reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-310 - Parties Authorized to File Petition.

14-2-310. Parties authorized to file petition.
(a) The petition for the termination of the parent-child relationship shall be filed with the court by:
(i) Either parent, when termination of the parent-child legal relationship is sought with respect to the other parent; or
(ii) The guardian or the legal custodian of the child; or
(iii) An authorized agency.
(b) The petition for the termination of the parent-child relationship may be filed with the court by a biological or adoptive grandparent acting in loco parentis to the child, where the child has resided with the grandparent for a period of not less than one (1) year and the placement is not under the direction of a juvenile court or the department of family services.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-311 - Contents of Petition.

14-2-311. Contents of petition.
(a) The petition for the termination of the parent-child legal relationship shall state:
(i) The legal name, sex, date and place of birth of the child, if known, and the jurisdictional facts;
(ii) The name and residence of the petitioner and his relationship to the child;
(iii) The name, address and place and date of birth of the parent, if known, and of the name of the person having the legal custody or guardianship of the child;
(iv) The grounds for termination of the parent-child legal relationship pursuant to W.S. 14-2-309;
(v) Name and address of the person or authorized agency requesting appointment as the guardian of the child.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-312 - Hearing; Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem.

14-2-312. Hearing; appointment of guardian ad litem.
After the petition has been filed, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the child unless the court finds the interests of the child will be represented adequately by the petitioner or another party to the action and are not adverse to that party. If the court appoints a guardian ad litem it shall approve a fee for services. When a petition is filed and presented to the judge, the judge shall set the petition for hearing. The Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, including the right of a parent, child or interested person to demand a jury trial, are applicable in actions brought under this act.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-313 - Service of Petition.

14-2-313. Service of petition.
(a) The petition shall be served on the following persons:
(i) The parent of the child;
(ii) The guardian ad litem;
(iii) The guardian or next friend of the parent if the parent is a minor;
(iv) The department of family services if the child is or has been supported by public assistance funds.
(b) Service of the petition on the person required to be served by subsection (a) of this section shall be made as provided by the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure. If the person is a nonresident or his residence is unknown, service may be had by constructive service or by publication as provided in the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-314 - Social Study Required; Information to Be Shown; Not Excluded as Hearsay.

14-2-314. Social study required; information to be shown; not excluded as hearsay.
Upon the filing of a petition by anyone other than an authorized agency as defined by W.S. 14-2-308(a)(ii)(A), the court shall direct that a social study be made by the appropriate county office of public assistance and social services or by any authorized agency to aid the court in making a final disposition of the petition. The social study shall state the factual information pertaining to the allegations in the petition, the social history and the present situation and environment of the child and parent. The social study shall not be excluded as evidence by reason of hearsay alone. The social study shall be made available to any party to the action upon request.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-315 - Order Terminating the Parent-Child Legal Relationship; Contents.

14-2-315. Order terminating the parent-child legal relationship; contents.
The order terminating the parent-child legal relationship shall be in writing and shall contain the findings of the court. If the court terminates the parent-child legal relationship of either one (1) or both parents, it shall fix the responsibility for the child's support and appoint a guardian of the child's person or estate or both.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-316 - Dismissal of Petition; Continuation of Hearing.

14-2-316. Dismissal of petition; continuation of hearing.
If the court does not terminate the parent-child legal relationship, it shall dismiss the petition or direct an authorized agency to continue to make efforts to rehabilitate the parent and continue the hearing for no longer than six (6) months. The authorized agency shall provide the court with any additional reports regarding its rehabilitative efforts and results. Pending final hearing, the court may continue the present placement of the child or place the child in the temporary custody of an authorized agency and fix responsibility for temporary child support.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-317 - Effect of Order of Termination.

14-2-317. Effect of order of termination.
(a) An order terminating the parent-child legal relationship divests the parent of all legal rights and privileges and relieves the child of all duties to that parent except:
(i) The order does not divest that parent of duties and support obligations unless otherwise specifically ordered by the court or the child is adopted; and
(ii) Except as provided in W.S. 2-4-107(a)(i), the right of the child to inherit from the parent shall not be affected by the order.
(b) The parent whose parent-child legal relationship has been terminated is not thereafter entitled to the notice of proceedings for the adoption of the child, nor has he any right to object to the adoption or otherwise participate in the adoption proceedings.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-318 - Costs of Proceedings; Appointment of Counsel.

