Vermont Code — 12
Browse 919 sections in division 12 of the Vermont code. Each section page includes the full statutory text, official source links, and citation guidance.
Sections (showing up to 300)
- § 1. Rules of pleading, practice, and procedure; forms The Supreme Court is empowered to prescribe and amend from time to
- § 2. Definitions As used in sections 3 and 4 of this chapter: (1) “Adopting authority” means the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the Chief Superior
- § 3. Legislative Committee on Judicial Rules
- § 4. Review by legislative committee
- § 5. Dissemination of electronic case records
- § 61. Disqualification for interest
- § 62. Judge acting as referee, auditor, commissioner, or master
- § 63. Nisi prius judge sitting en banc or on appeal A Justice of the Supreme Court or Superior judge shall not sit at the trial of a cause en banc which he or she tried in a Superior Court. (Amended 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 64. Jurors—Conviction of crime; citizenship and residence A person
- § 65. Party to action pending at same term A person duly summoned as a petit juror at a stated term of the Superior Court
- § 121. Supreme Court When a party violates a lawful
- § 122. Superior judge or Superior Court When a party violates an order made against him or her in a cause brought to or
- § 123. Imprisonment for contempt
- § 181. Agreements required to be written
- § 182. Representations as to another An action shall not
- § 183. Extension of time when there is a surety Where the performance of a contract is secured by the obligation of a surety,
- § 251. §§ 251, 252.
- § 401. Supreme Court Actions in the Supreme Court shall be brought before one of the stated terms thereof at the place designated by law for holding the same.
- § 402. Superior Court actions, venue generally
- § 403. Patent rights An action to recover a debt or demand, arising from the sale of or license to use a patent
- § 404. Removal to another unit
- § 405. District Court Writs in the District Court shall be returnable as ordered by the Supreme Court either at
- § 406. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 461. Actions by State The limitations prescribed in this
- § 462. Lands for a public, pious, or charitable use Nothing contained in this chapter shall extend to lands given, granted, sequestered, or appropriated to a public, pious, or charitable use, or to lands belonging to the
- § 463. Counterclaims and cross-claims
- § 464. Actions specially limited by other provisions The provisions of this chapter shall not affect an action otherwise specially limited by law.
- § 465. Limitations or waiving limitation of actions in contracts
- § 466. When action deemed commenced
- § 501. Recovery of lands Except as otherwise provided in
- § 502. Entry into houses or lands A person having right or title of entry into houses or lands shall not enter after 15 years from the time such right of entry accrues.
- § 503. Covenant of seisin Actions brought on a covenant of seisin in a deed of conveyance of land shall be brought within 15 years after the cause of actions accrues, and not after.
- § 504. Covenant of warranty An action founded on covenant
- § 505. Covenants other than warranty or seisin An action
- § 506. Judgments Actions on judgments and actions for the renewal or revival of judgments shall be brought by
- § 507. Specialties Actions on specialties shall be brought within eight years after the cause of action accrues, and not after.
- § 508. Witnessed promissory note An action brought on a
- § 509. Evidence of debt issued by a monied corporation
- § 510. Liability of stockholders and of foreign corporations An action to enforce the liability of stockholders to the
- § 511. Civil action A civil action, except one brought
- § 512. Assault and battery; false imprisonment; slander and libel; injuries to person or property Actions for the following causes shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, and not after:
- § 513. Skiing, injuries sustained while participating in sport of
- § 514. Insufficiency of bridge An action against a town
- § 515. Neglect of official duty of town clerk An
- § 516. Misfeasance of sheriff or deputy Actions against sheriffs
- § 517. Taxes paid under protest An action to recover money paid under protest for taxes shall be commenced within one year after the cause of action accrues, and not after.
