Vermont Divorce Records: Official Certificates, Decrees, and Search Options

Divorce records are official documents created through the legal process and orders for the dissolution of marriage. Such records typically refer to case files from divorce proceedings and divorce decrees maintained by the Superior Courts. They also include divorce or civil union dissolution certificates, which are maintained by the Department of Health. They contain details about dissolved marriages, including the names of the parties, the divorce pronouncement and date, court details, and more.

Divorces in Vermont: According to the Centers for Disease Control, Vermont's divorce rate for 2024 stood at 4.6 divorces per 1,000 married women, which is one of the lowest in the country but higher than the national divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 people.

Official Types of Divorce Documentation in Vermont

Divorce records in Vermont largely consist of Divorce Certificates, Divorce Decrees, and court case files. These documents provide all the details about the case, including the parties, settlement agreements, court details, filing information, court orders, and more.

The Divorce Certificate is the most recognized form of divorce record in the state, which is maintained and administered by the Vermont Department of Health's Vital Statistics Division. This document provides proof of a legally dissolved marriage with limited information, such as the names of the spouses, the county where the divorce was filed, the case number, and the date of the divorce. It is usually obtained for personal transactions or administrative purposes, such as changing names, claiming spousal benefits, determining remarriage eligibility, and updating insurance records. This document is officially referred to as a Dissolution of Civil Union or a Certificate of Divorce in Vermont.

The Divorce Decree is also called the Judgment Order of Divorce or the Final Divorce Order. It is issued by the Family Division of the Vermont Superior Court in the county where the divorce case was handled. It is an authoritative order of the court that formally dissolves or ends a marriage. The divorce decree contains the terms of settlement, which include child custody or visitation rights, spousal maintenance agreement, child support, the division of property and debts, as well as the judge's ruling. Requesters can obtain copies of this decree from the Clerk of the Superior Court, Family Division. It is more detailed and is legally binding.

The divorce case files refer to the complete set of filings and materials used to facilitate the court proceedings. This includes motions, the petition for divorce, responses, affidavits, exhibits of evidence, financial disclosures, the final decree, and settlement agreements. It is the complete legal record of the divorce case from inception to judgment. They are maintained by the Clerk of the Superior Court where the divorce petition was filed. Access to these case files varies, as specific portions involving sensitive financial information, domestic violence allegations, and minors are restricted. These records are maintained in the court archives for easy access and are transferred to the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, typically after four years, for long-term storage.

Document Type	Issued By	Purpose	Contains
Divorce Certificate	Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records Division	Proof of legally dissolved marriage, spousal benefit claims, remarriage, and name changes	Names of parties, case number, date of divorce, and county where the divorce was granted
Divorce Judgment or Decree	Vermont Superior Court, Family Division	To access details of settlement, child custody, or visitation agreement, or enforceable legal terms/claims	Judge's signature, property or debt division, spousal or child support orders, child custody orders
Divorce Case Files	Clerk of the Vermont Superior Court, Family Division	A complete record of all filings and documents that facilitated the divorce proceedings in court	Petition for divorce, motions, transcripts, and financial information

Public Access and Confidentiality of Vermont Divorce Records

According to the Vermont Public Records Act, divorce records in Vermont are generally open and can be accessed by anyone with a records request. However, access to these records is determined by the nature of the document requested and the information contained in the document.

For instance, while basic divorce details can be obtained by the general public, sensitive records are restricted to specific individuals, such as the parties named in the records, their immediate family members, their legal representatives, and authorized government agencies or officials. Publicly accessible divorce records include the names of the parties, the court location and details, county information, date of the divorce, and the case or docket number. Restricted records generally include information about minors, financial disclosures, personally identifiable details, and domestic abuse records.

Researchers or third parties without a direct link or involvement in the case must show a legitimate interest or provide legal authorization to access this document. The divorce decree or case files may also be restricted if they contain sensitive information such as custody arrangements and property settlements.

Other records that may be restricted include medical or psychological evaluations, addresses, or personal contact information of minors or the parties, and any information that is sealed by a judicial order. These records can be accessed through the Vermont Superior Court's Family Division or the Vital Records Office located at:

What Information Do Vermont Divorce Records Include?

Vermont divorce records contain publicly accessible details such as the names of the parties, case or docket number, and court or county details. These records can also contain restricted information such as the property settlements, child custody agreements, and domestic violence details. The content of divorce records in Vermont is determined by the nature of the document requested and the legal authority the requester has. Here are some common contents of divorce records in Vermont:

• The docket or case number
• The type of divorce, which means whether it was a fault-based or no-fault divorce
• The grounds for the divorce
• The names of the parties
• The names of the parties' attorneys or legal representatives
• The county and court jurisdiction
• The date of the marriage and the date of the divorce
• Child visitation and custody agreements
• Protective or retraining orders in cases involving domestic abuse
• The judge's signature and final judgment

Procedures for Locating Divorce Records in Vermont

Vermont Divorce records are accessible through the Superior Court in the county where the case was finalized and the Vital Records Office of the Department of Health. Requesters will find divorce decrees and case files through the Superior Court's Family Division, where divorces are handled, while divorce certificates for divorces finalized after 2014 can be obtained through the Department of Health.