14-2-318. Costs of proceedings; appointment of counsel.
(a) The court may appoint counsel for any party who is indigent. Indigency shall be established by written affidavit signed and sworn to by the party or sworn testimony made a part of the record of the proceedings. The affidavit or sworn testimony shall state that the party is without sufficient money, property, assets or credit to employ counsel in his own behalf. The court may require further verification of financial condition as it deems necessary.
(b) Where petitioner is an authorized agency as defined by W.S. 14-2-308(a)(ii)(B), it shall pay for the costs of the action. Costs shall include:
(i) Fee for the guardian ad litem. If the agency had entered into an agreement with the office of guardian ad litem pursuant to W.S. 14-12-101 through 14-12-104 and the office was appointed to provide the guardian ad litem, the office shall pay the fee for the guardian ad litem in accordance with that agreement;
(ii) Attorney's fee for an indigent party;
(iii) Other professional fees incurred by an indigent party in defense of an action brought under this act.
(c) Prior to incurring any cost under subsection (b) of this section application shall be made to the court and written approval by the court shall be obtained.
(d) Where petitioner is an authorized agency as defined by W.S. 14-2-308(a)(ii)(A):
(i) The district attorney for the county in which the petition is filed shall represent the authorized agency in all proceedings under this act;
(ii) The authorized agency shall pay the reasonable attorney's fees and expenses for an indigent party incurred in the defense of an action brought under this act and approved by the court; and
(iii) The authorized agency shall pay the guardian ad litem reasonable fees and expenses approved by the court unless the agency had entered into an agreement with the office of guardian ad litem pursuant to W.S. 14-12-101 through 14-12-104 and the office was appointed to provide the guardian ad litem. If so, the office shall pay the fee for the guardian ad litem in accordance with that agreement.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 3 - Termination of Parental Rights › Section 14-2-319 - Determination of Indigency; Recovery of Payment.

14-2-319. Determination of indigency; recovery of payment.
(a) In determining whether a person is an indigent party for purposes of W.S. 14-2-318, the court shall consider in addition to any other relevant factors the person's income, property owned, outstanding obligations and the number and ages of his dependents. In each case the person, subject to the penalties for perjury, shall certify in writing, or by other record, material facts relating to his ability to pay as the court prescribes.
(b) To the extent that an indigent party is able to provide for an attorney or for other expenses incurred in defense of an action brought under this act, the court may order that he make payment within a specified period of time or in specified installments.
(c) Within eight (8) years after the date the services were rendered, the attorney general may sue on behalf of the state to recover payment or reimbursement from each person who has received legal assistance or another benefit under this act:
(i) To which he was not entitled;
(ii) With respect to which he was not an indigent person when he received it; or
(iii) With respect to which he has failed to make the certification required by subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Within three (3) years after the date the services were rendered, the attorney general may sue on behalf of the state to recover payment or reimbursement from each person other than a person covered by subsection (c) of this section who:
(i) Has received legal assistance or other benefit under this act; and
(ii) On the date on which suit is brought is financially able to pay or reimburse the state for all or part of the legal assistance or other benefit according to the standards of ability to pay applicable under this act but refuses to do so.
(e) Amounts recovered under this section shall be remitted to the general fund.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 4 - General Provisions › Section 14-2-403 - Scope of Act; Choice of Law.

14-2-403. Scope of act; choice of law.
(a) This act applies to every determination of parentage in this state.
(b) The court shall apply the law of this state to adjudicate the parent-child relationship. The applicable law does not depend on:
(i) The place of birth of the child; or
(ii) The past or present residence of the child.
(c) This act does not create, enlarge or diminish parental rights or duties under other law of this state.
(d) This act does not authorize or prohibit an agreement between a woman and a man and another woman in which the woman relinquishes all rights as a parent of a child conceived by means of assisted reproduction, and which provides that the man and the other woman become the parents of the child. If a birth results under such an agreement and the agreement is unenforceable under Wyoming law, the parent-child relationship is determined as provided in article 4 of this act.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 4 - General Provisions › Section 14-2-405 - Protection of Participants.

