15A V.S.A. § 201 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 201
§ 3-201. Appointment of attorney or guardian ad litem
Status: in_force

(a) In a proceeding under this title which may result in the termination of a relationship of parent and child, the court shall appoint an attorney for any person who is indigent, a minor, or incompetent who appears in the proceeding and whose parental relationship to a child may be terminated, unless the court finds that the minor or person who is incompetent has sufficient financial means to hire an attorney, or the person who is indigent declines to be represented by an attorney.

(b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor adoptee in a contested proceeding under this title and may appoint a guardian ad litem for a minor adoptee in an uncontested proceeding.
15B V.S.A. § 1703 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 17 / Section 1703
§ 1703. Relationship of support enforcement agency to the U.S. central authority
Status: in_force

The support enforcement agency of this State is recognized as the agency designated by the U.S. central authority to perform specific functions under the Convention.
15 V.S.A. § 594a — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 594a
§ 594a. Temporary relief
Status: in_force

Either party or both parties to a civil marriage may apply for temporary relief at any time following the separation of the parties to the marriage coincidental with, or subsequent to the filing of complaint for absolute divorce or legal separation. The court to which the cause is returnable, or a Superior judge, on such notice to the adverse party as the court or judge directs, may make such orders pending final hearing and further order of the court as the court would be authorized to make upon final hearing. A prompt hearing will be held, and the evidence shall be recorded by a court reporter. The court or judge shall issue an order within 14 days from the date of the hearing. Failure of the court or judge to issue an order within 14 days shall not affect the validity of any order issued after the 14-day period.
15 V.S.A. § 1078 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1078
§ 1078. Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 1074 of this title or other Vermont law, if a Vermont court has jurisdiction under this chapter because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction unless:

(1) the parents and all persons acting as parents have acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction;

(2) a court of the state otherwise having jurisdiction under sections 1071-1073 of this title determines that Vermont is a more appropriate forum under section 1077 of this title; or

(3) no court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in sections 1071-1073 of this title.

(b) If a Vermont court declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, it may fashion an appropriate remedy to ensure the safety of the child and prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a child custody proceeding is commenced in a court having jurisdiction under sections 1071-1073 of this title.

(c) If a court dismisses a petition or stays a proceeding because it declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, it may assess against the party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction necessary and reasonable expenses, including costs, communication expenses, attorney's fees, investigative fees, expenses for witnesses, travel expenses, and child care during the course of the proceedings, unless the party from whom fees are sought establishes that the assessment would be clearly inappropriate. The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against Vermont unless authorized by law other than this chapter.
15B V.S.A. § 1101 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 11 / Section 1101
§ 1101. Short title
Status: in_force

This title may be cited as the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.
15A V.S.A. § 103 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 1 / Section 103
§ 1-103. Name of adoptee after adoption
Status: in_force

The name of an adoptee designated in a decree of adoption takes effect as specified in the decree.
15A V.S.A. § 107 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 6 / Section 107
§ 6-107. Release of original birth certificate
Status: in_force

(a) A certified copy of an adoptee's original birth certificate and any evidence of the adoption previously filed with the State Registrar shall be released to persons identified in subsection 6-105(a) of this title upon request. The copy of the original birth certificate shall clearly indicate that it may not be used for identification purposes. The State Registrar shall develop a notice to accompany an original birth certificate requested pursuant to this section that advises the requestor of the potential availability of former parent contact preference information that may be obtained through the Registry.

(b) When 99 years have elapsed after the date of birth of an adoptee whose original birth certificate is sealed under this title, the Department of Health shall unseal the original certificate and file it with any new or amended certificate that has been issued. The unsealed certificate becomes a public record in accordance with any statute or regulation applicable to the retention and disclosure of birth certificates.

(c)(1) A person who is listed as a parent on an adoptee's original birth certificate may file a contact preference form with the Registry. The contact preference form shall be developed by the Registry and shall indicate whether the parent would:

(A) like to be contacted by the adoptee;

(B) prefer to be contacted by the adoptee only through an intermediary; or

(C) prefer not to be contacted by the adoptee at this time.

(2) A contact preference form shall include space where the parent may include information that the parent feels is important for the adoptee to know.

(3) A contact preference form may be withdrawn or revised at any time.

(d) Upon filing with the Registry, the contact preference form shall be confidential and exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act pursuant to section 6-102 of this title.

(e) Upon request, persons identified in subsection 6-105(a) of this title may receive from the Registry the indicated contact preference choice from the filed contact preference form or nondisclosure form provided by the adoptee's former parent.
15B V.S.A. § 1707 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 17 / Section 1707
§ 1707. Contest of registered convention support order
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, sections 1605 through 1608 of this title apply to a contest of a registered Convention support order.

(b) A party contesting a registered Convention support order must file a contest not later than 30 days after notice of the registration, but if the contesting party does not reside in the United States, the contest shall be filed not later than 60 days after notice of the registration.

(c) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the registered Convention support order by the time specified in subsection (b) of this section, the order is enforceable.

(d) A contest of a registered Convention support order may be based only on grounds set forth in section 1708 of this title. The contesting party bears the burden of proof.

(e) In a contest of a registered Convention support order, a tribunal of this State:

(1) is bound by the findings of fact on which the foreign tribunal based its jurisdiction; and

(2) may not review the merits of the order.

(f) A tribunal of this State deciding a contest of a registered Convention support order shall promptly notify the parties of its decision.

(g) A challenge or appeal, if any, does not stay the enforcement of a Convention support order unless there are exceptional circumstances.
15C V.S.A. § 610 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 6 / Section 610
§ 610. Costs of genetic testing
Status: in_force

(a) The costs of initial genetic testing shall be paid:

(1) by the Office of Child Support in a proceeding in which the Office is providing services, if the Office requests such testing;

(2) as agreed by the parties or, if the parties cannot agree, by the person who made the request for genetic testing; or

(3) as ordered by the court.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a person who challenges a presumption, acknowledgment, or admission of parentage shall bear the cost for any genetic testing requested by such person.

(c) In cases in which the payment for the costs of initial genetic testing is advanced pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Office of Child Support may seek reimbursement from the genetic parent whose parent-child relationship is established.
15 V.S.A. § 781 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 781
§ 781. Withholding wages upon issuance or modification of support order after July 1, 1990
Status: in_force

All orders for child support made or modified on or after July 1, 1990 shall include an order for immediate wage withholding in an amount equal to the support obligation and any obligation to pay support arrearages, unless the court finds good cause not to order immediate wage withholding or the parties have entered into an alternative arrangement by written agreement which is affirmatively stated in the order. In determining good cause, the court may consider a history of financial responsibility toward the family and the absence of any threat by the obligor to withhold financial support from the family.
15 V.S.A. § 291 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 5 / Section 291
§ 291. When a married person deserts or fails to support his or her spouse
Status: in_force

(a) When a married person without just cause fails to furnish suitable support for that person's spouse, or has deserted such spouse, or when a married person, for a justifiable cause, is actually living apart from such spouse, on the complaint of either married person, or, if the deserted spouse has a mental condition or psychiatric disability, on the complaint of a guardian or next friend, the Superior Court, by its order, may prohibit either spouse from imposing restraint on the other's personal liberty for such time as the court in such order directs, or until further order.

(b) Upon the application of the husband or wife, or of the guardian or next friend of either spouse, such court may make such orders as it deems expedient concerning the support of either spouse and the care, custody, education, and maintenance of the minor children of the parties. It may determine with which of the parents the children, or any of them, shall remain, and thereafter, from time to time, on similar application, may revise and alter such order, or make a new order or decree, as the case requires.

(c) The complaint may be brought in the county in which either of the parties resides, except that, if the complainant has left the county in which the parties have lived together, the adverse party still residing therein, the complaint shall be brought in that county.

(d) When complaint is made as provided in this section, a summons shall be issued to the other party directing him or her to cause his or her appearance therein to be entered not later than 21 days after the date of the service thereof and show cause why the prayer of the complaint should not be granted, which summons and the complaint shall be served on such party as provided by section 596 of this title.

(e) After filing such complaint the Superior Court in which the cause is pending, or a Superior judge, on application of either party, may make such order concerning the care and custody of such minor children, or the support of either spouse, during the pendency of the complaint, as is deemed expedient and for the benefit of either spouse or the children.

(f) When filed and recorded in the office of the clerk of a town, or served upon a private corporation, such order shall be a lien upon such of the real estate and personal property of the defendant in such town, and upon the stock of the defendant in such corporation as is mentioned in the order.

(g) For the purposes of this section, “children” shall include stepchildren.
15A V.S.A. § 110 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 4 / Section 110
§ 4-110. Evaluation of stepparent
Status: in_force

(a) After a petition for adoption of a minor stepchild is filed, the court may order that an evaluation be made by a person qualified under section 2-202 of this title to assist the court in determining whether the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the minor.

(b) The court shall provide an evaluator with copies of the petition for adoption and of the items filed with the petition.

(c) Unless otherwise directed by the court, an evaluator shall base the evaluation on a personal interview with the petitioner and the petitioner's spouse in the petitioner's residence, observation of the relationship between the minor and the petitioner, a personal interview with others who know the petitioner and may have information relevant to the examination, and any information received pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.

(d) An evaluation under this section shall be in writing and contain the following:

(1) the information required by subsections 2-203(d) and (e) of this title; and

(2) the information required by subdivisions 3-602(b)(2) through (5) of this title.

(e) Subsection 3-603(b) of this title shall apply to an evaluation under this section.

(f) If the court does not order an evaluation, the preference of the minor who is less than 14 years old shall be taken into consideration, if the minor is mature enough to express a preference.

(g) Whether or not an evaluation is ordered, the court shall obtain the information required by subdivisions 2-203(d)(7)-(9).

(h) The court may charge a reasonable fee for services it performs pursuant to this section.
15 V.S.A. § 69 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 3 / Section 69
§ 69. Liability for debts or torts of spouse
Status: in_force

A married person shall not be liable for a debt contracted by his or her spouse before marriage, nor for the torts of his or her spouse unless committed by the person's authority or direction.
15A V.S.A. § 111 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 1 / Section 111
§ 1-111. Mental health and educational services
Status: in_force

(a) Within six months of the effective date of this title, the agency of human services shall adopt standards for certification of adoption counselors. These standards shall include a description of:

(1) the prerequisites to application for certification including qualification to practice in the social work or the mental health field in an agency, a community mental health center, or in the private sector;

(2) the nature and duration of professional experience which may qualify applicants for certification without further training and examination;

(3) the training and examination process which will be made available to applicants who do not qualify for certification under subdivision (a)(2) of this section. Training and examination shall be made available to applicants at least annually.

(b) The cost of certification shall be borne by the applicant for certification.

(c) The agency of human services shall disseminate to the public:

(1) a list of certified adoption counselors;

(2) information about access to identifying and nonidentifying information contained in confidential adoption records;

(3) educational brochures on adoption, including legal and psychological issues.
15 V.S.A. § 4 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 1 / Section 4
§ 4. Civil marriage contracted while one in force
Status: in_force

Civil marriages contracted while either party is legally married or joined in civil union to a living person other than the party to that marriage shall be void.
15B V.S.A. § 1203 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 12 / Section 1203
§ 1203. Initiating and responding tribunal
Status: in_force

Under this title, a tribunal of this State may serve as an initiating tribunal to forward proceedings to a tribunal of another state, and as a responding tribunal for proceedings initiated in another state or foreign country.
15A V.S.A. § 204 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 204
§ 3-204. Custody during pendency of proceeding
Status: in_force

In order to protect the welfare of the minor, the court shall make an interim order for custody of a minor adoptee according to the best interests of the minor in a contested proceeding under this title for adoption or termination of a parental relationship and may make an interim order for custody in an uncontested proceeding.
15 V.S.A. § 752 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 752
§ 752. Maintenance
Status: in_force

(a) In an action under this chapter, the court may order either spouse to make maintenance payments, either rehabilitative or long term in nature, to the other spouse if it finds that the spouse seeking maintenance:

(1) lacks sufficient income or property, or both, including property apportioned in accordance with section 751 of this title, to provide for his or her reasonable needs; and

(2) is unable to support himself or herself through appropriate employment at the standard of living established during the civil marriage or is the custodian of a child of the parties.