The usual fee for obtaining certified copies of divorce records from the Department of Health is $10 plus $2 processing fee, while certified copies from the Vermont Judiciary cost $5 plus $7.50 postage fee for older cases. These records can also be accessed online through the Department of Health's Order Vital Records website or the court's Public Portal.

Record Source	Platform	Years Covered	Access Type	Fees
Vital Records Office, Vermont Department of Health	Online, mail-in, or in-person	2014 to date	Certified or informational copies of Divorce Certificates	$10 for certified copies plus $2 processing fee
Vermont Superior Court - Family Court Division (in the county where the divorce was finalized)	Online, in-person, or mail-in	Early 1900s to date	Certified copies of Court case files and Divorce Decree	$0.25 to $1 per page or $5 for certified copies
Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA)	In-person or mail-in	Historical cases before 2014	Public or research copies	Free access or an administrative fee, depending on the nature of the request

How to Request Certified Copies of Divorce Records in Vermont

Certified copies of divorce records refer to official documents from state agencies providing proof of dissolved marital unions. These copies carry a seal and authorized signature, which makes them suitable for official uses such as financial transactions, legal proceedings, and identification updates. Only certified copies are recognized as proof of the end of a marriage, and they can be obtained using the following:

Step 1: Determine the type of record you need

The Superior Court maintains case files and divorce decrees, while the Vital Records Office maintains divorce certificates. Knowing the type of record you need will help determine the agency to request from.

Step 2: Prepare your record request

Prepare and fill out your record request based on the required format by the agency. You can obtain the Request for Access to Court Records from the Superior Court clerk. Fill out the request with all required information, such as your details or the names of the parties to the case and the case number.

Step 3: Submit the request and pay the required fees

You can submit your records request through the mail or in person. Requesters who are physically in Vermont can go to the court where the case was finalized to submit the records request or to the Vital Records Office. Requesters who are not in Vermont can use the online services of these agencies or send their requests via mail. These requests must be submitted with payment for the records recovery service and for certification. This payment can be added to the mail package to be sent to the agency.

Step 4: Wait for a response from the agency

Processing of records requests in Vermont's Vital Records Office usually takes between 2 and 3 weeks, while court requests are resolved within a few business days or on the same day.

Copy Type	Where to Request	Who Can Order	Legal Use
Divorce Certificate	Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records Office	Either party, their legal representatives, or any authorized individual or agency	For remarriage, to update identification, legal proceedings, and benefits
Divorce Decree	Vermont Superior Court, Family Division in the relevant county	Either spouse, their attorney, or an authorized requester	Divorce verification, property settlement verification, child custody or support terms verification
Divorce Case Documents	Vermont Superior Court or the State Archives	The public or an eligible requester, based on the age of the records	Background check, legal research, genealogical research

Why Search for Divorce Records in Vermont?

Requesters can search for divorce records in Vermont for various reasons. Basic divorce records, including the case number and names of the parties, are publicly accessible for informational or personal purposes. In contrast, certified and detailed divorce records, such as the divorce decree, can be obtained for administrative or official purposes. Some common reasons why requesters search for divorce records in Vermont include the following:

• For name changes to the pre-marital name
• For identification updates, such as social security records and government-issued IDs
• For legal proceedings such as appeals or case precedent
• For visa and immigration applications
• For background checks done in limited government or professional contexts
• For probate or estate administration
• For beneficiary and insurance updates
• For genealogical or historical research by historians or researchers
• For verification of marital status or history
• For proof of dissolved marriage and eligibility for remarriage

How Long Are Divorce Records Kept in Vermont?

In Vermont, divorce records are maintained perpetually because there are no policies for their removal or destruction due to the passage of time. These records are maintained in the archives of the Department of Health and the Superior Court, where the case was filed and handled. They are maintained according to the policies of the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, as well as the Vermont Judiciary's record retention and management policies, which ensure long-term archiving and accessibility.

The Vital Records Office of the Department of Health will retain and maintain divorce certificates permanently from the year the divorce was finalized. Divorce decrees and case documents are maintained in both physical and digital copies by the Superior Court. These records can also be subsequently uploaded to online records archives to ensure they are retained for as long as possible. Recent divorce records after the 1980s in Vermont can be accessed through the courts and Vital Records Office using records requests, while older divorce records before the 1980s can be accessed through the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.