14-2-405. Protection of participants.
Proceedings under this act are subject to other law of this state governing the health, safety, privacy and liberty of a child or other individual who could be jeopardized by disclosure of identifying information, including address, telephone number, place of employment, social security number and the child's day-care facility and school.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 4 - General Provisions › Section 14-2-407 - Severability Clause.

14-2-407. Severability clause.
If any provision of this act or its application to an individual or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 5 - Parent-Child Relationship › Section 14-2-501 - Establishment of Parent-Child Relationship.

14-2-501. Establishment of parent-child relationship.
(a) The mother-child relationship is established between a woman and a child by:
(i) The woman's having given birth to the child;
(ii) An adjudication of the woman's maternity; or
(iii) Adoption of the child by the woman.
(b) The father-child relationship is established between a man and a child by:
(i) An unrebutted presumption of the man's paternity of the child under W.S. 14-2-504;
(ii) An effective acknowledgment of paternity by the man under article 6 of this act, unless the acknowledgment has been rescinded or successfully challenged;
(iii) An adjudication of the man's paternity;
(iv) Adoption of the child by the man; or
(v) The man's having consented to assisted reproduction by his wife under article 9 of this act which resulted in the birth of the child.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 5 - Parent-Child Relationship › Section 14-2-503 - Consequences of Establishment of Parentage.

14-2-503. Consequences of establishment of parentage.
Unless parental rights are terminated, a parent-child relationship established under this act applies for all purposes, except as otherwise specifically provided by other law of this state.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 5 - Parent-Child Relationship › Section 14-2-504 - Presumption of Paternity in Context of Marriage.

14-2-504. Presumption of paternity in context of marriage.
(a) A man is presumed to be the father of a child if:
(i) He and the mother of the child are married to each other and the child is born during the marriage;
(ii) He and the mother of the child were married to each other and the child is born within three hundred (300) days after the marriage is terminated by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, divorce or after the entry of a decree of separation;
(iii) Before the birth of the child, he and the mother of the child married each other in apparent compliance with law, even if the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and the child is born during the invalid marriage or within three hundred (300) days after its termination by death, annulment, declaration of invalidity, divorce or after the entry of a decree of separation;
(iv) After the birth of the child, he and the mother of the child married each other in apparent compliance with law, whether or not the marriage is or could be declared invalid, and he voluntarily asserted his paternity of the child, and:
(A) The assertion is in a record filed with the state office of vital records;
(B) He agreed to be and is named as the child's father on the child's birth certificate; or
(C) He promised in a record to support the child as his own.
(v) For the first two (2) years of the child's life, he resided in the same household with the child and openly held out the child as his own.
(b) A presumption of paternity established under this section may be rebutted only by an adjudication under article 8 of this act.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-601 - Acknowledgment of Paternity.

14-2-601. Acknowledgment of paternity.
(a) The mother of a child and a man claiming to be the genetic father of the child may sign an acknowledgment of paternity with intent to establish the man's paternity.
(b) An acknowledgment of paternity of a child born in Wyoming may be filed with the state office of vital records.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-602 - Execution of Acknowledgment of Paternity.

