Fees
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.
Supreme Court Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Appeal/petition: entry of any cause not otherwise specified | $295.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(a) (2015) |
| Cross-claim or third-party claim | $120.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(d) (2015) |
Civil Division Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Filing | $295.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(1) (2015) |
| Subsequent pleading that sets forth a claim for relief: appeal, cross-claim, third- party claim | $120.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(d)(2015) |
| Subsequent pleading that sets forth a claim for relief: counterclaim | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(d) (2015) |
| Any postjudgment motion in civil, criminal, or environmental divisions, except small claims | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e) (2015) |
| Petition for Minor Settlements | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e) |
| Tax appeal | $295.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 4461(a) (2015) |
Small Claims Fees
|
Entry fee for a claim of $1,000 or less |
$65.00 |
32 V.S.A. § 1431 (c)(1) (2014) |
| Entry fee for a claim of $1,001 to $5,000 | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431 (c)(1) (2015) |
| Counterclaim for $500 or less | $25.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(c)(1) (2015) |
| Counterclaim for $501 to $5,000 | $35.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(c)(1) (2015) |
| Post-judgment motion | $65.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(c)(1) (2015) |
| Appeal to Civil Division | $120.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(d) (2015) |
| Request for a Jury Trial | $10.00 | 12 V.S.A. § 5535 |
Criminal Division Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Any postjudgment motion, excluding motions to seal or expunge, pursuant to 13 VSA Sec. 7602 | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e) (2019) |
| Motions to seal a conviction of 23 VSA §1201(a) pursuant to 13 VSA 7602 [effective October 1, 2019] | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e) (2019) |
| Civil suspension proceeding pursuant to 23 VSA Sec. 1205 | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(d)(2015) |
| Motion to reopen civil suspensions | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e) (2015) |
| Municipal ordinance fine or penalty; administrative charge retained by state | $12.50 | 13 V.S.A. § 7251(a) (2002) |
| Appeal to Superior Court | $120.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(g)(2015) |
Environmental Division Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Filing | $295.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(1) (2015) |
| Subsequent pleading that sets forth a claim for relief: appeal, cross-claim, third-party claim | $120.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(d)(2015) |
|
Any postjudgment motion pursuant to 13 V.S.A. § 7602 |
$90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e) (2015) |
Family Division Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies | ||
| Filing for entry of divorce, annulment, or dissolution of civil union or legal separation |
$295.00 without a stipulation $90.00 with a stipulation and one or both residents $180.00 with a stipulation if neither party is resident A stipulation is a condition or a requirement in an agreement. Stipulations must be acceptable to the court. If the case becomes contested, the difference between the full fee and the reduced fee must be paid to the court before it issues a final order. |
32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(3)(2015) | ||
| Magistrate appeal | $120.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(4) (2015) | ||
| Parentage or desertion and support |
$120.00 without a stipulation $35.00 with a stipulation A stipulation is a condition or a requirement in an agreement. Stipulations must be acceptable to the court. If the case becomes contested, the difference between the full fee and the reduced fee must be paid to the court before it issues a final order. |
32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(3) (2015) | ||
| Motion or petition to modify or vacate a final order for parental rights and responsibilities, parent-child contact, or maintenance |
$120.00 without a stipulation $35.00 with a stipulation A stipulation is a condition or a requirement in an agreement. Stipulations must be acceptable to the court. A checklist developed by the court will be used to determine the acceptability of the documents filed with the court. |
32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(3) (2015) | ||
| Motion or petition to enforce a final order for parental rights and responsibilities, parent-child contact, property division, or maintenance |
$90.00 without a stipulation $35.00 with a stipulation A stipulation is a condition or a requirement in an agreement. Stipulations must be acceptable to the court. A checklist developed by the court will be used to determine the acceptability of the documents filed with the court. |
32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(4) (2015) | ||
|
N/A | N/A | ||
| Mail service of pleadings (certified restricted delivery) | $13.00 | N/A | ||
| Mail service of pleadings (first class with acknowledgment) | $3.00 | N/A | ||
| Registration in Vermont of a child custody determination issued by a court of another state, without simultaneous motion to enforce or modify | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1431(b)(6)(2015) | ||
| Registration in Vermont of a child custody determination issued by a court of another state, with simultaneous motion to enforce | $130.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(6) (2015) | ||
| Registration in Vermont of a child custody determination issued by a court of another state, with simultaneous motion to modify | $160.00 | 32 VSA §1431(b)(6) (2017) | ||
| Motion or petition to modify or vacate child support |
$45.00 without a stipulation No fee with a stipulation A stipulation is a condition or a requirement in an agreement. Stipulations must be acceptable to the court. A checklist developed by the court will be used to determine the acceptability of the documents filed with the court. |
32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(5) (2015) | ||
