Vermont Small Claims Court: Limits, Fees, Forms, and Where to File

How small claims works in Vermont: the limit, filing fee, forms, where to file, and the basic steps. Checked 2026-10-17.

Checked against official court sources, updated October 2026.

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Quick answer: Vermont small claims are part of the Superior Court, Civil Division, under one statewide procedure. You can sue for up to $10,000, but collection of consumer-credit or medical debt is capped at $5,000. Filing costs $65 for $1,000 or less and $90 above that. You mail the papers to the defendant yourself first. Either side can appeal within 30 days, but it isn't a new trial.

Vermont small claims at a glance: you file with the Superior Court's Civil Division in your county or the defendant's, can sue for up to $10,000 or $5,000 when collecting consumer-credit or medical debt, and pay $65 to file a claim of $1,000 or less or $90 for a larger one.
Vermont small claims at a glance.

Filing in Vermont? See a filled-in sample first.

Everything on this page is free. The Small Claims Playbook adds a filled-in sample of Vermont's Small Claims Complaint (100-00257), using a made-up case, with a box-by-box guide. One membership covers every state. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

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How does small claims court work in Vermont?

Small claims in Vermont is part of the Civil Division of the Vermont Superior Court, under 12 V.S.A. ch. 187. The same limit, fees and forms apply in every county. You file with the Civil Division in one of the 14 county units.

Official sources are listed under Sources below.

Jump to your county ↓

How much can I sue for in Vermont?

$10,000 or less (12 V.S.A. § 5531(a)). Collection of consumer-credit or medical debt is capped at $5,000 (§ 5531(e)). Small claims is for money only, and slander and libel claims aren't allowed. You can't split a bigger claim into smaller cases. You can give up the amount over $10,000 and sue for $10,000, but then you can't sue later for the rest (§ 5531(b)).

For what it means when a court can order only money, or something else, see What Judges Can Actually Order.

How much does it cost to file?

ItemAmount
Claim of $1,000 or less$65
Claim of more than $1,000$90
Defendant's answerNo fee
Counterclaim of $500 or less / more than $500$25 / $35
Defendant's jury trial request$10 (12 V.S.A. § 5535)
Sheriff or constable service (only if mail service doesn't work)$75 per return of service, plus mileage (32 V.S.A. § 1591)
Appeal to the Civil Division$120

Fees are set by 32 V.S.A. § 1431 and listed on the Vermont Judiciary fees page. If you e-file through Odyssey File & Serve, the first filing in a case costs $14 more, and card payments carry a convenience fee. If you can't afford the fees, ask about the Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs (form 600-00228).

Where do I file a small claim in Vermont?

The Civil Division in the county where you live or where the defendant lives (12 V.S.A. §§ 5531(d), 402). If the defendant is a business, check your court's rules. You can file in person, by mail, by email or by e-filing.

How do I file a small claim in Vermont?

Fill out form 100-00257, the Small Claims Complaint, file it with the Civil Division in your county or the defendant's and pay the fee; the court sends back a signed summons for you to mail to the defendant.

  1. Fill out the Small Claims Complaint (100-00257) and gather your supporting documents.
  2. File it with the Civil Division in the right county and pay $65 or $90. If you file on paper, include a copy and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
  3. The court mails you a signed summons. Within 7 days, mail it to the defendant with the complaint and the defendant's forms by first-class mail, and file the Certificate of Service.
  4. Wait for the defendant's answer and the trial notice, then go to the hearing with your documents and witnesses.

Ready to do these steps yourself?

Easy to miss: you mail the papers to the defendant yourself, within 7 days of getting the summons. The steps above are free. The Playbook helps you do each one, with a filled-in sample of form 100-00257 and every box explained, plus your Vermont Playbook section: serving the other side, what to expect at your hearing, appeals, collecting a judgment, and a printable checklist.

You also get prep guides that work in any state: a document checklist, exhibit labels, a prep timeline and a hearing-day outline. $149 for your first year (introductory offer), then $199 a year. Join now.

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Which court handles small claims in my Vermont county?

Vermont has a Civil Division in each of its 14 counties. File in the county where you or the defendant lives. Some of Vermont's larger counties:

  1. Chittenden County
  2. Rutland County
  3. Washington County
  4. Windsor County
  5. Franklin County
  6. Windham County
  7. Addison County
  8. Bennington County
  9. Caledonia County
  10. Orange County

Next step

  1. Confirm the county where you or the defendant lives.
  2. Get form 100-00257, the Small Claims Complaint.
  3. Plan to mail the papers within 7 days of getting the summons.

