Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure

Wyoming's rules for serving a summons are in the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure (W.R.C.P.), mainly Rule 4. Wyoming doesn't license process servers. Any adult who isn't a party can serve a summons.

The rules changed recently. Amendments to Rule 4 took effect on September 21, 2026. Publication is now one kind of "alternative service," and any alternative service needs a motion and a court order approving the method. This page covers the rules as they stand now.

Disclaimer: Laws change, and this page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Check the current Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure from the Wyoming Judicial Branch, or ask an attorney before relying on it.

Wyoming process servers

• Become a process server in Wyoming
• Hire a process server in Wyoming

Quick facts: process serving in Wyoming

• Who can serve: Any person 18 or older who isn't a party. A sheriff, U.S. marshal or their designee can serve on request (Rule 4(c)).
• Licensing: No state license, registration or court appointment for private process servers.
• Deadline to serve: Within 90 days after the complaint is filed, unless the court extends it for good cause (Rule 4(w)).
• Substituted service: Leave the papers at the person's home with a resident over 14, or at their usual place of business with the employee in charge (Rule 4(e)).
• Proof of service: A private server files an affidavit showing the date, place and manner of service (Rule 4(s)).
• Time to respond: 20 days after service in most cases, or 30 days if served outside Wyoming (Rule 12(a)).

Process-serving software: ServeManager

ServeManager is process-serving software used by agencies across Wyoming. It tracks every attempt with date, time, GPS and photos, and generates affidavits of service from the job. That attempt history is the kind of record you'll want when asking a court for alternative service.

Register for ServeManager

Do you need a license to serve process in Wyoming?

No. Wyoming doesn't license, register or certify private process servers, and you don't need to be appointed by the clerk or the court. Under Rule 4(c), a summons can be served by:

• Any person at least 18 years old who isn't a party
• At the requesting party's request, a sheriff, a sheriff's designee, a U.S. marshal or a marshal's designee

When someone other than a sheriff or marshal serves, the court decides how much of the cost can be recovered.

For a step-by-step guide, see Become a Process Server in Wyoming.

How to serve a summons in Wyoming

The summons and complaint are served together, and the plaintiff gives the server the copies needed (Rule 4(d)).

Personal and substituted service: Rule 4(e)

An individual in the United States can be served by:

1. Delivering the papers to the person personally
2. Leaving them at the person's dwelling or usual place of abode with someone over 14 who lives there
3. Leaving them at the person's usual place of business with the employee in charge
4. Delivering them to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service

Minors and incompetent persons: Rule 4(g)

For a minor under 14 or an incompetent person, serve the guardian. If no guardian has been appointed in Wyoming, serve the person with legal custody, or a guardian ad litem.

Waiver of service: Rule 4(u)

The plaintiff can mail the defendant a written request to waive service, with a copy of the complaint, giving at least 30 days to return it (60 days outside the U.S.). A defendant who waives gets 60 days to answer (90 days outside the U.S.). A defendant in the U.S. who refuses without good cause can be ordered to pay the cost of service.

Acceptance of service: Rule 4(v)

A defendant can accept service in writing, signed by the defendant or their attorney and notarized.

Service outside Wyoming or by mail: Rule 4(r)

Where a statute allows service outside the state, or alternative service is allowed, the papers can be delivered personally anywhere in the U.S., or mailed by the clerk by registered or certified mail with restricted delivery and a return receipt.

Service outside the United States: Rule 4(f)

Service abroad can follow an international agreement such as the Hague Service Convention, the law of the foreign country, or another method the court orders.

Alternative service, including publication: Rule 4(k) and (l)

Alternative service means any method other than personal service that's reasonably calculated to give the person actual notice, including publication. It's available only in the kinds of cases listed in Rule 4(k), such as real property cases, cases against nonresident defendants, divorce and custody cases, and some cases against corporations.

Since September 21, 2026, alternative service requires:

• A motion and affidavit. The affidavit must show that personal service can't be made in Wyoming, give the defendant's last known address or say it's unknown, describe the efforts to find the defendant, and show that the proposed method is reasonably calculated to give actual notice.
• Publication only as a last resort. Publication is allowed only if no other alternative method would give actual notice. When it's used, notice runs once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper in the county.
• A court order. The court must find that personal service can't be made, approve the method, and say how service is to be made and proved and when it's complete.

Proof of publication is the publisher's affidavit. For other alternative methods, proof is a notarized statement with supporting evidence (Rule 4(n)). See What is service by publication?

Serving businesses and other entities

• Corporations (Rule 4(h)): Deliver the papers to an officer, manager, general agent or agent for service of process. If none can be found in the county where the case is filed, deliver them to an agent or employee in that county. If the papers went to someone other than an officer, manager, general agent or agent for service, the clerk must also mail a copy by registered or certified mail, restricted delivery, at least 20 days before a default is entered.
• Partnerships and unincorporated associations (Rule 4(h)): Deliver the papers to a partner, associate, managing or general agent, or agent for service, or leave them at the usual place of business with the employee in charge.
• State and local government (Rule 4(i)): Deliver the papers to the chief executive officer, secretary, clerk, the person in charge of the principal office, or a member of the governing body, or as a statute provides.
• Secretary of State as agent (Rule 4(j)): Service on the Secretary of State is allowed when, and in the way, a statute authorizes it.

Look up registered agents with the Wyoming Secretary of State business search.

Serving a subpoena in Wyoming

Subpoenas are governed by Rule 45. A sheriff, a deputy or any other adult who isn't a party can serve a subpoena anywhere in Wyoming by delivering a copy to the person named. If the subpoena requires the person to attend, you must also tender the fee for one day's attendance and the mileage allowed by law. Proof of service is a statement of the date and manner of service and the names of the people served, certified by the server and filed with the issuing court's clerk.

Proof of service

Under Rule 4(s), proof of service is:

• Sheriff or deputy: The officer's certificate
• Any other server: An affidavit showing the date, place and manner of service
• Mail service: The clerk's certificate
• Publication: The publisher's affidavit
• Waiver or acceptance: The defendant's written, acknowledged admission or waiver

Failing to file proof doesn't make the service invalid, and the court can allow the proof to be amended.

Hire a Wyoming process server

Find process servers and agencies across the state in the Wyoming process server directory.

More Wyoming resources

• Become a Process Server in Wyoming
• Courts in Wyoming
• Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, effective September 21, 2026 (Wyoming Judicial Branch)
• Wyoming court rules (Wyoming Judicial Branch)
• Process server associations

This page is a general overview of Wyoming law, not legal advice. Laws change. Check the current rules or talk to an attorney about your case.