(b) The maintenance order shall be in such amounts and for such periods of time as the court deems just, after considering all relevant factors, including:

(1) the financial resources of the party seeking maintenance, the property apportioned to the party, the party's ability to meet his or her needs independently, and the extent to which a provision for support of a child living with the party contains a sum for that party as custodian;

(2) the time and expense necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find appropriate employment;

(3) the standard of living established during the civil marriage;

(4) the duration of the civil marriage;

(5) the age and the physical and emotional condition of each spouse;

(6) the ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his or her reasonable needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance;

(7) inflation with relation to the cost of living;

(8) the impact of both parties reaching the age of eligibility to receive full retirement benefits under Title II of the federal Social Security Act or the parties' actual retirement, including any expected discrepancies in federal Social Security Retirement benefits; and

(9) the following guidelines:
15 V.S.A. § 516 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 516
§ 516. Force or fraud
Status: in_force

A civil marriage may be annulled during the lifetime of the parties, or one of them, on the ground that the consent of one of the parties was obtained by force or fraud, or the threat of force, or other forms of coercion or deception on the complaint of the party whose consent was so obtained or of the parent or guardian of such party or of some relative interested to contest the validity of the marriage. When such proceedings have been commenced and the party whose consent was so obtained dies before final decree, a parent or relative interested to contest the validity of the civil marriage may enter and prosecute such complaint.
15 V.S.A. § 1151 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1151
§ 1151. Definitions
Status: in_force

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout the subchapter.

(1) “Actual address” means the physical location where the applicant resides and may include a school address or work address of an individual, as specified on the individual's application to be a Program participant under this chapter.

(2) “Agency” means any subdivision of the State of Vermont, a municipality, or a subdivision of a municipality.

(3) “Domestic violence” means an act of abuse as defined in subdivision 1101(1) of this title and includes a threat of such acts committed against an individual in a domestic situation, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers.

(4) “Gender-affirming health care services” has the same meaning as provided in 1 V.S.A. § 150.

(5) “Human trafficking” means conduct prohibited by 13 V.S.A. § 2652 or 2653, and includes a threat of such, regardless of whether the conduct or threat of conduct has been reported to law enforcement officers.

(6) “Law enforcement agency” means the Department of Public Safety, a municipal police department, a sheriff's department, the Attorney General's Office, a State's Attorney's Office, or certified law enforcement officers of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Agency of Natural Resources, or Department of Liquor and Lottery. “Law enforcement agency” also means the Department for Children and Families when engaged in:

(A) the investigation of child abuse and neglect;

(B) the delivery of services to families and children with whom the Department is working pursuant to the provisions of 33 V.S.A. chapters 51, 52, and 53; or

(C) the performance of the Department's responsibilities pursuant to an interstate compact to which the State is a party.

(7) “Law enforcement purpose” means all matters relating to:

(A) the prevention, investigation, prosecution, or adjudication of criminal offenses, civil matters, or juvenile matters;

(B) the investigation, prosecution, adjudication, detention, supervision, or correction of persons suspected, charged, or convicted of criminal offenses or juvenile delinquencies;

(C) the protection of the general health, welfare, and safety of the public or the State of Vermont;

(D) the execution and enforcement of court orders;

(E) service of criminal or civil process or court orders;

(F) screening for criminal justice employment;

(G) other actions taken in performance of official duties, as set forth by statutes, rules, policies, judicial case law, and the U.S. and Vermont Constitutions; and

(H) criminal identification activities, including the collection, storage, and dissemination of criminal history records, as defined in 20 V.S.A. § 2056a(a)(1), sex offender registry information, and DNA material and information.

(8) “Program participant” means a person certified as a Program participant under this chapter.

(9) “Public record” means a public record as defined in 1 V.S.A. § 317.

(10) “Reproductive health care services” has the same meaning as provided in 1 V.S.A. § 150.

(11) “Secretary” means the Vermont Secretary of State.

(12) “Sexual assault” means an act of assault as defined in 13 V.S.A. § 3252(a) or (b) (sexual assault) or 3253(a) (aggravated sexual assault), and includes a threat of such acts, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers.

(13) “Stalking” means conduct as defined in 13 V.S.A. § 1061 (stalking) or 1063 (aggravated stalking), and includes a threat of such acts, regardless of whether these acts or threats have been reported to law enforcement officers.

(14) “Substitute address” means the Secretary's designated address for the Address Confidentiality Program.
15 V.S.A. § 817 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 13 / Section 817
§ 817. Consultation of Sex Offender Registry when form filed
Status: in_force

Upon receipt of a change-of-name form submitted pursuant to section 811 of this title, the Probate Court shall request the Department of Public Safety to determine whether the person's name appears on the Sex Offender Registry established by 13 V.S.A. § 5402. If the person's name appears on the Registry, the Probate Court shall not permit the person to change his or her name unless it finds, after permitting the Department of Public Safety to appear, that there is a compelling purpose for doing so.
15B V.S.A. § 1710 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 17 / Section 1710
§ 1710. Foreign support agreement
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, a tribunal of this State shall recognize and enforce a foreign support agreement registered in this State.

(b) An application or direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreement must be accompanied by:

(1) a complete text of the foreign support agreement; and

(2) a record stating that the foreign support agreement is enforceable as an order of support in the issuing country.

(c) A tribunal of this State may vacate the registration of a foreign support agreement only if, acting on its own motion, the tribunal finds that recognition and enforcement would be manifestly incompatible with public policy.

(d) In a contest of a foreign support agreement, a tribunal of this State may refuse recognition and enforcement of the agreement if it finds:

(1) recognition and enforcement of the agreement is manifestly incompatible with public policy;

(2) the agreement was obtained by fraud or falsification;

(3) the agreement is incompatible with a support order involving the same parties and having the same purpose in this State, another state, or a foreign country if the support order is entitled to recognition and enforcement under this title in this State; or

(4) the record submitted under subsection (b) of this section lacks authenticity or integrity.

(e) A proceeding for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreement must be suspended during the pendency of a challenge to or appeal of the agreement before a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.
15 V.S.A. § 1182 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1182
§ 1182. Order restricting abusive litigation
Status: in_force

(a) A party who meets the requirements of subdivision 1181(1) of this title may request an order restricting abusive litigation:

(1) in any answer or response to the litigation being filed, initiated, advanced, or continued;

(2) by motion made at any time during any open or ongoing case;

(3) in an answer or response to any motion or request for an order; or

(4) orally in any hearing.

(b) Any court of competent jurisdiction may, on its own motion or on motion of a party, determine that a hearing is necessary to determine if a party is engaging in abusive litigation.

(c) Proceedings pursuant to this subchapter may be initiated by petition instituting a new case or by motion in a pending case.

(d) The Court Administrator shall create forms for a petition or motion for an order restricting abusive litigation and an order restricting abusive litigation, and the forms shall be maintained by the clerks of the courts.

(e) No filing fee shall be charged to the unrestricted party for proceedings pursuant to this subchapter, regardless of whether it is filed pursuant to this subchapter.

(f) The provisions of this subchapter are nonexclusive and shall not affect any other remedy available.
15A V.S.A. § 106 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 4 / Section 106
§ 4-106. Content of consent by other persons
Status: in_force

(a) A consent executed by the guardian of a minor stepchild or by an agency shall be in writing and signed or confirmed in the presence of the court, or in a manner the court directs, and:

(1) shall state the circumstances under which the guardian or agency obtained the authority to consent to the adoption of the minor by a stepparent;

(2) shall contain the statements required by sections 4-104 and 4-105 of this title, except for any that can be made only by a parent of the minor; and

(3) may waive notice of the proceeding for adoption, unless the adoption is contested, appealed, or denied.

(b) A consent executed by a minor stepchild in a proceeding for adoption by a stepparent shall be signed or confirmed in the presence of the court or in a manner the court directs.
15C V.S.A. § 616 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 6 / Section 616
§ 616. Precluding establishment of parentage by perpetrator of sexual assault
Status: in_force

(a) In a proceeding in which a person is alleged to have committed a sexual assault that resulted in the birth of a child, the person giving birth may seek to preclude the establishment of the other person's parentage.

(b) This section shall not apply if the person alleged to have committed a sexual assault has previously been adjudicated to be a parent of the child.

(c) In a parentage proceeding, the person giving birth may file a pleading making an allegation under subsection (a) of this section at any time.

(d) The standard of proof that a child was conceived as a result of the person sexually assaulting the person who gave birth to the child may be proven by the petitioner by either of the following:

(1) clear and convincing evidence that the person was convicted of a sexual assault against the person giving birth and that the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault; or

(2) clear and convincing evidence that the person sexually assaulted or sexually exploited the person who gave birth to the child and that the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault or sexual exploitation, regardless of whether criminal charges were brought against the person.

(e) If the court finds that the burden of proof under subsection (d) of this section is met, the court shall enter an order:

(1) adjudicating that the person alleged to have committed a sexual assault is not a parent of the child;

(2) requiring that the Department of Health amend the birth certificate to delete the name of the person precluded as a parent; and

(3) requiring that the person alleged to have committed a sexual assault pay child support or birth-related costs, or both, unless the person giving birth requests otherwise.
15 V.S.A. § 1062 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1062
§ 1062. Proceedings governed by other law
Status: in_force

This chapter does not govern an adoption proceeding or a proceeding pertaining to the authorization of emergency medical care for a child.
15 V.S.A. § 1202 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 23 / Section 1202
§ 1202. Requisites of a valid civil union
Status: in_force

For a civil union to be established in Vermont, it shall be necessary that the parties to a civil union satisfy all of the following criteria:

(1) not be a party to another civil union or a marriage;

(2) be of the same sex;

(3) meet the criteria and obligations set forth in 18 V.S.A. chapter 106.
15 V.S.A. § 661 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 661
§ 661. Child support maintenance supplement
Status: in_force

(a) A party may request a child support maintenance supplement to be paid while a child support obligation arising out of an action for support exists. After considering the respective financial circumstances of the parties, including gross income, assets, liabilities, including tax liabilities, and the obligation to pay child support, the court shall order payment of a child support maintenance supplement to the obligee to correct any disparity in the financial circumstances of the parties if the court finds that the disparity has resulted or will result in a lower standard of living for the child than the child would have if living with the noncustodial parent.

(b) Any sum awarded under this section shall be taken into consideration in making an order under section 752 of this title.

(c) On motion of either parent, a person to whom a child support maintenance supplement has previously been granted, a person previously charged with paying a child support maintenance supplement, and upon a showing of a real, substantial, and unanticipated change of circumstances, the court may annul, vary, or modify a supplement order, whether or not the order is based on a stipulation or agreement. A real, substantial, unanticipated change of circumstances shall be deemed to exist if the proportion of income of the parties varies more than 15 percent from the time the order was issued, or if either parent's gross income changes by more than 15 percent.

(d) This section shall not apply to orders or modifications made prior to April 1, 1987.
15B V.S.A. § 1401 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 14 / Section 1401
§ 1401. Establishment of support order
Status: in_force

(a) If a support order entitled to recognition under this title has not been issued, a responding tribunal of this State with personal jurisdiction over the parties may issue a support order if:

(1) the individual seeking the order resides outside the State; or

(2) the support enforcement agency seeking the order is located outside this State.

(b) The tribunal may issue a temporary child support order if the tribunal determines that such an order is appropriate and the individual ordered to pay is:

(1) a presumed father of the child;

(2) petitioning to have his paternity adjudicated;

(3) identified as the father of the child through genetic testing;

(4) an alleged father who has declined to submit to genetic testing;

(5) shown by clear and convincing evidence to be the father of the child;

(6) an acknowledged father as provided by applicable State law;

(7) the mother of the child; or

(8) an individual who has been ordered to pay child support in a previous proceeding and the order has not been reversed or vacated.

(c) Upon finding, after notice and opportunity to be heard, that an obligor owes a duty of support, the tribunal shall issue a support order directed to the obligor and may issue other orders pursuant to section 1305 of this title.
15 V.S.A. § 1088 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1088
§ 1088. Expedited enforcement of child custody determination
Status: in_force

(a) A petition under this subchapter shall be verified. Certified copies of all orders sought to be enforced and of any order confirming registration shall be attached to the petition. A copy of a certified copy of an order may be attached instead of the original.

(b) A petition for enforcement of a child custody determination shall state:

(1) whether the court that issued the determination identified the jurisdictional basis it relied upon in exercising jurisdiction and, if so, what the basis was;

(2) whether the determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court whose decision must be enforced under this chapter and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding;

(3) whether any proceeding has been commenced that could affect the current proceeding, including proceedings relating to domestic violence, protective orders, termination of parental rights, and adoptions and, if so, identify the court, the case number, and the nature of the proceeding;

(4) the present physical address of the child and the respondent, if known;

(5) whether relief in addition to the immediate physical custody of the child and in addition to attorney's fees is sought, including a request for assistance from law enforcement officials and, if so, the relief sought; and

(6) if the child custody determination has been registered and confirmed under section 1085 of this title, the date and place of registration.