14-2-602. Execution of acknowledgment of paternity.
(a) An acknowledgment of paternity shall:
(i) Be in a record;
(ii) Be signed, or otherwise authenticated, under penalty for false swearing by the mother and by the man seeking to establish his paternity;
(iii) State that the child whose paternity is being acknowledged:
(A) Does not have a presumed father, or has a presumed father whose full name is stated; and
(B) Does not have another acknowledged or adjudicated father.
(iv) State whether there has been genetic testing and, if so, that the acknowledging man's claim of paternity is consistent with the results of the testing; and
(v) State that the signatories understand that the acknowledgment is the equivalent of a judicial adjudication of paternity of the child and that a challenge to the acknowledgment is permitted only under limited circumstances and is barred after two (2) years.
(b) An acknowledgment of paternity is void if it:
(i) States that another man is a presumed father, unless a denial of paternity signed or otherwise authenticated by the presumed father or a court order rebutting the presumption is filed with the state office of vital records;
(ii) States that another man is an acknowledged or adjudicated father; or
(iii) Falsely denies the existence of a presumed, acknowledged or adjudicated father of the child.
(c) A presumed father may sign or otherwise authenticate an acknowledgment of paternity.
(d) Before a mother and a man claiming to be the genetic father of a child can sign an acknowledgment of paternity affidavit, the mother and the alleged father shall be provided notice orally or through use of video or audio equipment and in writing of the alternatives to, the legal consequences of, and the rights and responsibilities that arise from, signing the acknowledgment of paternity affidavit. If either the mother or the alleged father is a minor, any rights that attach as a result of the status as a minor shall also be provided orally or through the use of video or audio equipment and in writing, in addition to any other requirements of this subsection.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-603 - Denial of Paternity.

14-2-603. Denial of paternity.
(a) A presumed father may sign a denial of his paternity. The denial is valid only if:
(i) An acknowledgment of paternity signed, or otherwise authenticated, by another man is filed pursuant to W.S. 14-2-605;
(ii) The denial is in a record, and is signed, or otherwise authenticated, under penalty of perjury; and
(iii) The presumed father has not previously:
(A) Acknowledged his paternity, unless the previous acknowledgment has been rescinded pursuant to W.S. 14-2-607 or successfully challenged pursuant to W.S. 14-2-608; or
(B) Been adjudicated to be the father of the child.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-604 - Rules for Acknowledgment and Denial of Paternity.

14-2-604. Rules for acknowledgment and denial of paternity.
(a) An acknowledgment of paternity and a denial of paternity may be contained in a single document or may be signed in counterparts, and may be filed separately or simultaneously. If the acknowledgement and denial are both necessary, neither is valid until both are filed.
(b) An acknowledgment of paternity or a denial of paternity may be signed before the birth of the child.
(c) Subject to subsection (a) of this section, an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity takes effect on the birth of the child or the filing of the document with the state office of vital records, whichever occurs later.
(d) An acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity signed by a minor and a legal guardian of the minor is valid if it is otherwise in compliance with this act.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-605 - Effect of Acknowledgment or Denial of Paternity.

14-2-605. Effect of acknowledgment or denial of paternity.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in W.S. 14-2-607 and 14-2-608, a valid acknowledgment of paternity filed with the state office of vital records is equivalent to an adjudication of paternity of a child and confers upon the acknowledged father all of the rights and duties of a parent.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in W.S. 14-2-607 and 14-2-608, a valid denial of paternity by a presumed father filed with the state office of vital records in conjunction with a valid acknowledgment of paternity is equivalent to an adjudication of the nonpaternity of the presumed father and discharges the presumed father from all rights and duties of a parent.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-607 - Proceeding for Rescission.

14-2-607. Proceeding for rescission.
(a) A signatory may rescind an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity by commencing a proceeding to rescind before the earlier of:
(i) Sixty (60) days after the effective date of the acknowledgment or denial, as provided in W.S. 14-2-604; or
(ii) The date of the first hearing in a proceeding to which the signatory is a party before a court to adjudicate an issue relating to the child, including a proceeding that establishes support.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-608 - Challenge After Expiration of Period for Rescission.

14-2-608. Challenge after expiration of period for rescission.
(a) After the period for rescission under W.S. 14-2-607 has expired, a signatory of an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity may commence a proceeding to challenge the acknowledgment or denial only:
(i) On the basis of fraud, duress or material mistake of fact; and
(ii) Within two (2) years after the acknowledgment or denial is filed with the state office of vital records.
(b) A party challenging an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity has the burden of proof.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-609 - Procedure for Rescission or Challenge.