- § 518. Ionizing radiation injury; latent
- § 519. Emergency medical care
- § 520. Payment of wages Actions brought on a violation of 21 V.S.A. § 342 shall be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues, and not after. (Added 1977, No. 244 (Adj
- § 521. Medical malpractice Notwithstanding section 512 of this title, and except as provided in sections 518 and 551 of this
- § 522. Actions based on childhood sexual or physical abuse
- § 523. Trade secrets An action for misappropriation of trade secrets under 9 V.S.A. chapter 143 shall be commenced within six years after the cause of action accrues, and not after
- § 524. Actions based on residential building energy standards
- § 525. Actions based on discrimination An action under 9 V.S.A. § 4506
- § 551. Minority, incapacity, or imprisonment
- § 552. Absence from State
- § 553. Member of Armed Services; tolling statute of limitations When an inhabitant of this State is in the Military or Naval Service of the United
- § 554. Alien enemies in time of war When a
- § 555. Fraud When a person entitled to bring a
- § 555a. Fraudulent transfers Limitations of actions with respect to fraudulent transfers or obligations under 9
- § 556. Injunction staying action When the commencement of an
- § 557. Death of party
- § 558. New action after failure of original action
- § 559. Rights not affected by a descent cast The
- § 560. Childhood sexual abuse
- § 591. New promise must be in writing and signed
- § 592. Indorsement or memorandum of payment This chapter shall
- § 593. Joint promisors—Promise or payment by one When there
- § 594. Recovery where action not barred as to all
- § 595. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 651. §§ 651-653.
- § 654. Signing of original writs
- § 655. §§ 655-658.
- § 659. Repealed. 1973, No. 249 (Adj
- § 660. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 661. Repealed. 1973, No. 249 (Adj
- § 662. Signing citations attached to highway petitions Superior judges may sign citations returnable to the Superior Court in
- § 691. Service of civil or criminal process
- § 692. Deputy sheriffs Deputy sheriffs shall have the same powers and be subject to the same liabilities in the service of process as sheriffs, whether the process is directed to the sheriff or the deputy
- § 693. Constables In the service of process, constables shall have the same powers and be subject to the same liabilities and penalties as sheriffs.
- § 694. Disqualifications
- § 695. Receipt for process A person may demand a receipt of an officer to whom he or she delivers a writ or precept, in which the sum or thing in demand, the date of such writ or precept and of its delivery, shall be stated
- § 696. Sheriffs’ duties to receive, execute, and return writs
- § 697. Sheriffs’ liabilities A sheriff who willfully refuses or
- § 698. Special deputations
- § 699. Removal or resignation of sheriff A sheriff removed from or resigning his or her office or at the expiration of his or her term of office may execute writs or precepts in his or her hands at the time
- § 700. Completion of service of process or foreclosure of
- § 701. Summons
- § 731. Indifferent person, appointment of When a summons, writ, or other process is not specially required by law to be
- § 732. Power of specially appointed person The person so appointed shall have the power of a sheriff in the service and return of the process, and he or she shall make proof of the service by affidavit. (Amended 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 733. Fees When the service of any process is made for a party by a person specially appointed for that purpose,
- § 734. Property taken from specially appointed person by officer When property is attached or taken in execution by a person
- § 735. Delivery of writ; return; completion of service When property is taken as outlined in section 734 of this title, the
- § 736. Officer’s duties and liabilities
- § 771. §§ 771-775.
- § 776. Repealed. 1969, No. 222 (Adj
- § 777. Repealed. 1973, No. 249 (Adj
- § 778. Repealed. 1967, No. 233 (Adj
- § 779. Repealed. 1969, No. 222 (Adj
- § 780. Indorsement of fees The officer serving process shall
- § 811. §§ 811-813.
- § 814. Partnerships and unincorporated associations—suit in firm name; service
- § 815. Nonabatement on change in officers or members Such
- § 816. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 851. Service on Secretary of State A business organization is subject to the service of process provisions in 11 V.S.A. § 1656. (Amended 2025, No. 10, § 25, eff
- § 852. Fees; mailing of copy to business organization
- § 853. Doing business by particular companies without designating process agent; penalty A person or agent for a foreign
- § 854. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 855. Doing business as appointment of process agent If the contact with the State or the activity in the State of a foreign
- § 856. Service of process
- § 857. Repealed. 2025, No. 10, § 25, eff
- § 858. Repealed. 2025, No. 10, § 25, eff
- § 891. Commissioner of Motor Vehicles as process agent The acceptance by a person of the rights and privileges conferred upon
- § 892. Service on Commissioner; mailing copies; fees
- § 893. Continuances; costs The court in which the action is pending may order such continuances as may be necessary to afford the defendant reasonable opportunity to defend the same
- § 911. §§ 911, 912.