(c) Upon the filing of a petition, the court shall issue an order directing the respondent to appear in person with or without the child at a hearing and may enter any order necessary to ensure the safety of the parties and the child. The hearing must be held on the next judicial day after service of the order unless that date is impossible. In that event, the court shall hold the hearing on the first judicial day possible. The court may extend the date of hearing at the request of the petitioner.

(d) An order issued under subsection (c) of this section shall state the time and place of the hearing and advise the respondent that at the hearing the court will order that the petitioner may take immediate physical custody of the child and will order the payment of fees, costs, and expenses under section 1092 of this title, and the order may schedule a hearing to determine whether further relief is appropriate, unless the respondent appears and establishes that:

(1) the child custody determination has not been registered and confirmed under section 1085 of this title and:

(A) the issuing court did not have jurisdiction under subchapter 2 of this chapter;

(B) the child custody determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so under subchapter 2 of this chapter; or

(C) the respondent was entitled to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with the standards of section 1066 of this title, in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which enforcement is sought; or

(2) the child custody determination for which enforcement is sought was registered and confirmed under section 1084 of this title but has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under subchapter 2 of this chapter.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in section 1090 of this title, the petition and order shall be served by any method authorized by Vermont law upon the respondent and any person who has physical custody of the child.
15 V.S.A. § 653 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 653
§ 653. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Available income” means gross income, less:

(A) the amount of spousal support or preexisting child support obligations, including any court-ordered periodic repayment toward arrearages, actually paid;

[Subdivision (1)(B) shall apply to child support cases filed before July 1, 2010.]

(B) the actual cost to a parent of providing adequate health insurance coverage for the children who are the subject of the order;

[Subdivision (1)(B) as amended by 2009, Act No. 156 (Adj. Sess.), § E.319.2 shall apply to child support cases filed on or after July 1, 2010.]

(B) the actual cost to a parent of providing adequate health insurance coverage or a cash contribution as provided for in section 658 of this title for the children who are the subject of the order;

(C) FICA taxes (7.65 percent for regular wage earners and 15.3 percent for self-employed, or any amount subsequently set by federal law as FICA tax);

(D) State and federal income taxes, calculated as follows:

(i) for custodial parents, using the standard deduction, head of household filing status and exemptions for the parent and for each of the children who are the subject of the order (not to exceed five children), plus earned income tax credits if applicable;

(ii) for noncustodial parents, using the standard deduction, single filing status and one exemption;

(iii) for parents who share custody as defined in section 657 of this title, using the standard deduction, head of household filing status and one exemption for the parent and an equal share of the exemptions attributable to the children who are the subject of the order, plus earned income tax credits if applicable;

(E) in cases where a child is in the custody of the Department for Children and Families:

(i) the additional housing costs necessary to allow for the child's return where the Department for Children and Families plan is for reunification with the parents;

(ii) Family Division of the Superior Court or Department for Children and Families mandated out-of-pocket expenses necessary to comply with the child's case plan.

(2) “Child care costs” means the actual child care costs reasonably incurred by a parent on behalf of the children due to employment or employment related education. Monthly child care costs shall be calculated based on an annualized amount. Child care costs shall not include the amount of child care subsidies or child care tax credits if available.

(3) “Court” means the court with jurisdiction over a child support proceeding.

(4) “Extraordinary expenses” means any extraordinary medical or education expenses, including expenses related to the special needs of a child, incurred on behalf of involved children. Extraordinary medical expenses shall include but not be limited to uninsured annual medical expenses in excess of $200.00.

(5) “Gross income” means actual gross income of a parent.

(A) Gross income shall include:

(i) income from any source, including, but not limited to, income from salaries, wages, commissions, royalties, bonuses, dividends, severance pay, pensions, interest, trust income, annuities, capital gains, Social Security benefits, workers' compensation benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, gifts, prizes, and spousal support actually received. Income at the current rate for long-term U.S. Treasury Bills shall be imputed to nonincome producing assets with an aggregate fair market value of $10,000.00 or more, other than a primary residence and not more than $15,000.00 of the value of a motor vehicle;

(ii) expense reimbursements or in-kind payments received by a parent in the course of employment or self-employment or operation of a business if they reduce personal living expenses;

(iii) the potential income of a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, unless:

(I) the parent is physically or mentally incapacitated; or

(II) the parent is attending a vocational or career technical education or CTE program related to current employment, or a job training program sponsored by the Department of Labor, the Department of Economic Development, or the Agency of Human Services; or

(III) the unemployment or underemployment of the parent is in the best interest of the child;

(iv) gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses where a party is self-employed or derives income from proprietorship of a business, joint ownership of a partnership or a closely held business operation; and rents, minus ordinary and necessary expenses. In determining ordinary and necessary expenses, the court may exclude amounts allowable by the Internal Revenue Service for the accelerated component of depreciation expenses. The court may also determine that other business expenses are inappropriate for determining gross income for purposes of calculating child support.

(B) Gross income shall not include the amount of money received from means tested public assistance programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Income, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and General Assistance.

(6) “Parental support obligation” means the proportion of total support obligation a parent is ordered to pay in money as child support.

(7) “Self-support reserve” means the needs standard established annually, and calculated at 120 percent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guideline per year for a single individual.

(8) “Support guideline” means the guideline for child support established by the Secretary of Human Services under section 654 of this title.

(9) “Total support obligation” means the sum of money determined by adding:

(A) amounts derived from the support guideline appropriate to the parties' available income;

(B) child care costs; and

(C) extraordinary expenses.
15 V.S.A. § 816 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 13 / Section 816
§ 816. Amendment of birth certificate
Status: in_force

A person, or the parent or guardian of a minor, may provide the State Registrar of Vital Records with a copy of his or her birth certificate or the birth certificate of the minor and a certified copy of a decree issued under this chapter authorizing a change of name, and request that the birth certificate be amended in accordance with the decree. The State Registrar of Vital Records shall update the Statewide Registration System and proceed in accordance with 18 V.S.A. § 5075. Notwithstanding 18 V.S.A. § 5075, certificates amended pursuant to this section shall have the words “Court Amended” at the top and shall show that the change of name was made pursuant to this chapter.
15 V.S.A. § 1016 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 18 / Section 1016
§ 1016. Automatic expiration
Status: in_force

When a child subject to an order under this chapter is later adopted, the order under this chapter expires, except when the adopting parent is a stepparent, grandparent, or other relative of the child.
15A V.S.A. § 105 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 2 / Section 105
§ 2-105. Disclosure of information on background
Status: in_force

(a) Before placing a minor for adoption, a parent or agency placing the minor shall provide in writing to the prospective adoptive parent all of the following nonidentifying information that is reasonably available from the parents, relatives, or guardian of the minor; the agency; any person who has had physical custody of the minor for 30 days or more; or any person who has provided health, psychological, educational, or similar services to the minor:

(1) a social and health history of the minor, including:

(A) date, time, and place of birth;

(B) first and middle name as given by the parent;

(C) current health history, including an account of the minor's prenatal care, medical condition at birth, any drug or medication taken by the minor's mother during pregnancy;

(D) any subsequent medical, psychological, psychiatric, and dental information and diagnosis, and a record of any immunizations and health care received while in foster or other care;

(E) any physical, sexual, or emotional abuse known to have been experienced by the minor;

(F) enrollment and performance in school, results of educational testing, and any special educational needs; and

(G) an account of the minor's past and existing relationship with any relative, foster parent, or other person with whom the minor has lived or visited on a regular basis;

(2) a social and health history of the minor's parents and extended family, including:

(A) health and genetic history, including any known hereditary condition or disease, the current health of each parent, a summary of the findings of any medical, psychological, or psychiatric evaluation of each parent completed prior to placement, history of use of drugs and alcohol, and if a parent is deceased, the cause of and the age at death;

(B) racial, ethnic, and religious background, and general physical description;

(C) the levels and types of educational, vocational, athletic, artistic, or scientific achievement or interests, including academic performance and diagnosed learning problems;

(D) the date of birth and sex of any other child of the parents and whether or not those children have been removed from the parent's custody or placed for adoption;

(E) the facts and circumstances related to the consent or relinquishment or termination of parental rights; and

(F) any information necessary to determine the minor's eligibility for State or federal benefits, including financial, medical, or other assistance.

(b) Before the final hearing on a petition for adoption, a person or agency who placed a minor for adoption shall provide to the prospective adoptive parent a supplemental written report containing any information listed in subsection (a) of this section which was unavailable before the minor was placed, but becomes reasonably available after the placement.

(c) The Department shall prescribe forms designed to obtain specific information about the minor and the minor's family and shall provide these forms to any agency, attorney, or certified placement intermediary.

(d) A report furnished under this section shall indicate who prepared the report and, unless confidentiality has been waived, shall be edited by the person who prepared the report to exclude the identity of any person who furnished information or about whom information is reported.

(e) The adoptive parents shall file a copy of the report furnished under this section in the Probate Division of the Superior Court when the petition for adoption is filed. Upon finalization of an adoption, the Probate Division of the Superior Court shall file a copy of the report with the adoption registry.
15A V.S.A. § 506 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 506
§ 3-506. Effect of order denying petition
Status: in_force

(a) If the court fails to find a ground stated in section 3-504 of this title for terminating a relationship of parent and child, the court shall deny the petition to terminate and enter an order as follows:

(1) if the parent who was not the subject of the petition executed a consent or relinquishment contingent upon termination of the other parent's relationship of parent and child, the court shall set aside the consent or relinquishment and make an order determining the temporary physical custody of the child pursuant to sections 2-408 and 2-409 of this title; or

(2) if the parent's consent or relinquishment was not contingent, shall terminate the adoption proceeding and grant legal and physical custody of the minor to the parent who was the subject of the petition, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the prospective adoptive parent has been the primary care provider of the child for such a period of time that the harm to the child occasioned by a change in custody would likely be greater than the harm occasioned by not being parented by the parent who was the subject of the petition. In making this determination, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that it is in the best interests of the minor to be parented by the parent. Under such circumstances and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court may make a visitation order as provided in section 4-112 of this title.

(b) An order issued under this part denying a petition to terminate a relationship of parent and child is a final order for purposes of appeal.
15 V.S.A. § 562 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 562
§ 562. Recrimination
Status: in_force

Recrimination shall not constitute a defense or a bar to a complaint for divorce.
15A V.S.A. § 801 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 801
§ 3-801. Report of adoption to State Registrar of Vital Records
Status: in_force

(a) Within 30 days after a decree of adoption becomes final, the clerk of the court shall prepare, send, and certify to the State Registrar of Vital Records a report of adoption on a form prescribed by the State Registrar. The report shall include:

(1) information in the court's record of the proceeding for adoption that is necessary to locate and identify the adoptee's birth certificate or, in the case of an adoptee born outside the United States, evidence the court finds appropriate to consider as to the adoptee's date and country, state, and municipality of birth, as may be available;

(2) information necessary to issue a new birth certificate for the adoptee and a request that a new certificate be issued, unless the court, the adoptive parent, or an adoptee who is 14 years of age or older requests that a new certificate not be issued; and

(3) the file number of the decree of adoption and the date on which the decree became final.

(b) Within 30 days after a decree of adoption is amended or set aside, the clerk of the court shall prepare and send to the State Registrar a report of that action on a form prescribed by the State Registrar. The report shall include information necessary to identify the original report of adoption and shall also include information necessary to amend or withdraw any new birth certificate that was issued pursuant to the original report of adoption.
15 V.S.A. § 201 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 5 / Section 201
§ 201. Definitions
Status: in_force

The word “child,” as used in this subchapter, shall mean a child who is under the age of 18 years, or is under the age of 21 years and is a student regularly attending a school, college or university or their equivalent, or is regularly attending a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit him for gainful employment, and shall include a “stepchild” under such age. The words “adult child,” as so used, shall mean a child over the age of minority.
15 V.S.A. § 665 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 665
§ 665. Rights and responsibilities order; best interests of the child
Status: in_force

(a) In an action under this chapter, the court shall make an order concerning parental rights and responsibilities of any minor child of the parties. The court may order parental rights and responsibilities to be divided or shared between the parents on such terms and conditions as serve the best interests of the child. When the parents cannot agree to divide or share parental rights and responsibilities, the court shall award parental rights and responsibilities primarily or solely to one parent.