| Motion or petition to enforce an order of child support | No fee | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(b)(5) (2014) |
Judicial Bureau Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Filing fee for all actions. The State or municipality is not required to pay. | $65.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(f) (2015) |
| If the respondent denies the allegations on the ticket and the State prevails, the respondent will be ordered to reimburse the State a cost equal to the entry fee, the cost of service fees, and the cost of witness fees. | 32 V.S.A. §1433 and 1471 | |
| Postjudgment motion | $45.00 | 32 V.S.A. 1431(g) (2015) |
| Failure to answer | $20.00 | 4 V.S.A. § 1105(b) (2008) |
| Failure to pay judgment: traffic violations | $30.00 | 4 V.S.A. § 1109(b) (2008) |
| Municipal ordinance fine or penalty; administrative charge retained by state | $12.50 | 13 VSA § 7251 (a) (2002) |
| Failure to pay judgment: municipal violations | $10.00 | 24 V.S.A. § 1981 (a) |
| Appeal | $120.00 | 32 V.S.A.§ 1431(g) |
Probate Division Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Adoption and relinquishment as part of an adoption proceeding | $150.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(13) (2015) |
| Adoption decree and instrument changing name (issuance of two certified copies) | No fee | |
| Annual account on decedent's estate filed for any period ending more than one year following the opening of the estate | $85.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(12) (2015) |
| Annual account on trust | $85.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(11) (2015) |
| Appeal from denial by State Registrar of Vital Records of a request for a corrected or amended death certificate pursuant to 18 .V.S.A. § 5073(b) | $150.00 | 32 V.S.A. . § 1434(a)(33) (2019) |
| Appeal from denial by State Registrar of Vital Records of a request for a new, corrected, amended, or delayed birth certificate pursuant to 18 V.S.A. § 5073(b) | $150.00 | 32 V.S.A. . § 1434(a)(33) (2019) |
| Appeal to Superior Court | $295.00 | 32 V.S.A. 1431(b)(7) |
| Appeal to Supreme Court | $295.00 | 32 V.S.A. 1431(a) |
| Appointment of a fiduciary (each additional certification) | $5.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(c) (1996) |
| Civil action brought pursuant to 18 V.S.A. § 5227, Disposition of Remains | $100.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(24) (2015) |
| Conveyance of title to real estate pursuant to 14 V.S.A. § 1801, including petitions to clear title and release or discharge of mortgage | $100.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(22) (2015) |
| Correction of civil marriage or civil union certificate | $40.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(20) (2015) |
| Correction of vital records | $40.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(20) (2015) |
| Affidavit procedure for small estates pursuant to Rule 80.3h | $50.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(30) (2017) |
| Filing fee for estate $10,000 or less | $50.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(1) (2015) |
| Filing fee for estate $10,001 to $50,000 | $110.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(2) (2015) |
| Filing fee for estate $50,001 to $150,000 | $265.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(3) (2015) |
| Filing fee for estate $150,001 to $500,000 | $500.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(4) (2015) |
| Filing fee for estate $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $1000.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(5) (2015) |
| Filing fee for estate $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 | $1,750.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(6) (2015) |
| Filing fee for estate $5,000,001 to $10,000,000 | $2,500.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(7) (2015) |
| Filing fee for estate greater than $10,000,000 | $3,250.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(8) (2015) |
| Motion to reopen estate – based on value of newly discovered asset – fee based on the original estate fee list | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(29) (2017) | |
| Estates, trusts, and guardianships: documents pertaining to the opening of and including the issuance of two certificates of appointment and respective letters. | N/A | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(b) |
| Guardianship for adult | $150.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(16) (2015) |
| Guardianship for minor | $150.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(15) (2015) |
| Filing of will for safekeeping (including wills without assets) | $30.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(18) (2015) |
| Filing of subsequent will for safekeeping, same probate division or transfer to another probate division | $30.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a) (19) (2015) |
| Motion to reopen a case except for estates | $90.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1431(e) (2017) |
| Order of authorization pursuant to 18 V.S.A. § 5144, Nonresident Clergy to Perform Marriage | $50.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(21) (2015) |
| Petition for change of name | $150.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(17) (2015) |
| Petition concerning advance directives pursuant to 18 V.S.A. § 9718 | $100.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(23) (2015) |
| Petition for license to sell personal property | $100.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(27) (2015) |
| Petition for license to sell real estate | $100.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(26) (2015) |
| Petition for partial decree | $105.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(25) (2014) |
| Petition to obtain birth order pursuant to 15C V.S.A. § 708(a) or 804(a) | $100.00 | 32 V.S.A. . § 1434(a)(32) (2019) |
| Registration of a foreign guardianship order | $90.00 | 32 VSA 1434(a)(34) |
| Relinquishment, separate from adoption | $100.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(14) (2014) |
For all petitions, motions to modify or terminate trust, to remove or substitute a trustee or trustees, or seeking remedies for breach of trust:
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Trust of $10,000 or less | $50.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(9) |
| Trust of $10,001 to not more than $50,000 | $110.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(9) |