- § 913. Effect of service outside the State
- § 914. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 915. Repealed. 1973, No. 249 (Adj
- § 916. §§ 916-922.
- § 971. §§ 971-974.
- § 1021. §§ 1021-1035.
- § 1036. Contributory and comparative negligence
- § 1037. Acceptance of inherent risks Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1036 of this title, a person who takes part in
- § 1038. Skiing off designated ski trails; collision; duty to report; recovery for rescue expenses
- § 1039. Equine activities; acceptance of inherent risks
- § 1040. Eminent domain; restrictions on use; conferring of private benefit; economic development
- § 1041. Exercise of rights to free speech and to petition government for redress of grievances; special motion to strike
- § 1042. Certificate of merit
- § 1043. Nonconsensual removal of or tampering with a condom
- § 1071. §§ 1071-1075.
- § 1076. Release of claim for personal injury or death—disavowal of agreement An agreement entered into by a person or his or
- § 1077. Tender of compensation When an agreement is disavowed, the claimant or his or her legal representative shall tender any consideration received to the person who paid or delivered the same. (1961, No. 269, § 2, eff
- § 1131. §§ 1131, 1132.
- § 1133. Repealed. 1959, No. 261, § 68.
- § 1161. Repealed. 1967, No. 311 (Adj
- § 1231. §§ 1231-1247.
- § 1248. Depositions to be used outside State; commissioners of other states; law governing A person who is appointed or
- § 1249. §§ 1249-1251.
- § 1261. §§ 1261-1267.
- § 1281. §§ 1281-1286.
- § 1401. §§ 1401-1475.
- § 1501. §§ 1501-1505.
- § 1521. §§ 1521-1523.
- § 1601. Interest of witness; effect on qualifications and credibility A person shall not be disqualified as a witness in a civil cause or proceeding by reason of his or her interest therein as a party or otherwise
- § 1602. When one party is dead or lacks capacity to testify due to a mental condition or psychiatric disability
- § 1603. When executor or administrator is a party When an executor or administrator is a party, the other party shall not be
- § 1604. Value of property; owner as competent witness The owner of real or personal property shall be a competent witness to testify as to the value thereof.
- § 1605. Husband and wife Husband and wife shall be competent witnesses for or against each other in all cases,
- § 1606. Religious belief A person shall not be incompetent
- § 1607. Priests and ministers A priest or minister of
- § 1608. Conviction of crime A person shall not be incompetent as a witness in any court, matter, or proceeding by reason of the person’s conviction of a crime
- § 1609. Admissibility of written statements
- § 1610. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 1611. Written statements; consent of physician or parent In
- § 1612. Patient’s privilege
- § 1613. Lawyer-corporate client privilege
- § 1614. Victim and crisis worker privilege
- § 1615. Journalist’s privilege
- § 1621. §§ 1621, 1622.
- § 1623. Penalty for disobeying subpoena
- § 1624. Mittimus to compel attendance
- § 1641. Repealed. 1959, No. 261, § 68.