(b) In making an order under this section, the court shall be guided by the best interests of the child and shall consider at least the following factors:

(1) the relationship of the child with each parent and the ability and disposition of each parent to provide the child with love, affection, and guidance;

(2) the ability and disposition of each parent to assure that the child receives adequate food, clothing, medical care, other material needs, and a safe environment;

(3) the ability and disposition of each parent to meet the child's present and future developmental needs;

(4) the quality of the child's adjustment to the child's present housing, school, and community and the potential effect of any change;

(5) the ability and disposition of each parent to foster a positive relationship and frequent and continuing contact with the other parent, including physical contact, except where contact will result in harm to the child or to a parent;

(6) the quality of the child's relationship with the primary care provider, if appropriate given the child's age and development;

(7) the relationship of the child with any other person who may significantly affect the child;

(8) the ability and disposition of the parents to communicate, cooperate with each other, and make joint decisions concerning the children where parental rights and responsibilities are to be shared or divided; and

(9) evidence of abuse, as defined in section 1101 of this title, and the impact of the abuse on the child and on the relationship between the child and the abusing parent.

(c) The court shall not apply a preference for one parent over the other because of the sex of the child, the sex of a parent, or the financial resources of a parent.

(d) The court may order a parent who is awarded responsibility for a certain matter involving a child's welfare to inform the other parent when a major change in that matter occurs.

(e) The jurisdiction granted by this section shall be limited by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, if another state has jurisdiction as provided in that act. For the purposes of interpreting that act and any other provision of law which refers to a custodial parent, including 13 V.S.A. § 2451, the parent with physical responsibility shall be considered the custodial parent.

(f) The State has a compelling interest in not forcing a victim of sexual assault or sexual exploitation to continue an ongoing relationship with the perpetrator of the abuse. Such continued interaction can have traumatic psychological effects on the victim, making recovery more difficult, and negatively affect the victim's ability to parent and to provide for the best interests of the child. Additionally, the State recognizes that a perpetrator may use the threat of pursuing parental rights and responsibilities to coerce a victim into not reporting or not assisting in the prosecution of the perpetrator for the sexual assault or sexual exploitation, or to harass, intimidate, or manipulate the victim.

(1) The court may enter an order awarding sole parental rights and responsibilities to a parent and denying all parent-child contact with the other parent if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the nonmoving parent was convicted of sexually assaulting the moving parent and the child was conceived as a result of the sexual assault, or that the nonmoving parent was convicted of human trafficking pursuant to 13 V.S.A. § 2652, and the moving parent was the trafficked victim. As used in this subdivision, sexual assault shall include sexual assault as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3252(a), (b), (d), and (e), aggravated sexual assault as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3253, aggravated sexual assault of a child as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3253a, lewd and lascivious conduct with a child as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 2602, and similar offenses in other jurisdictions.

(2) The court may enter an order awarding sole parental rights and responsibilities to one parent and denying all parent-child contact between the other parent and a child if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the child was conceived as a result of the nonmoving parent sexually assaulting or sexually exploiting the moving parent, or that the moving parent was trafficked by the nonmoving parent pursuant to 13 V.S.A. § 2652 and the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that such an order is in the best interests of the child. A conviction is not required under this subdivision, and the court may consider other evidence of sexual assault or sexual exploitation in making its determination. For purposes of this subdivision:

(A) sexual assault shall include sexual assault as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3252, aggravated sexual assault as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3253, aggravated sexual assault of a child as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3253a, lewd and lascivious conduct with a child as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 2602, and similar offenses in other jurisdictions; and

(B) sexual exploitation shall include sexual exploitation of an inmate as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3257, sexual exploitation of a minor as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 3258, sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult as provided in 13 V.S.A. § 1379, and similar offenses in other jurisdictions.

(3) Issuance of an order pursuant to this subsection shall not affect the right of the custodial parent to seek child support from the noncustodial parent.

(4) Upon issuance of a rights and responsibilities order pursuant to this subsection, the court shall not issue a parent-child contact order and shall terminate any existing parent-child contact order concerning the child and the nonmoving parent. An order issued in accordance with this subdivision shall be permanent and shall not be subject to modification.
15A V.S.A. § 106 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 1 / Section 106
§ 1-106. Other rights of adoptee
Status: in_force

A decree of adoption does not affect any benefit from a third person, agency, state, Indian tribe, the United States, or any other country that is due the adoptee when the adoption decree becomes final.
15 V.S.A. § 63 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 3 / Section 63
§ 63. Executrix, administratrix, guardian, or trustee
Status: in_force

A married woman may be appointed executrix, administratrix, guardian, or trustee, and the marriage of a single woman shall not affect her authority to so act under a previous appointment.
15 V.S.A. § 1090 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1090
§ 1090. Warrant to take physical custody of child
Status: in_force

(a) Upon the filing of a petition seeking enforcement of a child custody determination, the petitioner may file a verified application for the issuance of a warrant to take physical custody of the child if the child is immediately likely to suffer serious physical harm or to be removed from Vermont.

(b) If the court, upon the testimony of the petitioner or other witness, finds that the child is imminently likely to suffer serious physical harm or to be removed from Vermont, it may issue a warrant to take physical custody of the child. The petition must be heard on the next judicial day after the warrant is executed unless that date is impossible. In that event, the court shall hold the hearing on the first judicial day possible. The application for the warrant must include the statements required by subsection 1088(b) of this title.

(c) A warrant to take physical custody of a child shall:

(1) recite the facts upon which a conclusion of imminent serious physical harm or removal from the jurisdiction is based;

(2) direct law enforcement officers to take physical custody of the child immediately; and

(3) provide for the placement of the child pending final relief.

(d) The respondent must be served with the petition, warrant, and order immediately after the child is taken into physical custody.

(e) A warrant to take physical custody of a child is enforceable throughout Vermont. If the court finds on the basis of the testimony of the petitioner or other witness that a less intrusive remedy is not effective, it may authorize law enforcement officers to enter private property to take physical custody of the child. If required by exigent circumstances of the case, the court may authorize law enforcement officers to make a forcible entry at any hour.

(f) The court may impose conditions upon placement of a child to ensure the appearance of the child and the child's custodian.
15 V.S.A. § 559 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 559
§ 559. Change of children's names
Status: in_force

The court may change the names of the minor children of divorced parents when application for that purpose is made in the complaint for divorce.
15 V.S.A. § 511 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 511
§ 511. Void civil marriages; consanguinity, affinity, or living spouse
Status: in_force

(a) Civil marriages prohibited by law on account of consanguinity or affinity between the parties or on account of either party having a wife or husband living, if solemnized within this State, shall be void without decree of divorce or other legal process.

(b) When the validity of a civil marriage is uncertain for causes mentioned in subsection (a) of this section, either party may file a complaint to annul the same. Upon proof of the nullity of the marriage it shall be declared void by a decree of nullity.
15C V.S.A. § 704 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 7 / Section 704
§ 704. Consent to assisted reproduction
Status: in_force

(a) A person who intends to be a parent of a child born through assisted reproduction shall consent to the use of assisted reproduction to conceive a child with the intent to parent the child:

(1) in a record, signed before, on, or after the birth of the child by each intended parent; or

(2) in an oral agreement entered into before conception by each intended parent.

(b) In the absence of evidence pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, a court may adjudicate a person as the parent of a child if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person resided with the child after birth and undertook to develop a parental relationship with the child.
15C V.S.A. § 706 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 7 / Section 706
§ 706. Effect of dissolution of marriage or withdrawal of consent
Status: in_force

(a)(1) If a marriage is dissolved before transfer or implantation of gametes or embryos, the former spouse is not a parent of the resulting child unless the former spouse consented in a signed record with notice to the other spouse and the person giving birth that, if assisted reproduction were to occur after a divorce, the former spouse would be a parent of the child.

(2) A person who has petitioned for divorce, or a person who has been served with a complaint for divorce, may proceed with assisted reproduction pursuant to this subsection, provided at least 60 days have elapsed since service of the complaint. In such case, the spouse shall not be a parent of any child born as a result of the assisted reproduction unless both parties consent in writing to be parents of that child after commencement of the divorce action. A married person proceeding with assisted reproduction pursuant to this section shall not utilize gametes of the person's spouse unless the spouse consents in writing to the use of the spouse's gametes for assisted reproduction by the married person after filing of the divorce petition.

(b) Consent of a person to assisted reproduction pursuant to section 704 of this title may be withdrawn by that person in a signed record with notice to the person giving birth and any other intended parent before transfer or implantation of gametes or embryos. A person who withdraws consent under this subsection is not a parent of the resulting child.
15B V.S.A. § 1705 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 17 / Section 1705
§ 1705. Direct request
Status: in_force

(a) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking establishment or modification of a support order or determination of parentage of a child. In the proceeding, the law of this State applies.

(b) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking recognition and enforcement of a support order or support agreement. In the proceeding, sections 1706 through 1713 apply.

(c) In a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a Convention support order or foreign support agreement:

(1) a security, bond, or deposit is not required to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses; and

(2) an obligee or obligor that in the issuing country has benefited from free legal assistance is entitled to benefit, at least to the same extent, from any free legal assistance provided for by the law of this State under the same circumstances.

(d) A petitioner filing a direct request is not entitled to assistance from the governmental entity.

(e) This chapter does not prevent the application of laws of this State that provide simplified, more expeditious rules regarding a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order or foreign support agreement.
15 V.S.A. § 518 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 518
§ 518. Declarations of parties not sufficient proof
Status: in_force

A civil marriage shall not be declared null solely on the declarations or confessions of the parties, but the court shall require other satisfactory evidence of the facts on which the allegation of nullity is founded.
15C V.S.A. § 206 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 2 / Section 206
§ 206. Adjudicating competing claims of parentage
Status: in_force

(a) Competing claims of parentage. Except as otherwise provided in section 616 of this title, in a proceeding to adjudicate competing claims of parentage or challenges to a child's parentage by two or more persons, the court shall adjudicate parentage in the best interests of the child, based on the following factors:

(1) the age of the child;

(2) the length of time during which each person assumed the role of parent of the child;

(3) the nature of the relationship between the child and each person;

(4) the harm to the child if the relationship between the child and each person is not recognized;

(5) the basis for each person's claim to parentage of the child; and

(6) other equitable factors arising from the disruption of the relationship between the child and each person or the likelihood of other harm to the child.

(b) Preservation of parent-child relationship. Consistent with the establishment of parentage under this chapter, a court may determine that a child has more than two parents if the court finds that it is in the best interests of the child to do so. A finding of best interests of the child under this subsection does not require a finding of unfitness of any parent or person seeking an adjudication of parentage. A determination of best interests may include consideration of evidence of prebirth intent to parent the child.
15A V.S.A. § 203 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 2 / Section 203
§ 2-203. Timing and content of preplacement evaluation
Status: in_force

(a) A person requesting a preplacement evaluation need not have located a prospective minor adoptee when the request is made, and the person may request more than one evaluation.

(b) A preplacement evaluation shall be completed within 90 days after it is requested unless extended by the court. An evaluator shall give priority to a request from a person who has located a prospective adoptee.

(c) A preplacement evaluation shall be based upon a personal interview and visit at the residence of the person being evaluated, personal interviews or correspondence with others who know the person and may have information relevant to the evaluation, and the information required by subsection (d) of this section.

(d) A preplacement evaluation shall contain the following information about the person being evaluated:

(1) age and date of birth, nationality, racial or ethnic background, and any religious affiliation;

(2) marital status and family history, including the age and location of any child of the person and the identity of and relationship to anyone else living in the person's household;

(3) parenting experience;

(4) physical and mental health, and any history of abuse of alcohol or drugs;

(5) educational and employment history and any special skills;

(6) property and income, including outstanding financial obligations as indicated in a current credit report or financial statement furnished by the person;

(7) any previous request for an evaluation or involvement in an adoptive placement and the outcome of the evaluation or placement as confirmed by the Department;

(8) whether the person has been subject to an abuse prevention order issued under 15 V.S.A. § 1103 or 1104; charged with or convicted of domestic assault in violation of 13 V.S.A. § 1042 (domestic assault), 1043 (first-degree aggravated domestic assault), or 1044 (second-degree aggravated domestic assault); or the subject of a substantiated complaint filed with the Department; or subject to a court order restricting the person's right to parental rights and responsibilities or parent-child contact with a child;

(9) whether the person has been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation;

(10) whether the person has located a parent interested in placing a minor with the person for adoption and, if so, a brief description of the parent and the minor;

(11) reason for and attitude about adoption;

(12) whether the person is in noncompliance with a child support order; and

(13) any other fact or circumstance that may be relevant in determining whether the person is suited to be an adoptive parent, including the quality of the environment in the home and the functioning of other children in the person's household.