14-2-609. Procedure for rescission or challenge.
(a) Every signatory to an acknowledgment of paternity and any related denial of paternity shall be made a party to a proceeding to rescind or challenge the acknowledgment or denial.
(b) For the purpose of rescission of, or challenge to, an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, a signatory submits to personal jurisdiction of this state by signing the acknowledgment or denial, effective upon the filing of the document with the state office of vital records.
(c) Except for good cause shown, during the pendency of a proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, the court may not suspend the legal responsibilities of a signatory arising from the acknowledgment, including the duty to pay child support.
(d) A proceeding to rescind or to challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity shall be conducted in the same manner as a proceeding to adjudicate parentage under article 8 of this act.
(e) At the conclusion of a proceeding to rescind or challenge an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity, the court shall order the state office of vital records to amend the birth record of the child, if appropriate.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-611 - Full Faith and Credit.

14-2-611. Full faith and credit.
A court of this state shall give full faith and credit to an acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity effective in another state if the acknowledgment or denial has been signed and is otherwise in compliance with the law of the other state.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-612 - Forms for Acknowledgment and Denial of Paternity.

14-2-612. Forms for acknowledgment and denial of paternity.
(a) To facilitate compliance with this article, the state office of vital records shall prescribe forms for the acknowledgment of paternity and the denial of paternity.
(b) A valid acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity is not affected by a later modification of the prescribed form.
(c) Every hospital or birthing center located in the state shall provide to any person who holds himself out to be the natural parent of a child born in the state an affidavit of paternity pursuant to this act. The facility providing the affidavit shall forward the completed affidavit to the state office of vital records. Upon request, the state office of vital records shall provide blank affidavits of paternity to any facility making the request under this subsection.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 6 - Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity › Section 14-2-613 - Release of Information.

14-2-613. Release of information.
The state office of vital records may release information relating to the acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity to a signatory of the acknowledgment or denial, to courts and to the Title IV-D agency of this or another state.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-701 - Scope of Article.

14-2-701. Scope of article.
(a) This article governs genetic testing of an individual to determine parentage, whether the individual:
(i) Voluntarily submits to testing; or
(ii) Is tested pursuant to an order of the court or a child support enforcement agency.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-702 - Order for Testing.

14-2-702. Order for testing.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article and article 8 of this act, the court shall order the child and other designated individuals to submit to genetic testing if the request for testing is supported by the sworn statement of a party to the proceeding:
(i) Alleging paternity and stating facts establishing a reasonable probability of the requisite sexual contact between the individuals; or
(ii) Denying paternity and stating facts establishing a possibility that sexual contact between the individuals, if any, did not result in the conception of the child.
(b) A child support enforcement agency may order genetic testing only if there is no presumed, acknowledged or adjudicated father.
(c) If a request for genetic testing of a child is made before birth, the court or child support enforcement agency may not order in-utero testing.
(d) If two (2) or more men are subject to court-ordered genetic testing, the testing may be ordered concurrently or sequentially.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-703 - Requirements for Genetic Testing.

14-2-703. Requirements for genetic testing.
(a) Genetic testing shall be of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the field of genetic testing and performed in a testing laboratory accredited by:
(i) The American Association of Blood Banks, or a successor to its functions;
(ii) The American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, or a successor to its functions; or
(iii) An accrediting body designated by the United States secretary of health and human services.
(b) A specimen used in genetic testing may consist of one (1) or more samples, or a combination of samples, of blood, buccal cells, bone, hair, or other body tissue or fluid. The specimen used in the testing is not required to be of the same kind for each individual undergoing genetic testing.
(c) Based on the ethnic or racial group of an individual, the testing laboratory shall determine the databases from which to select frequencies for use in calculation of the probability of paternity. If there is disagreement as to the testing laboratory's choice, the following rules apply:
(i) The individual objecting may require the testing laboratory, within thirty (30) days after receipt of the report of the test, to recalculate the probability of paternity using an ethnic or racial group different from that used by the laboratory.
(ii) The individual objecting to the testing laboratory's initial choice shall:
(A) If the frequencies are not available to the testing laboratory for the ethnic or racial group requested, provide the requested frequencies compiled in a manner recognized by accrediting bodies; or
(B) Engage another testing laboratory to perform the calculations.
(iii) The testing laboratory may use its own statistical estimate if there is a question regarding which ethnic or racial group is appropriate. If available, the testing laboratory shall calculate the frequencies using statistics for any other ethnic or racial group requested.
(d) If, after recalculation using a different ethnic or racial group, genetic testing does not rebuttably identify a man as the father of a child under W.S. 14-2-605, an individual who has been tested may be required to submit to additional genetic testing.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-704 - Report of Genetic Testing.

