to Court Records adopted by the Wyoming Supreme Court further define the scope of public access to court filings statewide.

Records that are generally public include:

Docket entries and case indexes
Party names (plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, respondent)
Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
Filed pleadings, motions, and responses
Court orders and final judgments
Sentencing entries and disposition records
Probate inventories and orders

Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:

Juvenile delinquency and child protection records
Adoption proceedings
Mental health commitment records
Expunged criminal records
Sealed filings ordered by the court
Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
Certain domestic violence protective order details

A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While the presumption of public access applies to both, not all records available for in-person inspection are accessible through online portals. Older paper records, sealed matters, and certain case types may require an in-person visit to the clerk's office.

What Are Court Records in Park County?

Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything filed with or generated by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.

A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents—pleadings, motions, exhibits, orders—associated with those entries. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings in which the state prosecutes an individual for a violation of law. Filed pleadings are the initial and responsive documents that frame the legal dispute; final judgments are the court's ultimate resolution of the matter.

Public filings are those available for inspection under applicable access rules. Sealed or restricted filings have been removed from public access by court order or by operation of law, such as juvenile records or expunged matters.

Trial court records are maintained by the clerk of the court in which the case was heard—either the District Court or Circuit Court in Park County. Appellate records are transmitted to the Wyoming Supreme Court when a case is appealed; the District Court Clerk transmits the record to the appellate court upon the filing of a notice of appeal.

Records are created when a party files an initial document with the clerk, updated as subsequent filings and orders are entered, and closed upon final disposition. Records may be transferred to archives after a defined retention period.

What's Included in a Park County Court Record?

A court record in Park County may contain the following information, subject to applicable public-access rules and the nature of the case:

Case identification: case number, court name and division, filing date, and case type
Party information: names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and in some cases attorneys of record
Case status: open, closed, dismissed, appealed, or transferred
Docket entries: a chronological log of all filings and court actions
Hearing information: scheduled and past hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
Filed documents: complaints, petitions, answers, motions, briefs, stipulations, notices, and similar pleadings
Court orders and judgments: temporary orders, final judgments, decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
Outcome information: dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and sentences
Financial information: filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown

Records commonly exclude or restrict the following:

Sealed filings and expunged matters
Juvenile case files
Adoption records
Protected personal data such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
Certain exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal information
Mental health and substance abuse treatment records protected by statute

Types of Courts in Park County

Park County is served by courts operating within Wyoming's unified judicial system, administered by the Wyoming Judicial Branch. The court structure currently serving Park County includes the following:

District Court, 5th Judicial District (Park County)
1002 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY 82414
Phone: (307) 527-8690
District Court, 5th Judicial District, Park County

The District Court is Wyoming's court of general jurisdiction. It hears felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding the jurisdictional threshold of the Circuit Court, family law cases including divorce and child custody, juvenile matters, probate and estate proceedings, and appeals from the Circuit Court. The clerk of the District Court maintains the official record for all cases filed in that court.

Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial District, Park County (Cody)
1002 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY 82414
Phone: (307) 527-8550
Park County Clerk

Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial District, Park County (Powell)
109 West 14th Street
Powell, WY 82435
Phone: (307) 754-5522
Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial District, Park County (Powell)

The Circuit Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters up to $50,000, small claims cases, traffic infractions, and preliminary hearings in felony matters. The clerk of each Circuit Court location maintains records for cases filed at that location.

Wyoming does not maintain a separate probate court; probate matters are heard by the District Court. Juvenile matters are also heard within the District Court, though those records are subject to confidentiality protections under Wyoming law.

What Types of Cases Do Park County Courts Hear

The District Court hears felony criminal prosecutions, civil disputes, divorce and child custody proceedings, adoptions, guardianships, conservatorships, probate and estate administration, mental health commitments, and appeals from the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court handles misdemeanor offenses, civil claims within its jurisdictional limit, small claims, and traffic matters. Under Wyoming Statute § 5-9-128, the Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil actions not exceeding $50,000, exclusive of interest and costs.