(e) A person being evaluated shall submit to fingerprinting and sign a release permitting the evaluator to obtain from an appropriate law enforcement agency any record indicating that the person has been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation.

(f) A person being evaluated shall, at the request of the evaluator, sign any release necessary for the evaluator to obtain information required by subsection (d) of this section.
15A V.S.A. § 111 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 6 / Section 111
§ 6-111. Public notice of statutory change
Status: in_force

The Department, with the cooperation of other departments of State government, shall make reasonable efforts to notify members of the public who may be affected by changes in statute governing the release of identifying and nonidentifying information and access to original birth certificates, including:

(1) informing the general public by submitting press releases to the news media in Vermont and other states;

(2) informing adoptee, birth parent, and genealogy groups in Vermont and other states;

(3) including information in motor vehicle registration and license renewals;

(4) including information in appropriate locations on the internet; and

(5) contacting the adoption coordinators in each state and determining what agencies or groups in that state should be notified.
15 V.S.A. § 1012 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 18 / Section 1012
§ 1012. If a parent is deceased or cannot decide
Status: in_force

If a parent of a minor child is deceased, physically or mentally incapable of making a decision, or has abandoned the child, a grandparent of the child may commence an action in Superior Court in the county in which the custodian of the child resides to obtain visitation rights. The action shall promptly be tried without a jury in the same manner as a divorce case. The custodian of the child shall be the party defendant. In the event that the custodian of the child is not the parent of the child, the parent shall also be joined as a party defendant.
15A V.S.A. § 406 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 406
§ 3-406. Filing proof of service
Status: in_force

Proof of service of notice on each person entitled to receive notice under this part, or a certified copy of each waiver of notice, shall be on file with the court before the hearing on the adoption begins.
15 V.S.A. § 1157 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1157
§ 1157. Assistance for Program applicants
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall make available a list of State and local agencies and nonprofit agencies that provide counseling and shelter services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking to assist persons applying to be Program participants pursuant to subdivision 1152(a)(1)(A)(i) of this title. Such information provided by the Office of the Secretary or designees to applicants shall in no way be construed as legal advice.
15 V.S.A. § 796 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 796
§ 796. Assets held in escrow
Status: in_force

If a proceeding for enforcement of child support has previously been brought against an obligor under this subchapter and the obligor at any time thereafter fails to pay support in an amount equal to one-twelfth of the annual support obligation, the court may, in addition to any other remedies under this subchapter, order that existing liquid assets be held in escrow by the court sufficient to secure payment of support for a period not to exceed four months. If the obligor fails to pay support in an amount equal to one-twelfth of the annual support obligation, the assets held in escrow shall be applied toward unpaid support.
15 V.S.A. § 1152 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1152
§ 1152. Address Confidentiality Program; application; certification
Status: in_force

(a) An adult person, a parent, or a legal guardian acting on behalf of a minor or a legal guardian acting on behalf of an incapacitated person may apply to the Secretary of State to have an address designated by the Secretary serve as the person's address or the address of the minor or incapacitated person. The Secretary of State shall approve an application if it is filed in the manner and on the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, and if it contains:

(1) a statement made under oath by the applicant that:

(A) the applicant, or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made:

(i) is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; or

(ii) is a person providing, assisting another person in obtaining, or obtaining for themselves reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services in this State;

(B) the applicant fears for the applicant's safety or the applicant's children's safety, or the safety of the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made;

(C) the parent or legal guardian applying on behalf of a minor or incapacitated person has legal authority to act on the person's behalf;

(D) if the applicant is under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, the applicant has notified the Department of the actual address and the applicant authorizes the release of the actual address to the Department; and

(E) if the applicant is required to report the actual address for the Sex Offender Registry under 13 V.S.A. chapter 167, subchapter 3, the applicant authorizes the release of the actual address to the Registry;

(2) a designation of the Secretary as agent for purposes of service of process and for the purpose of receipt of mail;

(3) the mailing address and email address where the applicant can be contacted by the Secretary and the telephone number or numbers where the applicant can be called by the Secretary;

(4) the new address or addresses within Vermont that the applicant requests not be disclosed for the reason that disclosure will increase the risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, harassment, intimidation, or threats; and

(5) the signature of the applicant and the name of any individual or representative of any office who assisted in the preparation of the application and the date on which the applicant signed the application.

(b) Applications shall be filed directly with the Office of the Secretary or through a certified applicant assistant.

(c) Upon receipt of a properly completed application, the Secretary shall certify the applicant as a Program participant. Applicants shall be certified for four years following the date of filing unless the certification is withdrawn or canceled before that date. The Secretary shall by rule establish a renewal procedure.

(d) A person who knowingly provides false or incorrect information to the Secretary as required by this chapter may be prosecuted under 13 V.S.A. § 2904.

(e) A Program participant shall notify the Secretary of State of a change of actual address within seven days following the change of address.

(f) The Civil or Family Division of Washington County Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over petitions for protective orders filed by Program participants pursuant to 12 V.S.A. §§ 5133 and 5134, to sections 1103 and 1104 of this title, and to 33 V.S.A. § 6935. A Program participant may file a petition for a protective order in the county in which the participant resides or in Washington County to protect the confidentiality of the participant's address.
15 V.S.A. § 1073 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1073
§ 1073. Jurisdiction to modify determination
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise provided in section 1074 of this title, a Vermont court may not modify a child custody determination made by a court of another state unless a Vermont court has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under subdivision 1071(a)(1) or (2) of this title and:

(1) the court of the other state determines it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 1072 of this title or that a Vermont court would be a more convenient forum under section 1077 of this title; or

(2) a Vermont court or a court of the other state determines that the child, the child's parents, and any person acting as a parent do not currently reside in the other state.
15B V.S.A. § 1319 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 13 / Section 1319
§ 1319. Receipt and disbursement of payments
Status: in_force

(a) A support enforcement agency or tribunal of this State shall disburse promptly any amounts received pursuant to a support order, as directed by the order. The agency or tribunal shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of another state or a foreign country a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amounts and dates of all payments received.

(b) If neither the obligor, nor the obligee who is an individual, nor the child resides in this State, upon request from the support enforcement agency of this State or another state, the Office of Child Support or a tribunal of this State shall:

(1) direct that the support payment be made to the support enforcement agency in the state in which the obligee is receiving services; and

(2) issue and send to the obligor's employer a conforming income-withholding order or an administrative notice of change of payee, reflecting the redirected payments.

(c) The Office of Child Support, upon receiving redirected payments from another state pursuant to a law similar to that in subsection (b) of this section, shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of the other state a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amount and dates of all payments received.
15 V.S.A. § 1154a — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1154a
§ 1154a. Agency use of designated address; law enforcement agency
Status: in_force

(a) If requested in person by a Program participant to the person creating the record prior to the creation of the record, and upon proof of participation in the Program established by this chapter, a law enforcement agency shall use the participant's substitute address in:

(1) a summons or complaint for a violation within the jurisdiction of the judicial bureau as set forth in 4 V.S.A. § 1102.

(2) a citation to appear under Rule 3 of the Vermont Rules of Criminal Procedure; or

(3) an accident report filed with the Department of Motor Vehicles.

(b) Nothing in this subchapter shall prevent a law enforcement agency from requiring that a Program participant provide his or her actual address upon request from the agency.

(c) A law enforcement agency may, in its discretion, use a substitute address in any record released by the agency.
15B V.S.A. § 1209 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 12 / Section 1209
§ 1209. Credit for payments
Status: in_force

A tribunal of this State shall credit amounts collected for a particular period pursuant to any child support order against the amounts owed for the same period under any other child support order for the support of the same child issued by a tribunal of this State, another state, or a foreign country.
15 V.S.A. § 204 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 5 / Section 204
§ 204. Temporary orders
Status: in_force

At any time before the trial, upon application of the complainant and upon notice to the respondent, the court, or a judge thereof in vacation, may enter such temporary order as may seem just providing for the support of the deserted spouse or child, or both, or of such parents, pendente lite, and may punish for violation of such order as for contempt.
15B V.S.A. § 1502 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 15 / Section 1502
§ 1502. Employer's compliance with an income withholding order from another state
Status: in_force

(a) Upon receipt of an income withholding order, the obligor's employer shall immediately provide a copy of the order to the obligor.

(b) The employer shall treat an income withholding order issued in another state which appears regular on its face as if it had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section and section 1503 of this title, the employer shall withhold and distribute the funds as directed in the withholding order by complying with terms of the order which specify:

(1) the duration and amount of periodic payments of current child support, stated as a sum certain;

(2) the person designated to receive payments and the address to which the payments are to be forwarded;

(3) medical support, whether in the form of periodic cash payment, stated as a sum certain, or ordering the obligor to provide health insurance coverage for the child under a policy available through the obligor's employment;

(4) the amount of periodic payments of fees and costs for a support enforcement agency, the issuing tribunal, and the obligee's attorney, stated as sums certain; and

(5) the amount of periodic payments of arrearages and interest on arrearages, stated as sums certain.

(d) The employer shall comply with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment for withholding from income with respect to:

(1) the employer's fee for processing an income withholding order;

(2) the maximum amount permitted to be withheld from the obligor's income; and

(3) the time periods within which the employer must implement the withholding order and forward the child support payment.
15 V.S.A. § 782 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 782
§ 782. Expedited procedure for wage withholding
Status: in_force

(a) In the case of an order for child support made or modified after July 1, 1990 that does not include an order for immediate wage withholding, an obligee may request a wage withholding order when any amount due under the order has not been paid within seven business days after the amount is due. The obligor may request wage withholding at any time. The petition for wage withholding shall set forth:

(1) the amount of support arrearages, if any;

(2) the terms of the support order;

(3) the periodic amount to be withheld for support and arrearages; and

(4) a statement that the obligor may object to wage withholding on the basis of an error in the amount of current support or arrearages or an error in identity, at a hearing to be held within 14 days of the date the petition is filed.

(b) The petition shall be served upon the other party or parties as provided in section 783 of this title.

(c) The court shall set the date for the hearing and notify the parties of the place, date, and time. The hearing shall be held within 14 days of the date the petition is filed.

(d) The court shall enter a judgment for wage withholding under any one of the following circumstances:

(1) The obligor does not appear at the hearing without good cause.

(2) The obligor has requested the wage withholding order.

(3) The court finds after hearing that any amount due under a support order has not been paid within seven business days after the amount is due.

(e) In all cases the court shall issue an order for wage withholding, if any, within 15 days of notice sent to the responding party.

(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, the Office of Child Support may notify an employer to initiate wage withholding without obtaining a modification of the court order if any amount due under the order has accumulated to one-twelfth of the annualized amount of child support after:

(1) verifying the arrears based on a sworn statement of the obligee or, if the Office of Child Support has maintained the financial records, an employee familiar with the financial records; and

(2) notifying the obligor of the withholding pursuant to subsection 783(b) of this title and giving the obligor an opportunity to object and request a hearing in Family Division of the Superior Court to contest the withholding on the grounds that the withholding or the amount withheld is improper due to a mistake of fact.
15B V.S.A. § 1506 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 15 / Section 1506
§ 1506. Contest by an obligor
Status: in_force

(a) An obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income withholding order issued in another state and received directly by an employer in this State by registering the order in a tribunal of this State and filing a contest to that order as provided in chapter 16 of this title, or otherwise contesting the order in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

(b) The obligor shall give notice of the contest to:

(1) a support enforcement agency providing services to the obligee;

(2) each employer that has directly received an income withholding order relating to the obligor; and

(3) the person designated to receive payments in the income withholding order or, if no person is designated, to the obligee.
15A V.S.A. § 106 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 6 / Section 106
§ 6-106. Request for nondisclosure
Status: in_force

If a former parent of an adoptee filed a request for nondisclosure of identifying information prior to July 1, 2023, the request shall be honored and a request for disclosure of identifying information made pursuant to section 6-105 of this title shall be denied. This section shall not be interpreted to interfere with a person's right to obtain a copy of an original birth certificate pursuant to section 6-107 of this title.
15 V.S.A. § 1011 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 18 / Section 1011
§ 1011. Jurisdiction
Status: in_force

(a) A court that has considered or is considering the custody or visitation of a minor child may award visitation rights to a grandparent of the child, upon written request of the grandparent filed with the court, if the court finds that to do so would be in the best interests of the child.

(b) No grandparent shall be afforded party status, but may be called as a witness by the court, and shall be subject to cross-examination by the parties.

(c) No appeal may be taken by any grandparent from the court's decision on visitation as it pertains to any grandparent.

