State guide
Vermont
Vermont’s current judiciary self-help materials treat adult guardianship as a Probate Division matter and describe one adult guardian who may be appointed for personal care, financial affairs, or both. The Judiciary also publishes a specific adult-guardianship filing fee and points people to less restrictive options such as supported decision-making, representative payees, advance directives, and case-management services.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Court that handles adult guardianship
- Adult guardianship petitions are handled in the Probate Division of the Vermont Superior Court.
- What it's called
- guardian or limited guardian for an adult’s personal care, financial affairs, or both
- Official forms and self-help
- Official page →
- Filing fee
- $150.00
- Less-restrictive alternatives
- No standalone Vermont supported decision-making statute was found on the official pages searched, but the Judiciary and DDSD both list supported decision-making and other less restrictive alternatives such as representative payees, advance directives, and case management.
- Law
- 14 V.S.A. chapter 111
Official resources in Vermont
Explains adult guardianship types, alternatives, procedures, and links to the required probate forms.
Lists Probate Division forms, including Guardianship - Adult, and gives self-help contact information.
Publishes Probate Division filing fees, including the fee for adult guardianship.
Official directory for Probate Division locations, phones, and hours, including Chittenden Probate Division.
Key facts for Vermont
- Adult guardianship petitions are filed with the probate division for adults 18 or older, or within four months of turning 18.
- Vermont may appoint a total guardian or a limited guardian for an adult.
- Before filing, the Judiciary lists supported decision making, representative payee, advance directives, and case management as alternatives.
- The published filing fee for guardianship for adult is $150.00.
- Chittenden Probate Division is at 175 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
- The Access and Resource Center phone on the court forms page is 802-879-1185.
County court guardianship pages in Vermont
| Court | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden Probate Division Chittenden | Burlington | 802-651-1518 | Probate Division location for filings, hearings, and guardianship matters; hours are Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except during observed holidays. |
| Access and Resource Center | Not published* | 802-879-1185 | Judiciary self-help contact listed on the Court Forms page for help finding forms and court information. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Read the Adult Guardianships page first and decide whether supported decision making, a representative payee, an advance directive, or case management could meet the person’s needs.
- Use the Probate Division adult-guardianship forms listed on the court forms page and check the Fees page for the current filing fee before filing.
- If you are filing in Chittenden County, confirm location, phone, and hours on the Court Locations page before going to the courthouse.
Not seeing your court or county?
Not every court publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Vermont's population center, for comparison only):
- NH Judicial Branch Information Center, New Hampshire · about 87 miles
- NH Judicial Branch - Guardianship of Incapacitated Person e-Filing Instructions, New Hampshire · about 91 miles
- 9th Circuit - Probate Division - Nashua, New Hampshire · about 115 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.Vermont Judiciary Adult Guardianships
Website →Phone: (802) 879-1185 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Vermont page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.