| Trust of $50,001 to not more than $150,000 | $265.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(9) |
| Trust of $150,001 to not more than $500,000 | $500.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(9) |
| Trust of $500,001 to not more than $1,000,000 | $1,000.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(9) |
| Trust of $1,000,001 to not more than $5,000,000 | $1,750.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(9) |
| Trust of $5,000,001 to not more than $10,000,000 | $2,500.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(9) |
| Trust more than $10,000,000 | $3,250.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1434(a)(9) |
Copy Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
Court Records |
||
| Photocopy of court records or other court materials produced by photocopy equipment | $.25 per page, $1.00 minimum | 32 V.S.A. §1751(b)(1)(B) |
| Exemplified copies | $10.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1751(G) (2017) |
| Official certificate (Certified Copy) | $5.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1751(b)(1)(C) |
| With conformed copy to party | No additional charge | 32 V.S.A. §1751(b)(1)(C) |
| With conformed copy to nonparty | $.25 per page | 32 V.S.A. §1751(b)(1)(B) |
| Authentication of documents | $5.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1751(b)(1)(D) |
| Criminal history of a person based upon name and date of birth | $30.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1751(b)(1)(E) |
Retrieval of Records at Records Center |
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| Shipping and handling charged by Public Records | $7.50 per file | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) and (e) |
| Microfilm search | $3.00 per search | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) and (e) |
| Microfilm search, 8.5" x 11" | $0.50 per page | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) and (e) |
| Microfilm search, 8.5" x 14" | $0.75 per page | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) and (e) |
| Microfilm search, 11" x 17" | $1.00 per page | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) and (e) |
| Microfilm search, 18" x 24" | $1.25 per page | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) and (e) |
Court and Non-court Records |
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| Staff time involved in fulfilling a copy request | $.33 per minute after the first 30 minutes | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) and (e) (2003) |
| Senior-level staff time and information technology specialists' time spent extracting data from databases or performing similar tasks necessary to comply with a request to create a new public record | $.57 per minute | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
| Any other staff time for which cost can be charged and collected under this section | $.45 per minute | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
| Computer-generated paper copies | $.02 per page for pages up to 8.5 by 14 inches | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
| 3.5-inch computer diskette | $.28 each | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
| Compact disc (write-once CD w/case) | $.86 each | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
| Compact disc (rewritable CD w/case) | $2.31 each | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
| Audiotape | $.81 each | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
| Videotape | $1.69 each | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
| DVD (write-once DVD w/case) | $2.00 each | 1 V.S.A. § 316(d) (2003) |
| DVD (rewritable DVD w/case) | $4.00 each | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) (2003) |
Non-court Records |
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| Official certificate | $2.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1751(a)(1)(B) |
| Authentication of documents | $2.00 | 32 V.S.A. §1751(a)(1)(C) |
| Photocopy | $.05 per single-sided page $.09 per double-sided page for pages up to 8.5 by 14 inches | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) |
| Color photocopy | $1.00 per single-sided page | 1 V.S.A. §316(d) |
Miscellaneous Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Appointment as acting judge for the purpose of performing a marriage | $100.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1751(b)(6) (2008); 4 V.S.A. § 22(b) (2008) |
| Bad check | $20.00 | 32 V.S.A. §404 (1997) |
| Sale of slip opinions to Lois, Inc., West Publishing Company, and Mead Data Center | $.50 per page | Set by court administrator |
| Payment by credit card | $3.75 | 4 V.S.A. § 1109(f) |
| Transcript, original | $2.65 per page | A.O. 19, Court Administrator Directive No. 61 |
| Transcript, copy | $.85 per page | A.O. 19, Court Administrator Directive No. 61 |
Notary Fees
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| Certificate of appointment of notary | $30.00 | 32 V.S.A. § 1436(a) (2000) |
| Certificate of appointment of notary for clerks of the Supreme Court, clerks of the Vermont Superior Court, town clerks and their assistants | No fee | 24 V.S.A. § 441 (1984) |
| Certificate of appointment of notary for state police officers, municipal police officers, fish and game wardens, and motor vehicle inspectors | No fee | 32 V.S.A. § 1403(b) (1987) |
Notes
| Fee type | Amount | Rule/statute that applies |
| For any records you request, you must provide the court with a self-addressed stamped envelope. | ||
| No fees are charged to any agency of any municipality, state, or federal government or to veterans honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States, their dependents, or beneficiaries in the prosecution of any claim for benefits from the United States government. | N/A | 32 V.S.A. § 1751(a) and (b) |
| Itemized receipts of fees are given on request. | N/A | 32 V.S.A. §1402 (1947) |
Passport Fees
For information relating to passport fees for adults and children under 16 years old, please refer to the State Department's website.
For information on which counties process passport applications, please see http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/.
Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs
Most initial court filings and requests for relief require a filing fee. The court has an Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs, sometimes called an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, that you can file if you feel you cannot afford the fees.