(d) A grandparent who has visitation rights under this section may move the court for enforcement of the court's order in the same manner as would a party. A hearing shall be held and notice shall be given to the parties pursuant to the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure.
15A V.S.A. § 103 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 7 / Section 103
§ 7-103. Lawful payments related to adoption
Status: in_force

(a) Subject to the requirements of sections 3-702 and 3-703 of this title for an accounting and judicial approval of fees and charges related to an adoption, an adoptive parent, or a person acting on behalf of an adoptive parent, may pay the reasonable and actual fee or charge for:

(1) the services of an agency in connection with an adoption;

(2) medical, hospital, nursing, pharmaceutical, or other similar expenses incurred by a mother or her minor child in connection with prenatal care or the birth or any illness of the minor;

(3) counseling services for a parent or a minor for a reasonable time before and after the minor's placement for adoption;

(4) living expenses of a mother for a reasonable time before the birth of her child and for no more than six weeks after the birth;

(5) expenses incurred in ascertaining the information required by section 2-105 of this title;

(6) expenses incurred for legal services, court costs, and other administrative expenses connected with an adoption, including any legal services performed for a parent who consents to the adoption of a minor or relinquishes the minor to an agency;

(7) transportation for services provided under subdivision (2), (3), or (6) of this subsection;

(8) expenses incurred in obtaining a preplacement evaluation and an evaluation during the proceeding for adoption; and

(9) any other service or expense the court finds is reasonable and necessary.

(b) A parent or a guardian, a person acting on the parent's or guardian's behalf, or a provider of a service listed in subsection (a) of this section may receive or accept a payment authorized by subsection (a). The payment may not be made contingent on the placement of a minor for adoption, relinquishment of the minor, or consent to the adoption. If the adoption is not completed, a person who is authorized to make a specific payment by subsection (a) is not liable for that payment unless the person has agreed in a signed writing with a provider of a service to make the payment regardless of the outcome of the proceeding for adoption. If the adoption is not completed, an adoptive parent is liable only for agreed upon expenses which are permitted under this section and were incurred prior to the termination of the adoption process.

(c) Except for the expenses authorized by subdivisions (a)(4) and (a)(7) of this section, no payments as authorized in subsection (a) shall be paid directly to a parent without prior court approval, but instead will be paid to service providers or to an agency.
15 V.S.A. § 203 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 5 / Section 203
§ 203. Institution of proceedings
Status: in_force

Proceedings under this subchapter may be instituted by any prosecuting officer upon complaint made by the deserted married person, child, or by any other person, including a parent in proper cases, against a spouse, parent, or adult child, accused of an offense named in section 202 of this title.
15A V.S.A. § 402 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 402
§ 3-402. Content of notice
Status: in_force

A notice required by section 3-401 of this title shall use initials for the name of a petitioner or any person named in the petition for adoption who has not waived confidentiality and shall contain:

(1) the caption of the petition;

(2) the address and telephone number of the court where the petition is pending;

(3) a concise summary of the relief requested in the petition;

(4) the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the petitioner's attorney;

(5) a statement that the person served with the notice shall file a written appearance in the adoption proceeding within 20 days after service in order to participate in the proceeding and to receive further notice of the proceeding, including notice of the time and place of any hearing.
15A V.S.A. § 206 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 206
§ 3-206. Joinder of termination action
Status: in_force

An action for termination of the legal relationship of parent and child pursuant to Part 5 of this article may be joined with a proceeding for adoption.
15 V.S.A. § 800 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 800
§ 800. Contract with sheriff for service of civil process
Status: in_force

The Office of Child Support may contract with a sheriff's department for the purpose of locating and investigating child support obligors and serving process, warrants, and mittimus in child support cases.
15A V.S.A. § 205 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 2 / Section 205
§ 2-205. Filing and copies of preplacement evaluation
Status: in_force

(a) If a preplacement evaluation contains a finding that a person is suited to be an adoptive parent, the evaluator shall give the person a signed copy of the evaluation. At the person's request, the evaluator shall furnish a copy of the evaluation to a person authorized under this title to place a minor for adoption and, unless the person requests otherwise, edit the copy to exclude identifying information.

(b) If a preplacement evaluation contains a finding that a person is not suited to be an adoptive parent of any minor, or a particular minor, the evaluator shall immediately give a signed copy of the evaluation to the person and to the Department. The Department shall retain for 10 years the copy and a copy of any court order concerning the evaluation issued pursuant to section 2-206 or 2-207 of this title.

(c) An evaluator shall retain for two years the original of a completed or incomplete preplacement evaluation and a list of every source for each item of information in the evaluation.

(d) An evaluator who conducted an evaluation in good faith under this part or under Part 6 of Article 3 of this title is not subject to civil liability for anything contained in the evaluation.
15B V.S.A. § 1704 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 17 / Section 1704
§ 1704. Initiation of proceeding by support enforcement agency
Status: in_force

(a) In a support proceeding under this chapter, the support enforcement agency of this State shall:

(1) transmit and receive applications; and

(2) initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding regarding an application in a tribunal of this State.

(b) The following support proceedings are available to an obligee under the Convention:

(1) recognition or enforcement, or both, of a foreign support order;

(2) enforcement of a support order issued or recognized in this State;

(3) establishment of a support order if there is no existing order, including, if necessary, determination of parentage of a child;

(4) establishment of a support order if recognition of a foreign support order is refused under subdivision 1708(b)(2), (4), or (9) of this title;

(5) modification of a support order of a tribunal of this State; and

(6) modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

(c) The following support proceedings are available under the Convention to an obligor against which there is an existing support order:

(1) recognition of an order suspending or limiting enforcement of an existing support order of a tribunal of this State;

(2) modification of a support order of a tribunal of this State; and

(3) modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

(d) A tribunal of this State may not require security, bond, or deposit, however described, to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses in proceedings under the Convention.
15A V.S.A. § 101 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 1 / Section 101
§ 1-101. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this title:

(1) “Adoptee” means a person who is adopted or is to be adopted.

(2) “Adult” means a person who has attained 18 years of age.

(3) “Agency” means the Department or a child-placing public or private entity that is licensed in this State to place minors for adoption.

(4) “Child” means a minor or an adult son or daughter, by birth or adoption.

(5) “Child with special needs” means a child with a special factor or condition, including ethnic background, age, membership in a minority or sibling group, medical condition, or physical, mental, or emotional disability, because of which it is reasonable to conclude that the child cannot be placed with adoptive parents without providing adoption or medical assistance.

(6) “Court,” with reference to a court of this State, means the Probate Division of the Superior Court.

(7) “Department” means the Department for Children and Families.

(8) “Former parent” means the parent of the adoptee whose rights were terminated, voluntarily or involuntarily.

(9) “Guardian” means a person, other than a parent, appointed by a court to act as a parent for another individual and specifically authorized by the Court to place the individual for adoption.

(10) “Identifying information” means any information which might establish the current whereabouts of an adoptee, the adoptee's former parent or other family member, including full name, date and place of birth, and last known address.

(11) “Legal custody” means the right and duty to exercise continuing general supervision of a minor as authorized by law. The term includes the right and duty to protect, educate, nurture, and discipline the minor and to provide the minor with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and a supportive environment.

(12) “Minor” means a person who has not attained 18 years of age.

(13) “Parent” means a person who is legally recognized as a mother or father or whose consent to the adoption of a minor is required under subdivision 2-401(a)(1)-(4) or (6) of this title. The term does not include a person whose parental relationship to a child has been terminated judicially or by operation of law.

(14) “Physical custody” means the physical care and supervision of a minor.

(15) “Place for adoption” means to select a prospective adoptive parent for a minor and transfer physical custody of the minor to the prospective adoptive parent.

(16) “Records” means all documents, exhibits and data pertaining to an adoption, whether collected prior to or after the decree of adoption.

(17) “Registry” means the adoption registry administered by the Department.

(18) “Relative” means a grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, first cousin, aunt, uncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, niece, or nephew of a person, whether related to the person by the whole or the half blood, affinity, or adoption. The term does not include a person's stepparent.

(19) “Relinquishment” means the voluntary surrender to an agency by a minor's parent or guardian, for purposes of the minor's adoption, of the rights of the parent or guardian with respect to the minor, including legal and physical custody of the minor.

(20) “Sibling” means a full or half brother or sister.

(21) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(22) “State Registrar” and “State Registrar of Vital Records” mean the supervisor of the Office of Vital Records in the Department of Health.

(23) “Stepparent” means a person who is the spouse or surviving spouse of a parent of a child but who is not a parent of the child.
15C V.S.A. § 305 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 3 / Section 305
§ 305. Equivalent to adjudication; no ratification required
Status: in_force

(a) Acknowledgment. Except as otherwise provided in sections 307 and 308 of this title, a valid acknowledgment of parentage under section 301 of this title filed with the Department of Health is equivalent to an adjudication of parentage of a child and confers upon the acknowledged parent all of the rights and duties of a parent.

(b) Ratification. Judicial or administrative ratification is neither permitted nor required for an unrescinded or unchallenged acknowledgment of parentage.

(c) Denial. Except as otherwise provided in sections 307 and 308 of this title, a valid denial of parentage under section 303 of this title filed with the Department of Health in conjunction with a valid acknowledgment of parentage under section 301 of this title is equivalent to an adjudication of the nonparentage of the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent and discharges the presumed parent or alleged genetic parent from all rights and duties of a parent.

(d) Rescission or challenge. A signatory of an acknowledgment of parentage may rescind or challenge the acknowledgment in accordance with sections 307-309 of this title.
15A V.S.A. § 704 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 704
§ 3-704. Denial of petition for adoption
Status: in_force

If a court denies a petition for adoption, it shall dismiss the proceeding and issue an appropriate order for the legal and physical custody of the minor. If the reason for the denial is that a consent or relinquishment is revoked or set aside pursuant to section 2-408 or 2-409 of this title, the court shall determine the minor's custody according to the criteria stated in those sections. If the petition for adoption is denied for any other reason, the court shall determine the minor's custody according to the best interests of the minor.
15 V.S.A. § 634 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 634
§ 634. Alimony; distribution of property; care and custody of children
Status: in_force

(a) In actions brought for the cause of mental incapacity, the courts and the judges thereof shall possess all the powers relative to the payment of alimony, the distribution of property, and the care and custody of the children of the parties, that such courts now have, or may hereafter have, in other actions for divorce.

(b) The court may make such orders for the division of property held by the parties as tenants by the entirety as may be proper.

(c) No order shall be made providing for continued support of a spouse without a mental condition or psychiatric disability from the estate of a spouse with a mental condition or psychiatric disability after the remarriage of the spouse who does not have a mental condition or a psychiatric disability.
15C V.S.A. § 203 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 2 / Section 203
§ 203. Consequences of establishment of parentage
Status: in_force

Unless parentage has been terminated by a court order or an exception has been stated explicitly in this title, parentage established under this title applies for all purposes, including the rights and duties of parentage under the law.
15A V.S.A. § 305 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 305
§ 3-305. Required documents
Status: in_force

(a) Before the hearing on a petition for adoption, the following shall be filed:

(1) a certified copy of the birth certificate or other record of the date and place of birth of the minor adoptee;

(2) the original or a certified copy of any consent, relinquishment, or disclaimer of paternal interest with respect to the minor that has been executed, and any written certifications required by sections 2-405(d) and (g) of this title from the person before whom a consent or relinquishment was executed;

(3) a certified copy of any court order terminating the rights and duties of the minor's parents or guardian;

(4) a certified copy of each parent's or former parent's marriage certificate; decree of divorce, annulment, or dissolution; or agreement or decree of legal separation; and a certified copy of any court order determining the parent's or former parent's incompetence;

(5) a certified copy of any existing court order or petition in any pending proceeding concerning custody of, or visitation or communication with, the minor;

(6) a copy of the preplacement evaluation and of the evaluation during the pendency of the proceeding for adoption;

(7) a copy of any report containing the information required by section 2-105 of this title. This requirement may be waived by the court for good cause shown. If the court waives this requirement, a summary of the information required by section 2-105 of this title shall be filed;

(8) a certified copy of the petitioner's marriage certificate; decree of divorce, annulment, or dissolution; or agreement or decree of legal separation; and a certified copy of any court order determining the incompetence of the petitioner's spouse;

(9) a copy of any agreement with a public agency to provide a subsidy for the benefit of a minor adoptee with a special need;

(10) if an agency placed the minor adoptee, a verified document from the agency stating:

(A) the circumstances under which the agency obtained custody of the minor for purposes of adoption;

(B) that the agency complied with any provision of law governing an interstate or intercountry placement of the minor;

(C) the name or relationship to the minor of any person whose consent is required, but who has not executed a consent or a relinquishment or whose parental relationship has not been terminated, and any fact or circumstance that may excuse the lack of consent or relinquishment;

(D) whether the agency has executed its consent to the proposed adoption and whether it waives notice of the proceeding;

(E) the terms of any collateral agreement between the agency and the petitioner;

(11) the name and address, if known, of any person who is entitled to receive notice of the proceeding for adoption; and

(12) a copy of any collateral agreement between the petitioner and a parent or guardian of the adoptee.

