Big Horn County, Wyoming: Small Claims for a Security Deposit

Limits: $6,000 (Circuit Court small claims only). Court: Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial District, Big Horn County, State of Wyoming (Basin) - Basin.

Filing facts

State small claims limits	$6,000 (Circuit Court small claims only)
Statewide filing fee	Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory
E-filing	Not verified
Time limit to sue in Wyoming	10 years.
State deposit return deadline	30 calendar days after termination of the rental agreement. ordinary path; or 15 days after receipt of the renter mailing address if that is later; return is without interest. 15 calendar days after receipt of the renter's new mailing address. applies when this date is later than 30 days after termination; statutory rule is the later of 30 days after termination or 15 days after new address. 60 calendar days after termination of the rental agreement (30-day base extended by 30 days). there is damage to the residential rental unit (period extended by 30 days).
Penalty formula	if owner or agent unreasonably fails to comply with deposit return/itemization or utilities-deposit rules: renter may recover the full deposit and court costs; if renter brings action unreasonably and owner prevails, owner may be awarded court costs. Bad faith required: No.
Deposit statute	Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 1-21-1207 to 1-21-1208

Where to file

Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial District, Big Horn County, State of Wyoming (Basin) - Basin

Courthouse city: Basin

Some counties have more than one small claims court, and venue rules differ by state; check which court hears your claim on the court's official page or with the clerk.

State court directory

Court page checked 2026-09-20

See how to file in Wyoming for the state filing procedure.

Rent and deposits in Big Horn County

County median gross rent: $876 per month.

County median gross rent by bedroom count
Bedrooms	Monthly rent
1 bedroom	$445
2 bedrooms	$794
3 bedrooms	$918
4 bedrooms	$1,104

Rent estimates for the other bedroom sizes were suppressed or not published by the Census Bureau.

Illustrative deposit example computed from the county median rent: one month of the Census two-bedroom median is $794; two months is $1,588. This is an example computed from the county median, not a legal cap or a survey of deposits. The calculations below use the one-month deposit of $794.

State legal maximum deposit in Wyoming: No statutory cap. Rental agreement must state whether any portion of a deposit is nonrefundable, and written notice of nonrefundability must be given when the deposit is taken (W.S. 1-21-1207).

Total households in Big Horn County: 4,357.

Renter households: 993 (22.8% of all households).

Renters spending more than half their household income on rent: 22.2%. A delayed deposit refund can leave these households with less money for their next rent payment.

County rent and household source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, tables B25064, B25031, B25003, B25070. Accessed 2026-09-21.

Will my deposit claim fit the limit?

Using the county Census figure: two-bedroom median gross rent for Big Horn County, $794 per month.

The deposit range does not include penalties, interest, or other amounts you may claim.

Compared with $6,000 (Circuit Court small claims only), the whole deposit range fits.

A claim above the applicable limit must either be reduced to that limit or go to a different court.

Towns this court serves

A deposit claim is usually filed where the property sits or where the landlord is.

Basin
Burlington
Byron
Cowley
Deaver
Frannie
Greybull
Lovell
Manderson

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census place-to-county relationship file.

Statewide help

Legal Aid of Wyoming
Free civil legal assistance for eligible low-income Wyoming residents, including landlord-tenant and eviction matters.
Phone: (877) 432-9955

These are independent organisations, not DemandLetterLab.

From letter to filing

Send a Wyoming security deposit demand letter stating the deposit amount supported by your records. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
Before you file: review the deposit return deadlines above and allow the typical response window of 30 days after your letter.
Time limit to sue in Wyoming: 10 years.
Check the court's filing instructions. Keep your lease, payment records, photos, letter, and proof of delivery ready.

This template uses Wyoming law. Your county decides where you file, not which law applies.

Choose how to send your letter

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We write the letter from the facts you send, mail it by USPS Certified Mail with tracking, and send you the tracking number and a PDF record of what was sent.

Mailed within 2 business days of your completed form, or a full refund.

Document preparation and mailing, not legal advice. We do not assess your claim, choose a strategy, or promise a recovery.

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A print-ready PDF of the Wyoming letter template, ready to download after payment.

Certified-mail instructions: what to ask for at the counter and what it costs.
Wyoming small-claims details: the limit, the deadline to sue, and where to file.

You fill in the template, print it, and pay postage. The same letter template is also available free by email below. The kit adds the print-ready PDF, mailing guide, and local details in one place.

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Free Wyoming template, built from verified state data

Methodology: every statute verified against primary sources. See how verification works.

I rented [rental property address] from [lease start date] to [move-out date]. I paid a security deposit of $[amount]. I returned the keys on [date] and gave you my forwarding address in writing on [date]. Under Wyoming law (Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 1-21-1207 to 1-21-1208), a landlord must return the deposit or respond in writing within [30 calendar days / 15 calendar days / 60 calendar days, see the note above] after [the event listed in the note above].

FAQ

How much does it cost to file in Big Horn County?

Statewide filing fee: Set by the court; call the clerk or check the court page. State court directory

How long do I have to sue?

Time limit to sue in Wyoming: 10 years.

Where do I file?

Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial District, Big Horn County, State of Wyoming (Basin) - Basin. Courthouse city: Basin. Check the court's instructions for the right filing location.