- § 1641a. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 1642. Impeachment of own witness When, in the opinion of the court, a witness produced by a party is adverse, such party, by leave of court, may prove that such witness has made statements inconsistent with his or her testimony
- § 1643. Expert witness An expert witness may be asked to state his or her opinion based on the witness’ personal
- § 1644. Witnesses may be examined separately On the trial of a civil cause, in its discretion, upon the application of either
- § 1645. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 1646. Evidence of sexual conduct
- § 1661. Attesting witnesses to wills and other instruments The provisions of sections 1601-1609 and 1642 of this title shall
- § 1662. Self incrimination—generally The provisions of sections 1601-1609 and 1642 of this title shall not compel a person to subject himself or herself by his or her testimony to a prosecution for a criminal offense. (Amended 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 1663. Suits or prosecutions for fraudulent conveyances When a person testifies in a suit or proceeding at law, his or her
- § 1664. Immunity of witnesses
- § 1691. Production of books and papers; subpoena duces tecum
- § 1691a. Procedure for production of employee personnel records
- § 1692. Certified copies of public records admissible Unless otherwise provided, a certified or photographic copy of a record
- § 1693. Weather record
- § 1694. Municipal ordinances; references in prosecutions
- § 1695. Records of births, civil marriages, and deaths
- § 1696. Foreign records—births, marriages, and deaths A copy of
- § 1697. Deeds, mortgages, and other public records A copy
- § 1698. Judgments A copy of the record of a
- § 1699. Foreign laws and decisions; determination by court
- § 1700. Uniform Business Records as Evidence Act
- § 1701. Uniform Photographic Copies of Business and Public Records as Evidence Act
- § 1702. Missing persons—finding of presumed death under Federal Missing Persons Act A written finding of presumed death, made by the officer or employee of the United
- § 1703. Report as to status An official written report
- § 1704. Finding or report as prima facie evidence For the purposes of sections 1702-1704 of this title any finding, report, or
- § 1705. HIV-related testing information
- § 1901. Exclusion of public When a cause of scandalous
- § 1902. Repealed. 1969, No. 222 (Adj
- § 1903. §§ 1903, 1904.
- § 1905. Eminent domain; findings of damages; instructions to jury
- § 1906. Repealed. 1959, No. 261, § 68.
- § 1907. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 1908. Burden of proof For the purpose of this section, malpractice shall mean professional medical negligence comprised of the elements listed herein
- § 1909. Limitation of medical malpractice action based on lack of informed consent
- § 1910. §§ 1910, 1911.
- § 1912. Expression of regret or apology by health care provider inadmissible
- § 1913. Blockchain enabling
- § 1941. Jury challenges; peremptory and for cause Upon the trial of a cause in any court, each party, including the State, may peremptorily challenge six jurors and any further number for cause.
- § 1942. Repealed. 1973, No. 118, § 25, eff
- § 1943. Confinement and care of jury When the court has committed a cause to its consideration, the jury shall be confined until it agrees on a verdict or is discharged
- § 1944. Appointment of jury foreman In the trial of a cause in the Superior Court by jury, the court shall appoint one of the jurors foreman at the time such cause is submitted. (Amended 1973, No. 193 (Adj
- § 1945. Return of jury for further consideration
- § 1946. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 1947. Treating jurors; new trial A verdict shall be
- § 1948. View of premises by jury When on the trial of a cause in the Superior Court for damages to real estate, or
- § 1949. Repealed. 2009, No. 154 (Adj
- § 1981. §§ 1981-1989.
- § 2041. §§ 2041-2044.
- § 2061. §§ 2061-2063.
- § 2081. §§ 2081-2084.
- § 2131. Costs in Supreme Court In all causes of
- § 2132. §§ 2132-2135.
- § 2136. Costs in Supreme and Superior Courts when nominal damages are recovered When the plaintiff in an action in Superior or
- § 2137. Costs exceeding damages
- § 2138. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2139. Tender of confession of judgment
- § 2140. §§ 2140, 2141.
- § 2142. Apportioning costs in case of several issues or claims
- § 2143. Actions which might have been joined If more
- § 2144. Two judgments at one term; motion to chancer
- § 2145. Action on receipt for property levied upon Costs
- § 2146. Account which might have been adjusted in former
- § 2147. Action on judgment upon which execution might have
- § 2148. Consolidation of actions against directors
- § 2149. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2150. Actions on negotiable paper or nonnegotiable choses in
- § 2151. When defendant pleads bankruptcy and prevails In actions
- § 2152. Penalty for taxing or taking illegal costs or
- § 2351. §§ 2351-2356.
- § 2357. Appeals in probate proceedings—Fraud, accident, or mistake When the petitioner has been prevented from taking or
- § 2358. Service of petition; time limitation The petition shall be filed and served on the adverse party like a summons and complaint
- § 2359. §§ 2359-2361.
- § 2362. Recognizance on petition to enter an appeal A petition to enter an appeal shall not issue until a Justice of the
- § 2363. Stay of proceedings; bail and liens not affected In his or her discretion, a justice or judge of the court having
- § 2364. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2365. Copy of process and recognizance to be filed
- § 2366. Failure to prosecute petition If the petition is not served or filed within such time as the Supreme Court may by rule provide for the service or filing of the complaint in a civil action in a Superior
- § 2381. §§ 2381, 2382.
