Detailed answer: How to establish you are your father’s child for inheritance in Wyoming

If your father’s name is not on your birth certificate, you can still prove he is your parent for the purpose of inheriting from him. Under Wyoming law, courts can establish parentage (paternity/maternity) through a variety of evidence and procedures. Once parentage is legally established, you can claim an inheritance either through probate (if your father left a will) or under Wyoming’s intestate succession rules (if he did not).

Step-by-step overview

1. Gather evidence now. Collect everything that suggests a parent-child relationship: letters or cards showing parental relationship, photographs, evidence the father acknowledged you in life (public statements, school or medical records listing him as parent), proof of financial support, insurance or benefit records, and any contemporaneous documents that refer to him as your father.
2. Consider an acknowledgement of paternity. If the father is alive and willing, he can sign a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity or sign forms to amend the birth certificate. The Wyoming Department of Health, Vital Records handles birth certificate amendments and provides procedures to add a father’s name when both parents agree or when there is proof. See Wyoming Vital Records for procedures: https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/vitalrecords/.
3. Use DNA testing if needed. DNA (genetic) testing provides powerful scientific proof of parentage. Courts in Wyoming routinely accept the results of accredited genetic tests as evidence. Tests can be voluntary (private lab) or court-ordered. If the father is deceased, genetic testing may still be possible using the father’s stored DNA (medical samples) or testing of close relatives (siblings, the father’s parents) to establish biological relationship.
4. File a parentage action in Wyoming district court if voluntary methods fail. If the father will not voluntarily acknowledge paternity or if you need an official legal finding, you can file a petition in the appropriate Wyoming district court asking the court to determine parentage. In that proceeding you can ask the court to order genetic testing, admit documentary evidence, and make a legal finding of parentage that can then be used in probate or estate proceedings.
5. Use the parentage judgment in probate (or intestacy) proceedings. If your father died without a will, Wyoming’s probate system distributes his estate to heirs according to state intestacy rules. A court judgment declaring you to be a child of the decedent is the key document probate courts accept to recognize your heir status. If there is a will that omits you but you believe you are a child entitled to a share, a court finding of parentage is also the route to enforce inheritance rights.
6. If your father is deceased, act quickly to protect rights. Probate has timelines (for filing claims or opening estate matters) that vary by county and estate type. When in doubt, file a petition to open probate or file a claim with the personal representative and notify the court of your parentage claim so you do not lose rights by delay.

How a Wyoming court will evaluate the evidence

A Wyoming court will consider a mix of evidence: genetic test results, documentary proof (records that list the father), testimony from witnesses, and any written acknowledgments. If DNA establishes a biological relationship, courts typically enter an order declaring parentage. If DNA is unavailable (for example, because the decedent’s DNA cannot be obtained), courts may rely more heavily on circumstantial and documentary evidence showing that the decedent treated or represented themselves as your parent.

Official steps and places to file

• Contact Wyoming Vital Records if you seek to amend a birth certificate: https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/vitalrecords/.
• File a parentage (paternity) or probate petition in the district court for the county where the decedent lived or where the estate is being administered. Wyoming court forms and filing information are available from the Wyoming Judicial Branch: https://www.courts.state.wy.us/.
• Research Wyoming statutes and rules that govern parentage and probate on the Wyoming Legislature’s statutes site: https://wyoleg.gov/statutes. Relevant topics include statutes on parentage, probate procedure, and intestate succession (look under the Titles for family/parentage and probate/estates).

Typical timeline and costs

Timelines vary. Voluntary acknowledgment and private DNA testing can be quick (weeks). Court actions—parentage or probate—often take months depending on complexity and whether someone contests parentage. Costs include court filing fees, lawyer fees, and laboratory charges for genetic testing. Courts can order genetic testing costs split between parties in contested cases.

Practical examples (hypothetical)

Example A: Father alive and cooperative — you both sign forms and apply to amend the birth certificate through Vital Records. You file a simple affidavit or acknowledgement and then use the amended certificate to participate in probate or claim benefits.

Example B: Father deceased and biological evidence available — you obtain DNA from a stored medical sample or test the father’s close relatives; the lab report plus a court petition yields a judicial finding of parentage that the estate accepts.

Example C: No DNA available — you present contemporaneous letters, official records (tax, school, insurance), witness testimony, and proof the deceased acted as your parent; the court weighs this circumstantial evidence and may find parentage if the proof is convincing.

Helpful hints

• Start collecting records now. Vital documents and contemporaneous evidence are often the deciding factor if DNA is not available.
• Consider DNA early. It is usually the clearest and fastest way to settle disputes about biological parentage.
• If the father is cooperative, use a voluntary acknowledgement or birth certificate amendment to avoid litigation.
• If the father is deceased, look for medical records, military records, insurance policies, Social Security records, or other documents that may contain identifying information or proof of relationship.
• Don’t miss probate deadlines. If an estate is open or you learn of a probate proceeding, notify the personal representative or the court immediately about your claim as a potential heir.
• Work with a probate or family law attorney. They can file the right petitions, obtain court-ordered testing, protect deadlines, and present evidence effectively to a judge.
• Use the Wyoming Bar’s lawyer referral resources to find a local attorney: https://www.wyomingbar.org/.
• Keep communications professional and documented. Save emails, certified mail receipts, and any signed statements.