How to Present Evidence in Wyoming Small Claims Court

Wyoming small claims hearings are informal bench trials, but "informal" doesn't mean "show up with a story and hope for the best." The judge still decides based on evidence, and the way you organize and present documents directly affects whether you walk out with a judgment.

The Three-Copy Rule

Wyoming courts require three complete sets of every document you plan to present:

• Set 1: Handed to the judge
• Set 2: Given to the opposing party
• Set 3: Your working copy for reference during testimony

All three sets must be identical — same documents in the same order. If you're presenting a contract, three invoices, a demand letter, and six photos, each set contains all of those items, collated and labeled.

Show up with one disorganized stack of originals, and you'll spend your hearing time shuffling papers while the judge waits. Worse, the opposing party can object that they haven't had a chance to review documents they're seeing for the first time.

What Evidence to Bring

The type of evidence depends on the claim, but the categories are consistent across dispute types:

Written agreements. Signed contracts, leases, invoices, purchase orders, written estimates. If the deal was partly in writing and partly verbal, bring whatever written component exists.

Payment records. Canceled checks, bank transfer confirmations, credit card statements, Venmo/Zelle receipts showing the transaction. These prove what money changed hands and when.

Communications. Text messages, emails, letters — anything showing what was agreed, what was demanded, and what was refused. Print these out; don't plan to show the judge your phone screen. For text messages, screenshots printed on paper with dates visible work best.

Visual proof. Dated photographs of property damage, defective work, or the condition of a rental unit. Include repair estimates from independent qualified third parties — not just your own assessment of what repairs cost.

Demand letter and delivery proof. A copy of your demand letter plus the certified mail return receipt (green card) or proof of delivery. This shows the judge you attempted to resolve the dispute before filing.

How the Hearing Works

The Circuit Court judge runs the proceeding directly. There's no jury in small claims. Strict rules of evidence do not apply under Small Claims Rule 6, and W.S. § 1-21-205 provides for an informal hearing.

The judge typically:

1. Asks the plaintiff to describe the claim and present evidence
2. Asks the defendant to respond and present their side
3. Asks follow-up questions directly — judges are active participants, not passive observers
4. May review documents during the hearing or take the case under advisement

You tell your story in plain language. No legal terminology required. When you reference a document, hand the judge their copy from Set 1 and point to the specific part that supports your point.

Witnesses

If someone saw what happened or has relevant knowledge, they can testify in person. Witnesses don't need to be experts — a neighbor who saw the property damage, a friend who was present during a verbal agreement, an independent contractor who provided a repair estimate.

If a witness won't come voluntarily, apply to the Circuit Court clerk for a subpoena at least 5 days before the trial date. You'll need to cover statutory attendance and mileage fees for the witness.

Attorneys and Representation

An attorney may appear in Wyoming small claims court. If one party has an attorney, the other party is entitled to a continuance to obtain one under W.S. § 1-21-202(b). Corporate entities (LLCs, corporations) can appear through an authorized officer or full-time employee without counsel, but they need written corporate authorization.

If the Other Side Doesn't Show

When the defendant was properly served but fails to appear, you can request a default judgment. But it's not automatic — the judge still puts you under oath and requires you to present evidence proving your claim and the exact damages. You also need to file a military-status affidavit stating whether the defendant is in military service and facts supporting the statement, or that you cannot determine the defendant's status, under 50 U.S.C. § 3931(b)(1).

Default hearings are shorter but they still require the same evidence preparation. Don't assume a no-show means a rubber stamp.

For a hearing-day evidence organizer with exhibit labels, a testimony outline template, and the complete three-set document system formatted for Wyoming courts, get the filing toolkit.

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