Electronic Filing

Attorneys must use OFS for all filings in all divisions for new cases and filings into existing cases. 

Self-represented parties may use OFS. If you begin e-filing into a case, you must continue to e-file for the duration of your case unless you receive permission to discontinue, per the Vermont Rules of Electronic Filing. 

WATCH: Electronic Filing with Odyssey File and Serve

All efilers must create and register an account on the File and Serve homepage. To begin the process, click the "Register" icon and follow the set-up instructions. The Judiciary does not have access to users' accounts.

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

Service contacts are used in File & Serve to electronically serve other efilers per The Vermont Rules of Electronic Filing.

A filer must add their own service contact information to the public list in File & Serve so that other parties and attorneys can select their service contact on a case. 

Step by step instructions for how to add a service contact in filers' user profile can be found here.

The efiling use fee for Odyssey File & Serve (OFS) is paid to Tyler Technologie to maintain the efiling platform. The efile use fee is $14 per filer or firm / per case, payable upon a party's first filing. When a case is filed directly with the Supreme Court or an appeal is 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. 

Parties may incur the $14 efiling fee more than once 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 law firms, each firm will incur the fee when they efile for the first time. 

If the $14 fee is assessed under any other circumstances, the filer should contact efile support to initiate a refund. OFS users can contact efile support by email: JUD.efilesupport@vermont.gov. 

Convenience fees paid to Chase bank remain in place with a 2.89% processing fee for credit card payments and $1.00 for eCheck payments. 

A number of exemptions to these fees also remain. All criminal filings are automatically exempt from the new 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 payment 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.

The Advisory Committee on the Rules for Electronic Filing is responsible for reviewing the operation and effectiveness of the rules. The list of committee members and more information about its work can be found on the committee website. 

Advisory Committee on the Rules for Electronic Filing

The Vermont Rules for Electronic Filing are available here: Click for Rules.

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, Odyssey File & Serve. 

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 here.

Tyler has replaced the term "blacklisting" with the term "Suppression List." Below you will find a link explaining how emails end up on the Suppression List, what action you can take to prevent this, and how to safelist your email. 

If you are not receiving email notifications when efiling, your email address may be on the "Suppression List."

• Why was my email placed on the Suppression List?
• How do I mark emails as being from a safe sender?

The portal is used to access records related to your case. For registration information and instructions, please go to the portal website. 

Public Portal

Odyssey File & Serve is hosted by Tyler Technologies, which provides technical customer support to users. Court staff have only a limited ability to assist with efiling questions and problems. 

For assistance:

• Please see the OFS guide and resources here
• Contact efile support at JUD.efilesupport@vermont.gov
• Contact Tyler Technologies support desk:
  • Email: efiling.support@tylertech.com
  • Phone: 800-297-5377