Travel Directions

Each of Vermont's 14 counties has a Family Court. The court is responsible for all family related legal matters. Types of cases heard in Family Court include:

• Marriage related - divorce, annulment, desertion and separation
• Child Support
• Parentage
• Orders of Protection for Victims of Domestic Abuse
• Juvenile - children who are delinquent, unmanageable, abused or neglected
• Commitments to the Vermont State Hospital

Many cases involve requests to modify previous court orders. For example, a parent who was given custody of children in a divorce may ask the court to increase the child support payments made by the non-custodial parent.

Many people represent themselves in Family Court. To help litigants through the court process, Family Court staff conduct training sessions on a regular basis and have developed extensive educational materials. Case managers coordinate court services and may refer litigants to social service agencies when needed.

All Family Court matters except for child support are primarily decided by the Presiding Family Court judge. Child support orders are the responsibility of Family Court magistrates. There are no jury trials in Family Court.

District Court judges, Superior Court judges, Family Court magistrates and assistant judges sit in Family Court. Trial Court law clerks perform the legal research necessary to help judges reach well-informed decisions. Family Court Managers and their staff are responsible for the daily operations of the Court.

ADDISON FAMILY COURT
7 Mahady Court · Middlebury, VT 05753 · (802) 388-4605

Honorable Helen Toor, Presiding Judge
Honorable Shelley Gartner, Magistrate
Vacant, Assistant Judge
Honorable Frank Broughton, Assistant Judge
Honorable Betsy Gossens, Assistant Judge
Chip Epperson, Court Manager
Anne Williams, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

BENNINGTON FAMILY COURT
150 Veterans Memorial Drive · Bennington, VT 05201 · (802) 447-2729

Honorable David Suntag, Presiding Judge
Honorable Shelley Gartner, Magistrate
Honorable Wesley Mook Assistant Judge
Honorable James Colvin, Assistant Judge
Mary Frost, Court Manager
Jane Martin, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

CALEDONIA FAMILY COURT
1126 Main St· Suite 1 · St. Johnsbury, VT 05819 · (802) 748-6600

Honorable Harold E. Eaton, Jr., Presiding Judge
Honorable Barbara Zander, Magistrate
Honorable Roy C. Vance, Assistant Judge
Honorable William P. Kennedy, Assistant Judge
Kathleen Pearl, Court Manager
Linda M. Pakus, Deputy Court Manager
Karen Ackermann, Child Support Case Manager

Court Calendar

CHITTENDEN FAMILY COURT
32 Cherry Street, Suite 200 · Burlington, VT 05401 · (802) 651-1709

Honorable Geoffrey Crawford, Presiding Judge
Honorable James Crucitti, Judge
Honorable Gregory Rainville, Judge
Honorable Christina Reiss, Judge
Honorable Linda Levitt, Judge
Honorable Mark Keller, Judge

Honorable Martin Maley, Magistrate
Magistrate Mary Harlow, Magistrate
Honorable Elizabeth Gretkowski, Assistant Judge
Honorable Thomas Crowley, Assistant Judge
Christine Brock, Court Manager
Theresa Davidson, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

ESSEX FAMILY COURT
P.O. Box 75 · 75 Courthouse Dr. · Guildhall, VT 05905 · (802) 676-3910

Honorable Thomas Zonay, Presiding Judge
Honorable  Barbara Zander, Magistrate
Honorable Allen Hodgdon, Assistant Judge
Honorable Calvin Colby, Assistant Judge
Cynthia Mundell, Court Manager/Case Manager

Court Calendar

FRANKLIN FAMILY COURT
36 Lake Street · St. Albans, VT 05478 · (802) 524-7997

Honorable Howard VanBenthuysen, Presiding Judge
Honorable Teresa Manahan, Assistant Judge
Honorable Roberta (Bobbie) Allard, Assistant Judge
Gaye Paquette, Court Manager

Court Calendar

GRAND ISLE FAMILY COURT
P.O. Box 7· 3677 US Route 2 · North Hero, VT 05474 · (802) 372-8350

Honorable Ben Joseph, Presiding Judge
Honorable Martin Maley, Magistrate
Honorable Sherri Potvin, Assistant Judge
Honorable Andrew N. deTreville, Assistant Judge
Sherry Britton, Court Manager
Evanthia Hill, Deputy Court Manager/Case Manager

Court Calendar

LAMOILLE FAMILY COURT
P.O. Box 489 · 154 Main Street · Hyde Park, VT 05655-0489 · (802) 888-3887

Honorable Brian Grearson, Presiding Judge
Honorable Martin Maley, Magistrate
Honorable Karen Bradley, Assistant Judge
Honorable David A. Williams, Assistant Judge
Sharon Anderson, Court Manager
Sally Ward, Deputy Court Manager
Cathy S. Wilson, Case Manager

Court Calendar

ORANGE FAMILY COURT
5 Court St. · Chelsea, VT 05038 · (802) 685-4610

Honorable Theresa DiMauro, Presiding Judge
Honorable Mary Harlow, Magistrate
Honorable Prudence Pease, Assistant Judge
Vacant, Assistant Judge
Court Manager Penelope C. Carrier
Sabra Sutton, Deputy Court Manager
Denise Gladding, Case Manager

Court Calendar

ORLEANS FAMILY COURT
247 Main Street, Suite 1 · Newport, VT 05855 · (802) 334-3305

Honorable Robert Bent, Presiding Judge
Honorable Barbara Zander, Magistrate
Honorable Benjamin M. Batchelder, Assistant Judge
Honorable Robert Goodby, Assistant Judge
Laura Dolgin, Court Manager
Therese Tanguay, Deputy Court Manager
Tracey Sweeney, Case Manager

Court Calendar

RUTLAND FAMILY COURT
9 Merchants Row · Rutland, VT 05701 · (802) 786-5856

Honorable Nancy Corsones, Presiding Judge
Honorable Shelley Gartner, Magistrate
Honorable Marlene R. Burke, Assistant Judge
Honorable Jean Coloutti, Assistant Judge
Laurie Canty, Court Manager
Diane Henderson, Deputy Court Manager
Jennifer Gonsalves, Case Manager
 

Court Calendar

WASHINGTON FAMILY COURT
255 North Main Street, Suite 3 · Barre VT 05641 · (802) 479-4205

Honorable Thomas Devine, Presiding Judge
Honorable Barbara Zander, Magistrate
Honorable Barney Bloom, Assistant Judge
Honorable Michael R. Zimmerman, Assistant Judge
Elizabeth R. Battey, Court Manager
Cindy Foster, Deputy Court Manager
Elizabeth Aiken, Case Manager

Court Calendar

WINDHAM FAMILY COURT
30 Putney Road · Brattleboro, VT 05301 · (802) 257-2830

Honorable John Wesley, Presiding Judge
Honorable Patricia Whalen, Magistrate
Honorable Mary Ann Clarkson, Assistant Judge
Honorable Patricia W. Duff, Assistant Judge
Sharon Annis, Court Manager
Dawn Sanborn, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar

WINDSOR FAMILY COURT
82 Railroad Row · White River Junction, VT 05001 · (802) 295-8865

Honorable Cortland Corsones, Presiding Judge
Honorable Christine Hoyt, Magistrate
Honorable William Boardman, Assistant Judge
Honorable David Singer, Assistant Judge
Tari Scott, Court Manager
Roberta Hodgdon, Deputy Court Manager

Court Calendar