- § 2383. Time for filing notice of appeal
- § 2384. §§ 2384, 2385.
- § 2386. Passing causes before final judgment
- § 2387. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2388. Repealed. 1973, No. 118, § 25, eff
- § 2389. §§ 2389, 2390.
- § 2421. Repealed. 1959, No. 261, § 68.
- § 2422. Appeal by State In a suit or prosecution in the name of the State, tried in the Superior Court, the
- § 2423. §§ 2423-2428.
- § 2429. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2430. Repealed. 1959, No. 261, § 68.
- § 2431. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2432. Passing causes to Supreme Court; recognizance in ejectment cases In actions brought under the provisions of sections
- § 2433. Repealed. 1959, No. 261, § 68.
- § 2491. §§ 2491-2496.
- § 2497. Limitation of time for proceedings in certiorari Proceedings in certiorari shall be commenced within one year after the rendition of the judgment or order to review which proceedings are commenced
- § 2551. Supreme Court jurisdiction of probate proceedings in Superior Courts The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction of
- § 2552. Repealed. 1959, No. 261, § 68.
- § 2553. Appeals to Civil Division; appellate jurisdiction The Civil Division of the Superior Court shall have appellate
- § 2554. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2555. Appeal to Civil Division
- § 2556. Appeal from commissioners
- § 2557. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2558. §§ 2558-2560.
- § 2561. Appeal by creditor, devisee, legatee or heir When an executor or administrator declines to appeal from the decision of
- § 2562. §§ 2562-2565.
- § 2566. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2567. Costs on appeal If costs are taxed against an executor or administrator on appeal to the Supreme or
- § 2568. Repealed. 1959, No. 261, § 68.
- § 2569. §§ 2569-2571.
- § 2621. §§ 2621-2623.
- § 2624. §§ 2624-2627.
- § 2628. §§ 2628-2630.
- § 2681. Executions in Supreme and Superior Courts; time
- § 2682. Names of attorneys to be indorsed The name of an attorney of record for the plaintiff, and for the defendant, if any, shall be indorsed on such execution by the officer signing the same.
- § 2683. Executions on judgments of District Courts; time Executions issued upon a judgment rendered by a District Court shall be made returnable within 60 days from the date thereof
- § 2684. Collection of execution enjoined, time not reckoned When the collection of an execution in the hands of an officer is enjoined, such officer may retain the same
- § 2685. Continuance of subsequent attachments If attached property is encumbered by a prior attachment, the subsequent
- § 2686. Execution for subsequent attaching creditor
- § 2687. Repealed. 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2688. Officer to endorse time of receiving; preference When an execution issued on a judgment is received by an officer
- § 2689. Officer to demand payment Such officer shall repair
- § 2690. Appointment of agent of creditor
- § 2691. Executions against trustees of colleges or proprietors of
- § 2692. Invalid and informal levies—New execution When an execution is levied on real or personal estate, and it afterwards
- § 2693. When costs not allowed
- § 2694. Repealed. 1973, No. 249 (Adj
- § 2695. Defective execution on real estate; application Where an execution has been levied on real estate and the levy, sale,
- § 2696. Levy valid if affirmed or action not brought When the action is not brought within the time limited or if on hearing
- § 2697. Costs Costs may be taxed for either party on the action. (Amended 1971, No. 185 (Adj
- § 2731. Levy on personal property When the execution with
- § 2732. Goods, effects, and credits held by third person On request of the judgment creditor, the clerk of the court granting
- § 2733. Advertisement
- § 2734. Sale When the debtor does not satisfy the
- § 2735. Application of proceeds The monies arising from such sales shall be applied to the payment of the charges and the satisfaction of the execution
- § 2736. Penalty for not paying to creditor An officer
- § 2737. Officer’s return The officer serving the execution shall
- § 2738. Action against officer for fraud or collusion When
- § 2739. United States currency United States currency may be taken in execution and paid to the creditor as money collected. (Amended 1971, No. 185 (Adj