Vermont · Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division (small claims)
How to file a small-claims case in Vermont
You can sue for up to $10,000 in Vermont (with a $5,000 cap for consumer-credit debt or medical debt). Here is where to file, what the deadlines are, and how to keep your case organized.
Good to know: Vermont small claims is not a separate court but a procedure in the Civil Division of the Superior Court. File in the county where you or the defendant lives. Lawyers are allowed, but the process is built for self-represented litigants.
Filing your Small Claims Complaint (Form 100-00257) in Vermont
- Complete the Small Claims Complaint. Fill out the Small Claims Complaint (form 100-00257), naming the defendant and stating the amount and basis of your claim.
- File and pay the fee. File with the Civil Division of the Superior Court in the county where you or the defendant lives, and pay the filing fee.
- Receive the signed summons. The court returns a signed Summons with your complaint and the docket number.
- Serve the defendant by mail. Within 7 days of receiving the signed summons, mail the summons and complaint to the defendant by first-class mail.
- Arrange sheriff service if no answer. If the defendant does not answer within 30 days, have a sheriff or constable serve the documents.
Filing fees: The filing fee is $65 for claims of $1,000 or less and $90 for claims over $1,000, set by statute statewide (not county-set).
Key Vermont deadlines
| Case type | Deadline to file |
|---|---|
| Written contract (12 V.S.A. § 511) | 6 years |
| Oral contract / debt (12 V.S.A. § 511) | 6 years |
| Property damage (personal property) (12 V.S.A. § 512) | 3 years |
| Personal injury (12 V.S.A. § 512) | 3 years |
Answering a lawsuit: 30 days.
Serving the defendant: After the court returns the signed summons, you serve the defendant by first-class mail within 7 days; if no answer is filed within 30 days, you must have a sheriff or constable serve the documents.
Appeals: Either party may appeal to the Superior Court within 30 days of judgment by filing a Notice of Appeal with a $105 fee (Vermont Rule of Small Claims Procedure 10). The appeal is decided on the record, not retried.
Vermont small-claims forms
Official Vermont forms, free from the court.
- Small Claims Information and Instructions for Plaintiff and Small Claims Complaint (100-00257): The initial complaint form a plaintiff files to start a small claims case.
- Small Claims Answer (100-00126): Form the defendant uses to answer the complaint and assert any counterclaim.
- Sheriff's Return of Service (100-00261): Proof-of-service form used when a sheriff or constable serves the defendant.
- A Guide to Small Claims Proceedings in Vermont (100-00509): Official plain-language guide to the small claims process for self-represented parties.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and CaseBySelf is not a law firm. Rules, fees, and deadlines change and vary by court: verify with the specific court where you file. Source: Vermont Judiciary: Suing and Being Sued (Small Claims). Last reviewed 2026-06-24.