Detailed Answer — first step and the investigation process

The single best first step is to identify the exact parcel on public records and pull the recorded deed(s) and tax records for that parcel at the county level where the land sits. That initial search usually answers who currently holds legal title, and points you to the documents you will need to resolve any uncertainty.

Why start at the county (assessor/recorder) level?

In Wyoming, most ownership evidence lives in two county offices:

• The county assessor’s office maintains parcel maps, tax parcel numbers, and property descriptions. Use it to convert a general description (for example, “north 10 acres of the farm”) into a legal parcel ID.
• The county clerk/recorder (or clerk of district court in some counties) holds recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, and many probate filings. Recording creates the public chain of title you need to trace ownership.

Practical first-step checklist (do this now)

1. Identify the county where the land lies. If you don’t know the exact county, use any address, road name, or GPS coordinates you have to narrow it down.
2. Contact the county assessor online or by phone to find the parcel number and current tax record. Many assessors publish searchable maps and parcel records online; start with the Wyoming Department of Revenue county assessor links: https://revenue.wyo.gov/.
3. Use the parcel number or legal description to search the county recorder’s records for the most recent deed. Request (or download) a copy of the deed that conveys the disputed portion. The recorder’s office will also show prior deeds, easements, and liens.
4. Trace the chain of title backward from the current deed to your grandfather’s deed. A chain of title shows each transfer — who sold or gave the land to whom, and when.
5. If your grandfather owned the land and is deceased, check the probate records in the county where he lived or where the property is located. Probate filings will show how the estate was distributed and whether title passed by will, intestacy (no will), or other means.

What you’ll learn from these records

The documents above will tell you:

• Who appears on the public record as the current owner;
• Whether the land was conveyed out of your grandfather’s estate (by deed, sale, or distribution in probate);
• Any recorded subdivisions, plats, easements, mortgages, or liens that affect the portion in question;
• Potential problems — missing deeds, ambiguous legal descriptions, or conflicting transfers that suggest you may need a deeper title search or legal action.

Relevant Wyoming law and where to look

Wyoming’s recording and property rules are in the Wyoming statutes. For general property and recording principles see the Wyoming Legislature statutes portal: https://wyoleg.gov/Statutes. Title 34 covers real and personal property; you can review the property provisions at the Legislature’s title 34 material: https://wyoleg.gov/Statutes/compress/title34.pdf.

Common follow-up issues and next actions

• If the deed chain is clear and the recorded owner matches your expectation, you are done for now. Keep copies of the deeds and the parcel number for future reference.
• If the records are incomplete, ambiguous, or show transfers you don’t recognize, you likely need a full title search. Title companies can run formal searches; attorneys can both search and advise.
• If someone else claims ownership and you believe your grandfather (or his heirs) still owned the portion, legal remedies may include a quiet title action, partition (if multiple owners share a parcel), or probate-based claims. Wyoming procedures for court actions and probate are handled through the state courts: https://www.courts.state.wy.us/.
• If the land has been used openly by a neighbor for a long time, investigate adverse possession rules — those can sometimes transfer ownership without a deed, depending on the facts and statutory period. See Title 34 and related statutes referenced above for details.

When to involve a professional

Consider hiring a Wyoming-licensed attorney or a reputable title company if any of the following apply:

• Deeds contain ambiguous or conflicting legal descriptions;
• Probate files are missing or show contradictory distributions;
• Someone claims ownership and you cannot reconcile that claim from public records;
• You need to file a court action (quiet title, partition, or probate petition).

Title professionals and attorneys can also advise on how Wyoming recording rules affect your rights and whether a quiet title action or other remedy is needed under Wyoming law.

Helpful Hints

• Start with the parcel number from the county assessor. It makes all later searches far faster.
• Bring (or have ready) any documents you have: old deeds, the property tax bill, surveys, plat maps, or probate paperwork.
• Record searches are chronological. If you see a transfer that moves the disputed portion out of your grandfather’s chain, follow that transfer back — it usually shows who got the property and why.
• Check for plats and surveys. A deed’s legal description (metes and bounds or lot/block) is how courts and recorders identify a specific portion; a survey resolves ambiguous physical descriptions.
• Ask the county recorder whether their records are indexed by grantor/grantee names and parcel number — many offices allow online searches now, but older records may require an in-person visit or a records request.
• If you find a deed but it was never recorded, recordation affects notice to third parties. Recording a properly executed deed is critical — an attorney can explain the recording consequences in your situation.
• Keep copies of everything and record your own chain-of-title notes. A short timeline of transfers often reveals the path of ownership more quickly than isolated documents.
• If a neighbor claims a portion by long use, gather photos, tax receipts, or witness statements showing possession and the time period — these facts are essential if adverse possession might apply.