Know your next step? Next, get your proof in order.

You can present your own case. The Playbook's exhibit-label guide and hearing-day outline help you put your documents in order and explain them clearly, step by step. General legal information, not advice about your case.

See how the Playbook works →

Vermont small claims FAQ

Do I need a lawyer for small claims in Vermont?

No. Any person, corporation or other legal entity can have a lawyer but doesn't need one (12 V.S.A. § 5536).

How does the defendant get served in Vermont small claims?

Within 7 days of getting the signed summons back from the court, you mail the papers to the defendant by first-class mail. If there's no answer within 30 days, a sheriff or constable must serve them in person.

Can I appeal a Vermont small claims judgment?

Yes. Either side can appeal to the Civil Division within 30 days with form 100-00291 and a $120 fee. A different judge reviews the recording; it isn't a new trial, and no new evidence is allowed.

Related guides

Free: the Small Claims Starter Kit (basic timeline and checklists).

  1. Vermont Judiciary: Suing and Being Sued - Small Claims (checked 2026-10-17)
  2. Vermont Judiciary: Small Claims Trials and Appeals (checked 2026-10-17)
  3. Vermont Judiciary: Collecting a Small Claims Judgment (checked 2026-10-17)
  4. Vermont Judiciary: Fees (checked 2026-10-17)
  5. Vermont Judiciary: Filing Procedures (checked 2026-10-17)
  6. Vermont Judiciary: Application to Waive Filing Fees (checked 2026-10-17)
  7. Vermont Judiciary: Court Locations (checked 2026-10-24)
  8. Vermont Judiciary: Civil Mediation (checked 2026-10-17)
  9. Vermont Judiciary: Subpoenas in Civil Cases (checked 2026-10-17)
  10. Vermont Judiciary: Debt and Small Claims (checked 2026-10-17)
  11. 100-00509, A Guide to Small Claims Proceedings in Vermont (PDF) (checked 2026-10-17)
  12. 100-00257, Small Claims Complaint and instructions (PDF) (checked 2026-10-17)
  13. 100-00259 and 100-00126, defendant's instructions and Answer (PDF) (checked 2026-10-17)
  14. 100-00128 Disclosure of Exempt Income and related small claims forms (PDF) (checked 2026-10-17)
  15. 100-00291 Small Claims Notice of Appeal (PDF) (checked 2026-10-17)
  16. 100-00279 Motion for a Financial Disclosure Hearing and collection forms (PDF) (checked 2026-10-17)
  17. 12 V.S.A. chapter 187, Small Claims Procedure (checked 2026-10-17)
  18. 32 V.S.A. § 1431, court fees (checked 2026-10-17)
  19. 12 V.S.A. § 402, venue (checked 2026-10-17)
  20. 12 V.S.A. § 506, judgments (checked 2026-10-17)
  21. 12 V.S.A. §§ 2901 to 2903, judgment liens (checked 2026-10-17)
  22. 12 V.S.A. § 3011 and related trustee process sections (checked 2026-10-17)
  23. 12 V.S.A. § 2740, exemptions (checked 2026-10-17)
  24. 9 V.S.A. § 41a, legal interest rate (checked 2026-10-17)
  25. 12 V.S.A. § 5531 (checked 2026-10-24)
  26. 12 V.S.A. § 5533 (checked 2026-10-24)
  27. 12 V.S.A. § 5537 (checked 2026-10-24)

What's in the Vermont Playbook section

  • How to serve the other side in Vermont
  • What to expect at your Vermont small claims hearing
  • Appeals in Vermont small claims
  • Collecting after you win in Vermont
  • Printable checklist
  • Common mistakes and a printable checklist

You do the work. The Playbook hands you the plays.

This page covers the Vermont rules. The Playbook coaches you from filing to hearing day: a filled-in sample of form 100-00257, your Vermont Playbook section, and step-by-step prep guides. Every state and DC has a filled-in sample claim (for Mississippi, Oklahoma and Wyoming it's a sample layout we made, so you'd get the real form from the court clerk). One membership covers every state.

See the Playbook →

Small Claims Coach is built to help you handle your case yourself, without a lawyer — but if your situation is complicated, does not fit our samples, or a deadline is close, you may want to call a lawyer.

Small Claims Coach uses public information to build the Playbook, which coaches you as you organize and present your own case. We are not your lawyer, there is no attorney-client relationship, and we don't want the details of your case.

This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.