(b) If an item required by subsection (a) of this section is not available, the person responsible for furnishing the item shall file an affidavit explaining its absence.
15B V.S.A. § 1701 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 17 / Section 1701
§ 1701. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Application” means a request under the Convention by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority.

(2) “Central authority” means the entity designated by the United States or a foreign country to perform the functions specified in the Convention.

(3) “Convention support order” means a support order of a tribunal of a foreign country.

(4) “Direct request” means a petition filed by an individual in a tribunal of this State in a proceeding involving an obligee, obligor, or child residing outside the United States.

(5) “Foreign central authority” means the entity designated by a foreign country to perform the functions specified in the Convention.

(6) “Foreign support agreement”:

(A) means an agreement for support in a record that:

(i) is enforceable as a support order in the country of origin;

(ii) has been formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal or authenticated by, or concluded, registered, or filed with a foreign tribunal; and

(iii) may be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal; and

(B) includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic instrument under the Convention.

(7) “U.S. central authority” means the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
15B V.S.A. § 1503 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 15 / Section 1503
§ 1503. Employer's compliance with two or more income withholding orders
Status: in_force

If the obligor's employer receives two or more income withholding orders with respect to the earnings of the same obligor, the employer satisfies the terms of the orders if the employer complies with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment to establish the priorities for withholding and allocating income withheld for two or more child support obligees.
15C V.S.A. § 306 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 3 / Section 306
§ 306. No filing fee
Status: in_force

The Department of Health shall not charge a fee for filing an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage.
15B V.S.A. § 1614 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 16 / Section 1614
§ 1614. Notice to issuing tribunal of modification
Status: in_force

Within 30 days after issuance of a modified child support order, the party obtaining the modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the issuing tribunal that had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the earlier order, and in each tribunal in which the party knows the earlier order has been registered. A party who obtains the order and fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the modified order of the new tribunal having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
15A V.S.A. § 505 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 505
§ 3-505. Effect of order granting petition
Status: in_force

(a) An order issued under this part granting the petition:

(1) terminates the relationship of parent and child between the respondent and the minor;

(2) extinguishes any right the respondent had to withhold consent to a proposed adoption of the minor or to further notice of a proceeding for adoption; and

(3) is a final order for purposes of appeal.

(b) An order issued under this part granting the petition shall not terminate an obligation for arrearages of child support.
15 V.S.A. § 669 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 669
§ 669. Guardian ad litem
Status: in_force

In all cases involving parental rights and responsibilities the court may appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the best interests of the child.
15C V.S.A. § 613 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 6 / Section 613
§ 613. Identical sibling
Status: in_force

(a) The court may order genetic testing of a person who is believed to have an identical sibling if evidence suggests the sibling may be the genetic parent of the child.

(b) If more than one sibling is identified as a genetic parent of the child, the court may rely on nongenetic evidence to adjudicate which sibling is a genetic parent of the child.
15A V.S.A. § 404 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 404
§ 3-404. Investigation and notice to unknown father
Status: in_force

(a) It is important to the adoptee to have nonidentifying information, including health history, about his or her biological father, and for identifying information about him to be available upon the adoptee's majority. It is the policy of this title to make every reasonable effort to identify and notify the biological father of the adoptee. Inquiries as to the identity of the biological father shall be conducted in a way that preserves the dignity and legal rights of the woman who gave birth to the adoptee.

(b) If at any time in the proceeding it appears to the court that an unknown father who is entitled to notice may not have been given notice, the court shall determine whether he can be identified. The determination shall be based on evidence that includes inquiry of appropriate persons in an effort to identify him for the purpose of providing notice.

(c) If inquiry pursuant to subsection (b) of this section identifies any man who is entitled to notice under section 3-401 of this title, the court shall require notice of the proceeding to be given to him pursuant to section 3-403 of this title.

(d) If, in an inquiry pursuant to this section, the woman who gave birth to the minor adoptee fails to disclose the identity of a possible father or reveal his whereabouts, she shall be advised that the proceeding for adoption may be delayed or subject to challenge if a possible father is not given notice of the proceeding and that the lack of information about the father's medical and genetic history will be detrimental to the adoptee.
15C V.S.A. § 101 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 1 / Section 101
§ 101. Short title
Status: in_force

This title may be cited as the Vermont Parentage Act.
15C V.S.A. § 809 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 8 / Section 809
§ 809. Liability for payment of gestational carrier health care costs
Status: in_force

(a) The intended parent or parents are liable for the health care costs of the gestational carrier that are not paid by insurance. As used in this section, “health care costs” means the expenses of all health care provided for assisted reproduction, prenatal care, labor, and delivery.

(b) A gestational carrier agreement shall explicitly detail how the health care costs of the gestational carrier are paid. The breach of a gestational carrier agreement by a party to the agreement does not relieve the intended parent or parents of the liability for health care costs imposed by subsection (a) of this section.

(c) This section is not intended to supplant any health insurance coverage that is otherwise available to the gestational carrier or an intended parent for the coverage of health care costs. This section does not change the health insurance coverage of the gestational carrier or the responsibility of the insurance company to pay benefits under a policy that covers a gestational carrier.
15A V.S.A. § 706 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 706
§ 3-706. Applicability of rules of probate procedure; expeditious hearing of appeals; motion for relief from decree or order; no stay on appeal
Status: in_force

(a) The Vermont Rules of Probate Procedure shall apply to all proceedings under this title, unless a different procedure is specifically prescribed in this title.

(b) An appeal from a decree of adoption or other appealable order issued under this title shall be heard expeditiously.

(c) Notwithstanding the one-year limitation for filing a motion provided for in Rule 60(b) of the Vermont Rules of Probate Procedure, a motion for relief from a decree of adoption or order under Rule 60(b)(1), (2), and (3) may be filed not more than six months after the decree or order was entered.

(d) Notwithstanding Rule 62 of the Vermont Rules of Probate Procedure, an appeal of a decree of adoption or order issued under this title does not operate as an automatic stay of the decree or order.

(e) The validity of a decree of adoption issued under this title may not be challenged for failure to comply with an agreement for visitation or communication with an adoptee.
15C V.S.A. § 614 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 6 / Section 614
§ 614. Confidentiality of genetic testing
Status: in_force

(a) A report of genetic testing for parentage is exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act and shall be kept confidential and released only as provided in this title.

(b) A person shall not intentionally release a report of genetic testing or the genetic material of another person for a purpose not relevant to a parentage proceeding without the written permission of the person who furnished the genetic material. A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both.
15 V.S.A. § 1081 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1081
§ 1081. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Petitioner” means a person who seeks enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination.

(2) “Respondent” means a person against whom a proceeding has been commenced for enforcement of an order for return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination.
15C V.S.A. § 107 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 1 / Section 107
§ 107. Form of notice
Status: in_force

Notice shall be by first-class mail to the person's last known address.
15B V.S.A. § 1602 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 16 / Section 1602
§ 1602. Procedure to register an order for enforcement
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in section 1706 of this title, a support order or income withholding order of another state or a foreign support order may be registered in this State by sending the following records to the tribunal in this State:

(1) a letter of transmittal to the tribunal requesting registration and enforcement;

(2) two copies, including one certified copy, of the order to be registered, including any modification of the order;

(3) a sworn statement by the person requesting registration or a certified statement by the custodian of the records showing the amount of any arrearage;

(4) the name of the obligor and, if known:

(A) the obligor's address and Social Security number;

(B) the name and address of the obligor's employer and any other source of income of the obligor; and

(C) a description and the location of property of the obligor in this State not exempt from execution; and

(5) except as otherwise provided in section 1312 of this title, the name and address of the obligee and, if applicable, the person to whom support payments are to be remitted.

(b) On receipt of a request for registration, the registering tribunal shall cause the order to be filed as an order of another state or a foreign support order, together with one copy of the documents and information, regardless of their form.

(c) A petition or comparable pleading seeking a remedy that must be affirmatively sought under other law of this State may be filed at the same time as the request for registration or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for the remedy sought.

(d) If two or more orders are in effect, the person requesting registration shall:

(1) furnish to the tribunal a copy of every support order asserted to be in effect in addition to the documents specified in this section;

(2) specify the order alleged to be the controlling order, if any; and

(3) specify the amount of consolidated arrears, if any.

(e) A request for determination of which is the controlling order may be filed separately or with a request for registration and enforcement or for registration and modification. The person requesting registration shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination.
15 V.S.A. § 591 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 591
§ 591. Jurisdiction and power of courts
Status: in_force

Superior Courts shall hear and determine complaints for divorce and for affirming or annulling the civil marriage contract and may issue process of attachment, execution, and other proper process necessary for the dispatch and final determination of such causes. The judges of the Superior Court shall be triers of questions of fact as well as of law. Their determination of questions of fact shall be final, and exceptions may be taken and questions of law heard in the Supreme Court as in other causes.
15C V.S.A. § 115 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 1 / Section 115
§ 115. Binding effect of determination of parentage
Status: in_force

(a) Determination binding. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, a determination of parentage shall be binding on:

(1) all signatories to an acknowledgment of parentage or denial of parentage as provided in chapter 3 of this title; and

(2) all parties to an adjudication by a court acting under circumstances that satisfy the jurisdictional requirements of section 108 of this title.

(b) Adjudication in proceeding to dissolve marriage. In a proceeding to dissolve a marriage, the court is deemed to have made an adjudication of the parentage of a child if:

(1) the court acts under circumstances that satisfy the jurisdictional requirements of section 108 of this title; and

(2) the final order:

(A) expressly identifies a child as a “child of the marriage” or “issue of the marriage” or by similar words indicates that the parties are the parents of the child; or

(B) provides for support of the child by the parent or parents.

(c) Determination a defense. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a determination of parentage shall be a defense in a subsequent proceeding seeking to adjudicate parentage by a person who was not a party to the earlier proceeding.

(d) Challenge to adjudication.

(1) Challenge by a person who was a party to an adjudication. A party to an adjudication of parentage may challenge the adjudication only by appeal or in a manner otherwise consistent with the Vermont Rules for Family Proceedings.

(2) Challenge by a person who was not a party to an adjudication. A person who has standing under section 105 of this title, but who did not receive notice of the adjudication of parentage under section 106 of this title and was not a party to the adjudication, may challenge the adjudication within two years after the effective date of the adjudication. The court, in its discretion, shall permit the proceeding only if it finds that it is in the best interests of the child. If the court permits the proceeding, the court shall adjudicate parentage under section 206 of this title.

(e) Child not bound. A child is not bound by a determination of parentage under this chapter unless:

(1) the determination was based on an unrescinded acknowledgment of parentage and the acknowledgment is consistent with the results of genetic testing;

(2) the determination was based on a finding consistent with the results of genetic testing;

(3) the determination of parentage was made under chapter 7 or 8 of this title; or

(4) the child was a party or was represented by an attorney, guardian ad litem, or similar person in the proceeding in which the child's parentage was adjudicated.
15A V.S.A. § 102 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 2 / Section 102
§ 2-102. Direct placement for adoption by parent or guardian
Status: in_force

(a) A parent or guardian authorized to place a minor for adoption may place the minor only with a prospective adoptive parent who has a valid favorable preplacement evaluation or for whom a preplacement evaluation is not required.

(b) A parent or guardian shall personally select a prospective adoptive parent.

(c) A parent or guardian may be assisted by another person in locating a prospective adoptive parent or in transferring legal and physical custody to a prospective adoptive parent.

(d) A prospective adoptive parent may be assisted by another person in locating a minor who is available for adoption.

(e) A prospective adoptive parent shall furnish a copy of the preplacement evaluation to the parent or guardian. The evaluation may be edited to exclude identifying information.

(f) If, at the time of the minor's placement for adoption, the parent or guardian has not executed a consent to adoption, the parent or guardian will furnish to the prospective adoptive parent a signed statement that:

(1) the transfer of custody is for the purpose of adoption;

(2) the parent or guardian has been informed of the provisions of this title relevant to placement for adoption, consent, and termination of parental rights;

(3) the prospective adoptive parent is authorized to provide support and medical care for a specific period of time.

