What happens if the adoption is contested in Wyoming?

If your stepparent adoption is contested in Wyoming, the case is still handled in the District Court, and the outcome depends on the specific facts of your family, especially the objecting parent's overall conduct toward the child. A contest simply means a parent opposes the adoption rather than agreeing to it.

Where the case is heard: Adoption proceedings in Wyoming begin with a petition filed in District Court (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-104(a)). Hearings in adoption proceedings are closed unless the court orders otherwise (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-105), so the details of your family's situation are not played out in an open courtroom by default.

How abandonment fits in: If a parent's objection raises the question of abandonment, Wyoming does not set a fixed number of months. Under Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-110, abandonment depends on the parent's overall conduct. There is no simple calendar test, such as "no contact for a set number of months," that settles it. How the court weighs a particular parent's contact, support and involvement is a fact-specific question for an attorney.

Other pieces that still apply:

• Residency: The adopting person must have lived in Wyoming for 60 days immediately before filing (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-103).
• Your child's voice: Wyoming's child consent age is 14 (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-109). If your child is 14 or older, their consent is part of the case.
• Home study: Wyoming waives the home study in stepparent adoptions (Wyo. Stat. § 1-22-111(a)(ii)).

Timing: Stepparent adoptions in Wyoming typically take 3-6 months. A contested case may not follow that pattern. Because an objection can change the steps involved, the District Court clerk in your county can tell you how the process works locally, and an attorney can tell you how it may apply to your situation.

When to bring in an attorney: Contested cases turn on facts, such as the other parent's history with your child and what each side can show the court. For that reason, it makes sense to speak with a Wyoming family law attorney about the contest itself, including whether they offer help limited to a hearing. The clerk's office can answer questions about filing procedures and local requirements, but it cannot advise you on strategy.

Practical steps while you decide:

• Write down the timeline of the other parent's contact and involvement with your child.
• Keep copies of anything you have filed or received from the court.
• Ask the clerk what notice and response steps apply in your county.
• Talk with your child's other parent only in ways you are comfortable with, and consider