Electronic Filing
In April 2020, the Judiciary began transitioning to a new electronic filing system called Odyssey File and Serve (“OFS”). The following courts use OFS: all Superior Courts, the Judicial Bureau, the Environmental Division, and the Supreme Court.
On April 1, 2021, the Judiciary implemented a new efiling use fee structure for users of Odyssey File & Serve (OFS). The new per case fee is $14 per filer or firm, payable upon a party’s first filing. When cases are filed directly with the Supreme Court or appeals are made to the Supreme Court, a new case will be initiated, which will trigger the requirement to pay the $14 per case efiling fee unless a waiver applies.
Please be aware that parties may incur the $14 efiling fee more under certain circumstances. When a party changes representation (including choosing to represent oneself “pro se” after being represented by a firm, or by changing representation from one law firm to another), the $14 will be incurred the first time that “new” filer efiles even though there is no change in party. Also, if a party is represented by multiple firms, each firm will incur the fee when they efile for the first time.
If the $14 fee is assessed under any other circumstance, then the filer should contact efile support to initiate a refund. OFS users can contact efile support by email: JUD.efilesupport@vermont.gov.
Convenience fees remain in place with a 2.89% processing fee for credit card payments and $1.00 per case for eCheck payments.
A number of exemptions to these fees also remain in place. All criminal filings are automatically exempt from the case fee and for any case type where there is no court fee, the party filing will not incur the user fee either. For the following exemptions, parties must still choose a waiver account when filing:
Statutory or rule exemptions
- Government and appointed filers, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1433 and 2020 Vermont Rule of Electronic Filing 10(d)(1)
- Requests for Orders Against Stalking or Sexual Assault, pursuant to 12 V.S.A. § 5133(f)
- Requests for Relief from Abuse, pursuant to 15 V.S.A. § 1103(f)
- Requests for Abuse Prevention for Vulnerable Adult, pursuant to 33 V.S.A § 6933(b)
As applied economic hardship exemptions
- Fee waiver determination, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1431(h) or 32 V.S.A. § 1434(b) in Probate cases, and
- Fee waiver determination, pursuant to V.R.C.P. 3.1 and V.R.P.P. 3.1
Instructions on how to create a waiver account are available here:
Odyssey File and Serve
All trial courts, Judicial Bureau, Environmental Division, and Supreme Court
Register for e-filing using OFS (to submit documents to the court)
Receipt of Court Notices and Orders (eCabinet)
The Vermont courts send all court-issued documents (hearing notices, orders, etc.) to attorneys by email using the email addresses registered in a system called eCabinet. Attorneys may register up to three email addresses in the system and are responsible for keeping the information updated. The email address(es) registered in eCabinet are not used for service of documents filed by opposing parties, which is done through service contacts in the efiling system.
To create an eCabinet account or update an existing account, attorneys must contact the Judiciary helpdesk through one of the methods listed below. Please include your attorney bar license number in your communication.
- Email JUD.Helpdesk@vermont.gov
- Telephone the Judiciary helpdesk at 802-828-4357
- Use the online form
WATCH: Electronic Filing with Odyssey File and Serve
Attorneys filing in all Vermont counties must now e-file all filings in all divisions for new cases as well as subsequent filings for all existing cases. If you are a self-represented filer, you have the option of e-filing or paper filing. However, if you begin e-filing into a case, you must continue to e-file for the duration of your case, per the Vermont Rules of Electronic Filing.
Judicial Bureau e-filing began in April 2020. Only subsequent filings will be permitted for the Judicial Bureau. Attorneys are required to e-file all filings at the Judicial Bureau, including in all cases existing prior to the new system. Self-represented filers are permitted to e-file or paper file. If you begin e-filing into a case, you must continue to e-file for the duration of your case, per the Vermont Rules of Electronic Filing.
Before filing documents please be sure to do the following:
- Register for e-filing (to submit documents to the court) https://vermont.tylerhost.net/ofsweb
- Register and participate in a Tyler e-filing instructional webinar (Webinars and other resources available for both filers and administrative staff)
Please Note – OFS is hosted by Tyler Technologies, which provides primary customer support to users. Court staff have only a limited ability to assist with e-filing questions and problems. For assistance:
- Please see the OFS guide and resources
- Note the contact information of Tyler Technology's e-filing support desk:
Email: efiling.support@tylertech.com
Phone: 800-297-5377
To VIEW your case details and documents, you must:
- Register on the Judiciary Public Portal and request appropriate elevated access to view the detail documents in your case(s).
- Note the contact information of the Judiciary Public Portal support desk:
Email: Jud.helpdesk@vermont.gov
Phone: 802-828-4357
Please note: These documents are NOT intended to be comprehensive guides to use of the Odyssey File & Serve System. These documents provide supplemental division-specific guidance for efiling.
During the initial launch of Vermont’s new Odyssey File and Serve efiling program, it is anticipated that these user guides will be subject to frequent updates and revisions. It is recommended that users NOT print hard copies of these guides, but refer as needed to the version online, which will be kept current with all updates.
WATCH: Creating and Using Public Service Contacts
As of February 1, 2021, eCabinet is retired from all electronic filing. To file cases/documents into any Vermont Superior Court division or the Judicial Bureau, please visit the Odyssey File and Serve website.
IMPORTANT: The Vermont Superior Court emails notices of hearing to attorneys to the email addresses provided in eCabinet. If you are an attorney and are not already registered in eCabinet, please click here to register up to three email addresses. Please contact us if you need help with registration or account problems:
Email: JUD.Helpdesk@vermont.gov
Phone: 802-828-4357
View the Vermont Rules of Electronic Filing:

You should file the pleadings separately in order to get a prompt for payment. In other words, file a counterclaim separate from an answer.