Want it written for you? Answer a few plain-English questions and get a Statement of Claim laid out so you can copy each field onto the official Small Claims Complaint, plus a script for the hearing and an evidence checklist. Checking is free; $19 for the completed documents.
Check if your Vermont claim qualifiesThe Vermont Small Claims Form
📄 Small Claims Complaint (instructions form 100-00257)
The form that opens your case. Download it free from vermontjudiciary.org.
Vermont Limit, Fee and Filing Rules
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court, Civil Division (small claims) |
| Claim limit | $10,000 |
| Limit: Consumer credit / medical debt collection (12 V.S.A. §5531(e); not reachable from consumer wizard) | $5,000 |
| Limit: Medical debt collection (12 V.S.A. §5531(e)) | $5,000 |
| Claim form | Small Claims Complaint (instructions form 100-00257) |
| Filing fee | $65 ≤$1,000 / $90 >$1,000 (32 V.S.A. § 1431(c)(1)) |
| Serving the defendant | Court mails first-class; sheriff if mail fails (confirm the current service rules with the clerk) |
| Law that sets the limit | 12 V.S.A. § 5531(a) |
| Court data verified | July 9, 2026 |
Filing Deadlines in Vermont
How long the law gives you to file. When the clock starts depends on the claim, so do not leave it late: a claim filed after the deadline can be dismissed however strong it is.
| Type of claim | Time to file | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years | 12 V.S.A. § 511 |
| Oral / verbal agreement | 6 years | 12 V.S.A. § 511 |
| Damage to property | 3 years | 12 V.S.A. § 512(5) |
| Personal injury | 3 years | 12 V.S.A. § 512(4) |
| Unpaid debt or account | 6 years | 12 V.S.A. § 511 |
Not sure which type yours is? The statute of limitations lookup covers more claim types.
Being Sued in Vermont Instead?
If they owe you money: A counterclaim may ask for more than the small-claims limit, but the judgment on it cannot exceed that limit. (12 V.S.A. § 5533(c))
The been-sued deadline lookup covers what happens if you do nothing.
Where to Get the Official Vermont Forms
Court forms are free from the official sources below. Use the current version from your court.
- Official claim form — vermontjudiciary.org
- Official source — vermontjudiciary.org
- Official source — vermontjudiciary.org
- The clerk of the Superior Court, Civil Division (small claims) — can give you the current form and tell you whether your court adds any local paperwork.
Where to File in Vermont, What It Costs, and Why $5,000 Is Out of Date
Vermont runs one statewide small claims procedure in the Civil Division of the Superior Court, so there is no county-specific form or local variant to track down.
- Filing fee. Set by statute, not by the county: $65 for a claim of $1,000 or less and $90 above that, under 32 V.S.A. § 1431(c)(1).
- The limit is $10,000, not $5,000. Vermont doubled it under 2023 Act 46 (S.33) § 9, effective June 5, 2023 (12 V.S.A. § 5531(a)). Third-party guides still quoting $5,000 for a general money claim are describing the pre-2023 law. The $5,000 figure does survive in one place: consumer-credit and medical-debt collection claims, under 12 V.S.A. § 5531(e).
Source: legislature.vermont.gov. Confirm with the court before you rely on it.
How does Vermont compare? See the small claims limits and filing fees for every state.
Vermont Small Claims Forms: FAQ
❓ What form do I file to start a small claims case in Vermont?
The form that opens the case is the Small Claims Complaint. The official source is vermontjudiciary.org. Court-issued forms are free; you pay only the filing fee.
❓ How much can you sue for in Vermont small claims court?
In Vermont you can claim up to $10,000 in the Superior Court, Civil Division (small claims). Different limits apply in some cases: Consumer credit / medical debt collection (12 V.S.A. §5531(e); not reachable from consumer wizard), $5,000; Medical debt collection (12 V.S.A. §5531(e)), $5,000. If your claim is larger, you can usually reduce it to the limit or file in a higher court instead.
❓ How much does it cost to file small claims in Vermont?
The filing fee is $65 ≤$1,000 / $90 >$1,000 (32 V.S.A. § 1431(c)(1)). Serving the defendant usually costs extra.
❓ Can you fill in the Vermont small claims form for me?
We write a Statement of Claim from your answers, laid out so you can copy each field onto the official Small Claims Complaint yourself — we do not produce the form itself. It comes with a script for the hearing and an evidence checklist.
Want it written for you?
A few plain-English questions about your Vermont case, then review and file. Checking is free; $19 for the completed documents.
Check if your Vermont claim qualifiesGeneral information, not legal advice. SmallClaimsHelper prepares documents; it is not a law firm.