Civil Division

Most civil cases require parties to attempt mediation unless waived by the court. Mediation provides an opportunity for parties to meet with a neutral person to try to reach an agreement without court involvement.

If someone has sued or threatened to sue you because you owe them money, you can visit the VTLawHelp website, which provides information about:

• Debt and debt collections
• Consumer rights
• Credit and credit reports
• Foreclosures and
• Storage units

You may also qualify for free or lower cost legal help.

If a bank or other party files a foreclosure case against you, do not ignore it. Visit the VTLawHelp website or call 800-889-2047. You can find out if you qualify for free or lower cost legal services. The website also has helpful information about:

• The foreclosure process
• Foreclosure mediation to help you work with the bank to keep your house
• Special rules if you have a loan from FHA, HUD, FmHA, or the VA
• Other resources

The VTLawHelp website provides consumer-related information including:

• Consumer rights
• Credit and credit reports
• Debt and debt collections
• Foreclosures
• Storage units

You can also see whether you qualify for free or reduced fee legal help.

If you have a dispute with a business, you may want to contact the Office of the Vermont Attorney General. You can find information on a variety of consumer-related topics on their website. 

If you have a legal dispute with someone who sold you something you may consider filing a small claims case. The Suing and Being Sued web page provides information about the small claims process.

This is basic and general information about evictions in most residential rentals. Some cities, like Burlington and Barre, have other laws you should know about. Rentals that are part of Section 8 or other state or federal subsidy programs also have additional requirements. Every case is different, and a lawyer can help you figure out what you need to know for your own case. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, talking to a lawyer about your own case will help you make the best decisions. If you are a tenant, you may be eligible for free or low cost legal services. Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, you should read all the information on this page.

The small claims process is simple, informal, and inexpensive. Lawyers are allowed, but many people represent themselves.

In a small claims case, you can sue a person or business for up to $10,000. Consumer credit debt and medical debt are capped at $5,000 in small claims cases. 

If someone is stalking you, you can file a request in the Civil Division for an order to have them stop. You can get such an order in the civil division only if the other person is not a family member or someone you have ever lived with or dated. For family members, people you have lived with, or people you have dated, you must file a request in the Family Division.

The process parties use to find out about the strengths and weaknesses of the other side's case is called discovery. Each side may send written requests to each other asking for specific information which may be relevant to the case.

The Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) is responsible for receiving applications and commissioning notaries public. Visit the Vermont Secretary of State's website for more information. 

Responsibility for notaries public was transferred from county assistant judges to OPR pursuant to Act 160 of the 2017-2018 Legislative session.

Where to Get a Passport

In Person

Some, but not all, Vermont county courthouses process passport applications. Some post offices also process passport applications.

Online

You may also complete the passport application process at: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html

ID and Fees

To get a passport, you will need:

• A certified copy of your birth certificate, which includes
  • A raised seal
  • A signature from the town clerk’s office
  • The date the certificate was filed with the town clerk
• One passport photograph (some counties take passport photos), taken within the last six months

Use the fee calculator to figure out the cost of a passport. 

For information on speeding up the process or for any other questions, please contact your county court.

Visa Extensions

The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is responsible for visa extensions

Immigration and Naturalization Service
St. Albans Office
64 Gricebrook Road
St. Albans, VT 05478

The national customer service number for the INS is 1-800-375-5283.

You can browse Civil Division opinions from 2002 - present in the Opinions and Decisions library.

Opinions are unofficial

The texts of civil division opinions are unofficial. They have been reformatted from the originals. The accuracy of the texts and any accompanying data is not guaranteed. This database is not exhaustive; it does not include all civil division opinions. At this time, no opinions from Vermont’s criminal and family divisions are included.

Caution

Take appropriate care to ensure that the opinions you read fit your purposes. You should also determine whether they have been reviewed by the Supreme Court.

To cite an opinion from the website

The following format is recommended for use in Vermont:

Fingerlakes Constr. Co., Inc. v. Fillmore Farms, LLC, No. 56-2-04 Bncv (Vt. Super. Ct. Aug. 3, 2005) (Carroll, J.), available at https://www.VermontJudiciary.org/TCDecisionCvl/2005-8-19-6.pdf

The Vermont Legislature sets most of the fees charged for services provided by the Judiciary. The Justices of the Supreme Court establish rules to govern the allowance of fees not specified by law. Motions or petitions filed by one party at one time shall be assessed one fee.