How to Search Park County Court Records for Free?

Members of the public may search court records in Park County at no cost through several methods, while certain services carry fees.

Access Method	Cost
In-person inspection at clerk's office	Free
Courthouse public access terminals	Free
Online case search (Wyoming Judicial Branch)	Free
Standard paper copies	Per-page fee (varies by court)
Certified copies	Fee per document
Research by clerk staff	Fee may apply

In-person inspection of court records is available at no charge during regular business hours at the District Court Clerk's office and Circuit Court Clerk's offices. Members of the public may review case files and docket entries without payment. The Wyoming Judicial Branch eFiling portal provides free public viewing at courthouse access terminals.

Online case searches through the Wyoming Judicial Branch website are available at no charge. Searches may be conducted by party name or case number. Document images may or may not be available depending on the case and filing date.

Fees apply to the production of paper copies and certified copies. Fee schedules are established by court rule and may vary between the District Court and Circuit Court. Members of the public requesting copies should confirm current per-page rates with the clerk's office at the time of the request.

How Long Does Park County Keep Court Records?

Retention periods for court records in Park County are governed by judicial retention schedules established by the Wyoming Supreme Court and applicable state archival authority. Retention varies by case type and record category.

The Wyoming State Archives maintains historical county court records, including criminal appearance dockets dating from 1869 through 1988, as documented in the county records collection. Older records that have been transferred to the State Archives may be accessed through that office rather than the originating court.

Retention periods under current judicial policy include the following general categories:

Felony criminal case files: retained permanently or for extended periods due to the severity of the offense and potential for post-conviction proceedings
Civil judgment records: retained for periods sufficient to cover the enforceability of the judgment under Wyoming law
Misdemeanor and traffic records: subject to shorter retention schedules, though docket books may be retained longer
Probate records: retained permanently in many instances due to their effect on property title and family history
Juvenile records: retained subject to confidentiality rules; destruction or sealing may occur upon the subject reaching majority or upon court order

Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record has been preserved in an accessible format. Destruction of a record is distinct from sealing or expungement: a sealed record still exists but is restricted from public access, while an expunged record is treated as though it did not occur under applicable law. Archival retention means the record is preserved but may be held at a location other than the originating court.

Members of the public seeking records older than those maintained in active court files should contact the Wyoming State Archives or the originating clerk's office to determine the current location of the record.

How To Find a Court Docket in Park County

A court docket is the official chronological index of all actions taken in a case. It differs from the full case file in that it lists entries—filings, hearings, orders, and status changes—without necessarily containing the full text of each document. The docket serves as the navigational record of a case from initiation through final disposition.

Dockets for cases filed in Park County courts may be accessed through the following methods:

Online via the Wyoming Judicial Branch. The Wyoming Judicial Branch provides a statewide case search tool that returns docket information for cases in the system. Users may search by party name or case number. The search returns a list of docket entries showing filing dates, document types, and hearing information. Full document images may not be available for all entries.

Courthouse public access terminals. Terminals located at the District Court and Circuit Court locations in Cody and Powell allow members of the public to view docket entries and, where available, document images at no charge.

In-person clerk request. Members of the public may request docket sheets directly from the clerk of court. The clerk can print or display the docket for a specific case upon request. Providing the case number or the full names of the parties expedites the search.

A court docket entry contains the date of the action, a description of the filing or event (such as "complaint filed," "motion for summary judgment," or "sentencing hearing"), and in some systems a link to the associated document. A docket does not include sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that have been restricted from public access. Hearing calendars and motion calendars may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse.

Under the Rules Governing Access to Court Records, the docket index itself is a public record, though individual entries associated with sealed or confidential matters may be withheld or redacted. Wyoming Statute § 5-1-107 affirms the authority of the Supreme Court to establish rules governing court records, under which the current access framework operates.