14-2-704. Report of genetic testing.
(a) A report of genetic testing shall be in a record and signed under penalty of perjury by a designee of the testing laboratory. A report made under the requirements of this article is self-authenticating.
(b) Documentation from the testing laboratory of the following information is sufficient to establish a reliable chain of custody that allows the results of genetic testing to be admissible without testimony:
(i) The names and photographs of the individuals whose specimens have been taken;
(ii) The names of the individuals who collected the specimens;
(iii) The places and dates the specimens were collected;
(iv) The names of the individuals who received the specimens in the testing laboratory; and
(v) The dates the specimens were received.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-705 - Genetic Testing Results; Rebuttal.

14-2-705. Genetic testing results; rebuttal.
(a) Under this act, a man is rebuttably identified as the father of a child if the genetic testing complies with this article and the results disclose that:
(i) The man has at least a ninety-nine percent (99%) probability of paternity, using a prior probability of one-half (1/2), as calculated by using the combined paternity index obtained in the testing; and
(ii) A combined paternity index of at least one hundred (100) to one (1).
(b) A man identified under subsection (a) of this section as the father of the child may rebut the genetic testing results only by other genetic testing satisfying the requirements of this article which:
(i) Excludes the man as a genetic father of the child; or
(ii) Identifies another man as the possible father of the child.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in W.S. 14-2-710, if more than one (1) man is identified by genetic testing as the possible father of the child, the court shall order them to submit to further genetic testing to identify the genetic father.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-706 - Costs of Genetic Testing.

14-2-706. Costs of genetic testing.
(a) Subject to assessment of costs under article 7 of this act, the cost of initial genetic testing shall be advanced:
(i) By a child support enforcement agency in a proceeding in which the agency is providing services;
(ii) By the individual who made the request;
(iii) As agreed by the parties; or
(iv) As ordered by the court.
(b) In cases in which the cost is advanced by the child support enforcement agency, the agency may seek reimbursement from a man who is rebuttably identified as the father.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-707 - Additional Genetic Testing.

14-2-707. Additional genetic testing.
The court or the child support enforcement agency shall order additional genetic testing upon the request of a party who contests the result of the original testing. If the previous genetic testing identified a man as the father of the child under W.S. 14-2-705, the court or agency may not order additional testing unless the party provides advance payment for the testing.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-709 - Identical Brothers.

14-2-709. Identical brothers.
(a) The court may order genetic testing of a brother of a man identified as the father of a child if the man is commonly believed to have an identical brother and evidence suggests that the brother may be the genetic father of the child.
(b) If each brother satisfies the requirements as the identified father of the child under W.S. 14-2-705 without consideration of another identical brother being identified as the father of the child, the court may rely on nongenetic evidence to adjudicate which brother is the father of the child.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 7 - Genetic Testing › Section 14-2-710 - Confidentiality of Genetic Testing.

14-2-710. Confidentiality of genetic testing.
(a) In all cases where paternity testing is undertaken, all genetic information, including genetic material and test results, shall be maintained only as long as an accreditation body specified in W.S. 14-2-703 requires such materials to be maintained for accreditation purposes. Thereafter, all materials shall be destroyed or returned to the individual from whom the information was obtained.
(b) No testing shall be conducted on any identifiable genetic material for purposes other than paternity determination without the written consent of the individual from whom the genetic material is obtained.
(c) All information obtained from identifiable genetic material submitted or used for determination of paternity shall be confidential and used solely for the purposes of determining paternity, unless individual identifiers are removed from the data used for purposes other than establishing paternity.
(d) For purposes of this section, "genetic information" means any information about genes, gene products or inherited characteristics that may derive from the individual or a family member, including, but not limited to, information:
(i) Regarding carrier status;
(ii) Regarding an increased likelihood of future disease or increased sensitivity to any substance;
(iii) Derived from laboratory tests that identify mutations in specific genes or chromosomes, physical medical examinations, family histories, requests for genetic services or counseling, tests of gene products and direct analysis of genes or chromosomes.
(e) Release of any information obtained in paternity testing without the written consent of the individual from whom the genetic material is obtained to anyone not directly involved in the paternity determination shall be a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both fine and imprisonment.
(f) An individual who intentionally releases an identifiable specimen of another individual for any purpose other than that relevant to the proceeding regarding parentage without a court order or the written permission of the individual who furnished the specimen commits a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both fine and imprisonment.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-802 - Standing to Maintain Proceeding.

