Are Autopsy Reports Public in Wyoming? (2026 Guide)

Wyoming autopsy reports are not freely public records. The full autopsy and toxicology report is released only to the legal next of kin, while a limited "public information docket" becomes available to anyone after the coroner closes the case. Wyoming uses an elected county coroner in each county rather than a state medical examiner.

Are Autopsy Reports Public in Wyoming?

No, a full Wyoming autopsy report is not an open public record. Access to the complete autopsy and toxicology findings is limited to the legal next of kin or their authorized representative.

Wyoming coroners do release a narrower document called a public information docket. Under Wyoming Statutes section 7-4-105(a), that docket is a public record and can be requested by anyone once the case investigation is finished.

The docket summarizes the case outcome, such as the manner of death and verdict. It is not the same as the detailed autopsy report, which contains protected medical and toxicology information.

If you want to understand how this fits the broader national picture, see our overview of whether Are Autopsies Public Records?

Who Performs Autopsies in Wyoming?

Wyoming uses a county-based coroner system. There is no statewide medical examiner office. Instead, each of Wyoming's 23 counties has its own coroner, who is an elected official serving a four-year term under Wyoming Statutes section 7-4-101.

The coroner does not personally perform the autopsy. When a postmortem examination is needed, the coroner appoints a physician (typically a forensic pathologist) to conduct it under W.S. 7-4-201.

An autopsy is not ordered for every death. A coroner's case generally involves a sudden, violent, suspicious, accidental, or unexplained death, including suicides, overdoses, unattended deaths, deaths in custody, and unidentified bodies, as described in W.S. 7-4-104.

The coroner or the appointed physician decides whether an autopsy is necessary. A district attorney may also order an autopsy when a death appears to involve unlawful means, violence, or an unknown cause under W.S. 7-4-209.

Who Can Request a Wyoming Autopsy Report?

The full autopsy report is released to the legal next of kin. County coroner offices define next of kin as a surviving spouse, adult children, parents, a legal guardian, or a personal representative of the estate with written authorization, along with their attorneys.

Law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, and other authorized investigative bodies can also obtain reports as part of their official duties. A treating physician or insurer generally needs written authorization from the family.

The general public cannot obtain the detailed autopsy and toxicology report. Members of the public are limited to the public information docket once the case is closed.

Misuse of restricted coroner information carries penalties under W.S. 7-4-105(m), including possible imprisonment up to six months and a fine up to $1,000.

How to Get an Autopsy or Toxicology Report in Wyoming

Send your request to the county coroner's office in the county where the death occurred, because there is no central state office. Wyoming's system is decentralized, so each county handles its own records.

Most coroner offices use a records request form. You typically submit it by email, fax, mail, or in person, along with a copy of a government-issued photo ID and proof of your relationship to the deceased.

Fees are set by each county commission under Wyoming Statutes section 16-4-204(c), so the exact charge for copies depends on the county. Contact the coroner's office directly for its current fee schedule and processing time.

If you request a report while the investigation is still open, the office will not release it immediately. Coroner offices document the request and hold it, then process it after the case is completed or adjudicated. Toxicology results in particular can take weeks or months to finalize.

Autopsy Report vs Death Certificate in Wyoming

An autopsy report and a death certificate are two different documents. The death certificate is the short legal record of the death and includes a cause-of-death line completed by the certifying coroner or physician.

The autopsy report is a detailed forensic and medical document. It describes the examination findings, internal observations, and toxicology testing that support the cause and manner of death.

In Wyoming, certified death certificates are issued by the Wyoming Department of Health Vital Statistics Services and are restricted to qualified applicants. The full autopsy report is held by the county coroner and limited to next of kin.

For death certificate eligibility, ordering steps, and fees, see our Wyoming Death Records guide, or browse the national Death Records by State hub.

Wyoming Autopsy Report Facts

Disclaimer: This page provides general information about Wyoming autopsy and coroner records and is not legal advice. Records procedures, fees, and access rules vary by county and can change. Always confirm requirements directly with the relevant county coroner's office before relying on this information.

Sources

This guide draws on Wyoming Statutes Title 7, Chapter 4, the CDC coroner/medical examiner law profile for Wyoming, and Wyoming county coroner records-request guidance.