14-2-802. Standing to maintain proceeding.
(a) Subject to article 5 of this act and W.S. 14-2-807 and 14-2-809, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be maintained by:
(i) The child;
(ii) The mother of the child;
(iii) A man whose paternity of the child is to be adjudicated;
(iv) The child support enforcement agency;
(v) An authorized adoption agency or licensed child-placing agency; or
(vi) A representative authorized by law to act for an individual who would otherwise be entitled to maintain a proceeding but who is deceased, incapacitated or a minor.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-803 - Parties to Proceeding.

14-2-803. Parties to proceeding.
(a) The following individuals shall be joined as parties in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage:
(i) The mother of the child; and
(ii) A man whose paternity of the child is to be adjudicated.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-804 - Personal Jurisdiction.

14-2-804. Personal jurisdiction.
(a) An individual may not be adjudicated to be a parent unless the court has personal jurisdiction over the individual.
(b) A court of this state having jurisdiction to adjudicate parentage may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual, or the guardian or conservator of the individual, if the conditions prescribed in W.S. 20-4-142 are met.
(c) Lack of jurisdiction over one (1) individual does not preclude the court from making an adjudication of parentage binding on another individual over whom the court has personal jurisdiction.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-805 - Venue.

14-2-805. Venue.
(a) Venue for a proceeding to adjudicate parentage is in the county of this state in which:
(i) The child resides or is found;
(ii) The respondent resides or is found if the child does not reside in this state; or
(iii) A proceeding for probate or administration of the presumed or alleged father's estate has been commenced.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-806 - No Limitation; Child Having No Presumed, Acknowledged or Adjudicated Father.

14-2-806. No limitation; child having no presumed, acknowledged or adjudicated father.
(a) A proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child having no presumed, acknowledged or adjudicated father may be commenced at any time, even after:
(i) The child becomes an adult but only if the child initiates the proceeding; or
(ii) An earlier proceeding to adjudicate paternity has been dismissed based on the application of a statute of limitation then in effect.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-807 - Limitation; Child Having Presumed Father.

14-2-807. Limitation; child having presumed father.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a proceeding brought by a presumed father, the mother, or another individual to adjudicate the parentage of a child having a presumed father shall be commenced within a reasonable time after obtaining knowledge of relevant facts, but in no event later than five (5) years after the child's birth.
(b) A proceeding seeking to disprove the father-child relationship between a child and the child's presumed father may be maintained at any time if the court determines that:
(i) The presumed father and the mother of the child neither cohabited nor engaged in sexual intercourse with each other during the probable time of conception; and
(ii) The presumed father never openly held out the child as his own.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-808 - Authority to Deny Motion for Genetic Testing.

14-2-808. Authority to deny motion for genetic testing.
(a) In a proceeding to adjudicate the parentage of a child having a presumed father or to challenge the paternity of a child having an acknowledged father, the court may deny a motion seeking an order for genetic testing of the mother, the child and the presumed or acknowledged father if the court determines that:
(i) The conduct of the mother or the presumed or acknowledged father estops that party from denying parentage; and
(ii) It would be inequitable to disprove the father-child relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father.
(b) In determining whether to deny a motion seeking an order for genetic testing under this section, the court shall consider the best interest of the child, including the following factors:
(i) The length of time between the proceeding to adjudicate parentage and the time that the presumed or acknowledged father was placed on notice that he might not be the genetic father;
(ii) The length of time during which the presumed or acknowledged father has assumed the role of father of the child;
(iii) The facts surrounding the presumed or acknowledged father's discovery of his possible nonpaternity;
(iv) The nature of the relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father;
(v) The age of the child;
(vi) The harm that may result to the child if presumed or acknowledged paternity is successfully disproved;
(vii) The nature of the relationship between the child and any alleged father;
(viii) The extent to which the passage of time reduces the chances of establishing the paternity of another man and a child support obligation in favor of the child; and
(ix) Other factors that may affect the equities arising from the disruption of the father-child relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father or the chance of other harm to the child.
(c) In a proceeding involving the application of this section, a minor or incapacitated child shall be represented by a guardian ad litem.
(d) Denial of a motion seeking an order for genetic testing shall be based on clear and convincing evidence.
(e) If the court denies a motion seeking an order for genetic testing, it shall issue an order adjudicating the presumed father to be the father of the child.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-809 - Limitation; Child Having Acknowledged or Adjudicated Father.

14-2-809. Limitation; child having acknowledged or adjudicated father.
(a) If a child has an acknowledged father, a signatory to the acknowledgment of paternity or denial of paternity may commence a proceeding seeking to rescind the acknowledgement or denial or challenge the paternity of the child only within the time allowed under W.S. 14-2-607 or 14-2-608.
(b) If a child has an acknowledged father or an adjudicated father, an individual, other than the child, who is neither a signatory to the acknowledgment of paternity nor a party to the adjudication and who seeks an adjudication of paternity of the child shall commence a proceeding not later than two (2) years after the effective date of the acknowledgment or adjudication.
(c) A proceeding under this section is subject to the application of the principles of estoppel established under W.S. 14-2-808.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-810 - Joinder of Proceedings.

14-2-810. Joinder of proceedings.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may be joined with a proceeding for adoption, termination of parental rights, child custody or visitation, child support, divorce, annulment, legal separation or separate maintenance, probate or administration of an estate or other appropriate proceeding.
(b) A respondent may not join a proceeding described in subsection (a) of this section with a proceeding to adjudicate parentage brought under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-811 - Proceeding Before Birth.

14-2-811. Proceeding before birth.
(a) A proceeding to determine parentage may be commenced before the birth of the child, but may not be concluded until after the birth of the child. The following actions may be taken before the birth of the child:
(i) Service of process;
(ii) Discovery; and
(iii) Except as prohibited by W.S. 14-2-702, collection of specimens for genetic testing.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-812 - Child as Party; Representation.

14-2-812. Child as party; representation.
(a) A minor child is a permissible party, but is not a necessary party to a proceeding under this article.
(b) The court shall appoint an attorney to represent the best interest of a minor or incapacitated child if the child is a party or the court finds that the interests of the child are not adequately represented.
2023 Wyoming Statutes › Title 14 - Children › Chapter 2 - Parents › Article 8 - Proceeding to Adjudicate Parentage › Section 14-2-813 - Admissibility of Results of Genetic Testing; Expenses.

14-2-813. Admissibility of results of genetic testing; expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a record of a genetic testing expert is admissible as evidence of the truth of the facts asserted in the report unless a party objects to its admission within fourteen (14) days after its receipt by the objecting party and cites specific grounds for exclusion. The admissibility of the report is not affected by whether the testing was performed:
(i) Voluntarily or pursuant to an order of the court or a child support enforcement agency; or
(ii) Before or after the commencement of the proceeding.
(b) A party objecting to the results of genetic testing may call one (1) or more genetic testing experts to testify in person or by telephone, videoconference, deposition or another method approved by the court. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the party offering the testimony bears the expense for the expert testifying.
(c) If a child has a presumed, acknowledged or adjudicated father, the results of genetic testing are inadmissible to adjudicate parentage unless performed:
(i) With the consent of both the mother and the presumed, acknowledged or adjudicated father; or
(ii) Pursuant to an order of the court under W.S. 14-2-702.
(d) Copies of bills for genetic testing and for prenatal and postnatal health care for the mother and child which are furnished to the adverse party not less than ten (10) days before the date of a hearing are admissible to establish:
(i) The amount of the charges billed; and
(ii) That the charges were reasonable, necessary and customary.