(g) The prospective adoptive parent shall acknowledge in writing responsibility for the minor's medical and other care and support and for returning the minor to the custody of the parent or guardian if the consent is not executed within the time specified.
15 V.S.A. § 811 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 13 / Section 811
§ 811. Procedure; form
Status: in_force

A person of age and sound mind may change his or her name by making, signing, sealing, and acknowledging before the judge of the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the district in which the person resides, an instrument in the following form:

STATE OF VERMONT

____________ District. }

____________ District. }

Be it remembered, that I, A. B. of __________ in the county of _________ , will be hereafter known and called ______________ .

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this ______ day of ______ , 20 ____ .

A. B. (L. S.)
15A V.S.A. § 102 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 1 / Section 102
§ 1-102. Who may adopt or be adopted
Status: in_force

(a) Subject to this title, any person may adopt or be adopted by another person for the purpose of creating the relationship of parent and child between them.

(b) If a family unit consists of a parent and the parent's partner, and adoption is in the best interests of the child, the partner of a parent may adopt a child of the parent. Termination of the parent's parental rights is unnecessary in an adoption under this subsection.
15A V.S.A. § 102 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 7 / Section 102
§ 7-102. Unauthorized disclosure of information
Status: in_force

(a) A person who knowingly discloses confidential adoption information or identifying information in violation of this title shall be fined not more than $1,000.00.

(b) In addition to the penalties provided in subsection (a) of this section, a person who is the subject of information contained in a record made confidential by this title may file an action for damages or equitable relief against any person who obtains unauthorized information or who discloses unauthorized information, or is likely to do so.
15 V.S.A. § 558 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 558
§ 558. Spouse allowed to take prior name
Status: in_force

Upon granting a divorce, unless good cause is shown to the contrary, the court shall allow a spouse to resume the spouse's prior name or the name of a former spouse.
15 V.S.A. § 1110 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1110
§ 1110. Requests for child support; transfer to Office of Magistrate
Status: in_force

A request for child support under this chapter may be transferred by the court to the Office of Magistrate for hearing and disposal. A magistrate's support order granted under this section may not exceed three months unless the relief from abuse proceeding is consolidated with an action for legal separation, divorce, or parentage.
15A V.S.A. § 113 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 1 / Section 113
§ 1-113. Criminal record checks
Status: in_force

(a) Criminal record checks required under this title shall be obtained as provided in this section.

(b) The Commissioner for Children and Families or any judge of the Probate Division of the Superior Court shall obtain from the Vermont Crime Information Center the record of Vermont convictions and pending criminal charges for any person being evaluated to be an adoptive parent.

(c) The Commissioner or Probate judge, through the Vermont Crime Information Center shall request the record of convictions and pending criminal charges of the appropriate criminal repositories in all states in which there is reason to believe the applicant has resided or been employed.

(d) If no disqualifying record is identified at the State level, the Commissioner or Probate judge through the Vermont Crime Information Center shall request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) a national criminal history record check of the applicant's convictions and pending criminal charges. The request to the FBI shall be accompanied by a set of the applicant's fingerprints and a fee established by the Vermont Crime Information Center which shall be paid by the applicant and shall reflect the cost of obtaining the record from the FBI.

(e) The Vermont Crime Information Center shall send to the requester any record received pursuant to this section or inform the requester that no record exists.

(f) The requester shall promptly provide a copy of any record of convictions and pending criminal charges to the applicant and shall inform the applicant of the right to appeal the accuracy and completeness of the record pursuant to rules adopted by the Vermont Crime Information Center.

(g) Upon completion of the applicant process under this section, the applicant's fingerprint card and any copies thereof shall be destroyed.
15C V.S.A. § 708 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 7 / Section 708
§ 708. Birth and parentage orders
Status: in_force

(a) A party consenting to assisted reproduction, a person who is a parent pursuant to sections 702–704 of this title, an intended parent or parents, or the person giving birth may commence a proceeding in the Probate Division of the Superior Court to obtain an order and judgment of parentage doing any of the following:

(1) declaring that the intended parent or parents are the parent or parents of the resulting child and ordering that parental rights and responsibilities vest exclusively in the intended parent or parents immediately upon the birth of the child;

(2) except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, sealing the record from the public to protect the privacy of the child and the parties;

(3) designating the contents of the birth certificate and directing the Department of Health to designate the intended parent or parents as the parent or parents of the child; or

(4) for any relief that the court determines necessary and proper.

(b) A proceeding under this section may be commenced before or after the birth of the child. If the court determines a person is a parent of the child either because the person gave birth to the child or the person is a consenting intended parent, the court shall adjudicate the person to be a parent of the child.

(c) Neither the donor, the State, nor the Department of Health is a necessary party to a proceeding under this section.

(d) The Probate Division of the Superior Court shall forward a certified copy of the order issued pursuant to this section to the Department of Health and to the intended parents or their representative.

(e) The intended parent or parents and any resulting child shall have access to the court records relating to the proceeding at any time.

(f) An uncontested petition for a judgment of parentage pursuant to this section shall be resolved by the court promptly.
15 V.S.A. § 1109 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1109
§ 1109. Appeals
Status: in_force

An order of the court issued under section 1103 of this title shall be treated as a final order for the purposes of appeal. Appeal may be taken by either party to the Supreme Court under the Vermont Rules of Appellate Procedure and the appeal shall be determined forthwith.
15 V.S.A. § 296 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 5 / Section 296
§ 296. Liability of stepparents
Status: in_force

A stepparent has a duty to support a stepchild if they reside in the same household and if the financial resources of the natural or adoptive parents are insufficient to provide the child with a reasonable subsistence consistent with decency and health. The duty of a stepparent to support a stepchild under this section shall be coextensive with and enforceable according to the same terms as the duty of a natural or adoptive parent to support a natural or adoptive child including any such duty of support as exists under the common law of this State, for so long as the marital bond creating the step relationship shall continue.
15B V.S.A. § 1207 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 12 / Section 1207
§ 1207. Determination of controlling child support order
Status: in_force

(a) If a proceeding is brought under this title and only one tribunal has issued a child support order, the order of that tribunal controls and must be recognized.

(b) If a proceeding is brought under this title, and two or more child support orders have been issued by tribunals of this State or another state or a foreign country with regard to the same obligor and same child, a tribunal of this State having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and individual obligee must apply the following rules and by order shall determine which order controls and shall be recognized:

(1) If only one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this title, the order of that tribunal controls.

(2) If more than one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this title:

(A) an order issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child controls; or

(B) if an order has not been issued in the current home state of the child, the order most recently issued controls.

(3) If none of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this title, the tribunal of this State shall issue a child support order, which controls.

(c) If two or more child support orders have been issued for the same obligor and the same child upon request of a party who is an individual or that is a support enforcement agency, a tribunal of this State having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and the obligee who is an individual shall determine which order controls under subsection (b) of this section. The request may be filed with a registration for enforcement or registration for modification pursuant to section 1206 of this title, or may be filed as a separate proceeding.

(d) A request to determine which is the controlling order must be accompanied by a copy of every child support order in effect and the applicable record of payments. The requesting party shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination.

(e) The tribunal that issued the controlling order under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section has continuing jurisdiction to the extent provided in section 1205 or 1206 of this title.

(f) A tribunal of this State that determines by order which is the controlling order under subdivision (b)(1) or (b)(2) or subsection (c) of this section or that issues a new controlling order under subdivision (b)(3) of this section shall state in that order:

(1) the basis upon which the tribunal made its determination;

(2) the amount of prospective support, if any; and

(3) the total amount of consolidated arrears and accrued interest, if any, under all of the orders after all payments made are credited as provided by section 1209 of this title.

(g) Within 30 days after issuance of an order determining which is the controlling order, the party obtaining the order shall file a certified copy of it with each tribunal that issued or registered an earlier order of child support. A party or support enforcement agency obtaining the order that fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the controlling order.

(h) An order that has been determined to be the controlling order, or a judgment for consolidated arrears of support and interest, if any, made pursuant to this section must be recognized in proceedings under this title.
15B V.S.A. § 1505 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 15 / Section 1505
§ 1505. Penalties for noncompliance
Status: in_force

An employer who willfully fails to comply with an income withholding order issued by another state and received for enforcement is subject to the same penalties that may be imposed for noncompliance with an order issued by a tribunal of this State.
15A V.S.A. § 205 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 205
§ 3-205. Removal of adoptee from State
Status: in_force

Before a decree of adoption is issued, a petitioner may not remove a minor adoptee for more than 30 consecutive days from the state in which the petitioner resides without the permission of the court, if the minor was placed directly for adoption, or, if an agency placed the minor for adoption, the permission of the agency.
15A V.S.A. § 102 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 102
§ 3-102. Venue
Status: in_force

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a petition for adoption may be filed in the Probate Division of the Superior Court in the district in which a petitioner resides or has legal residence at the time of filing, the adoptee resides, or an office of an agency or the Department that placed the adoptee is located.

(b) A consent or petition for relinquishment or termination of parental rights may be filed in the Probate Division of the Superior Court in the district in which the minor resides, a relinquishing parent resides, or the agency or person receiving the relinquishment has its principal place of business.

(c) Review of the appeal of a preplacement assessment shall take place in the probate division of the Superior Court in the district in which the appealing party resides or where the agency or person conducting the assessment is located.
15C V.S.A. § 205 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 2 / Section 205
§ 205. No limitation on child
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter limits the right of a child to bring an action to adjudicate parentage.
15B V.S.A. § 1901 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 19 / Section 1901
§ 1901. Uniformity
Status: in_force

In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
15 V.S.A. § 1107 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1107
§ 1107. Filing orders with law enforcement personnel; Department of Public Safety protection order database
Status: in_force

(a) Police departments, sheriff's departments, and State police district offices shall establish procedures for filing abuse prevention orders issued under this chapter, 33 V.S.A. chapter 69, 12 V.S.A. chapter 178, protective orders relating to contact with a child issued under 33 V.S.A. § 5115, , and foreign abuse prevention orders and for making their personnel aware of the existence and contents of such orders.

(b) Any court in this State that issues an abuse prevention order under section 1104 or 1103 of this chapter, or that files a foreign abuse prevention order in accordance with subsection 1108(d) of this chapter, or that issues a protective order relating to contact with a child under 33 V.S.A. § 5115, shall transmit a copy of the order to the Department of Public Safety protection order database.
15A V.S.A. § 304 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 304
§ 3-304. Content of petition
Status: in_force

(a) A petition for adoption of a minor shall be signed and verified by the petitioner. It shall be filed and shall contain the following information or state why any of the information omitted is not contained in the petition:

(1) the full name, date of birth, and place and duration of residence of the petitioner, and his or her relationship to the adoptee, if any;

(2) the current marital status of the petitioner, including any pending divorce and the date of any judicial determination that a petitioner's spouse is incompetent;

(3) the occupation and approximate income of each petitioner and that the petitioner has facilities and resources to provide for the care and support of the minor;

(4) that a preplacement evaluation favorable to the petitioner has been completed or updated within the 12 months before the placement, or that a preplacement evaluation has been waived by a court for good cause shown or is not required under section 2-201 of this title;

(5) the full birth or legal name, sex, and the time and date, or approximate time and date, and place of birth of the minor adoptee, and a statement that the minor is or is not an Indian child as defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901 et seq.;

(6) the circumstances under which the petitioner obtained physical custody of the minor, including the date of placement for adoption with the petitioner and the name of the agency or the name and relationship to the minor of the person that placed the minor;

(7) the length of time the minor has been in the physical custody of the petitioner or the reason why the petitioner does not have physical custody and the date and manner in which the petitioner intends to obtain physical custody;

(8) a description and estimate of the value of any known property of the minor;

(9) that any law governing interstate or intercountry placement was complied with;

(10) the name and relationship to the minor of any person who has executed a consent, relinquishment, or a disclaimer of paternal interest; the name and relationship to the minor of any person whose consent or relinquishment may be required whose parental relationship has not been terminated; and any fact or circumstance that may excuse the lack of consent;

(11) that a previous petition by the petitioner to adopt has or has not been made in any court and its disposition;

(12) a description of any previous court order or pending proceeding, known to the petitioner concerning child support for the minor or concerning custody of or visitation with the minor, including the name of the court;

(13) the full name by which the adoptee is to be known if the petition is granted; and

(14) any other fact known to the petitioner and needed to establish the jurisdiction of the court.

(b) The petitioner shall request in the petition:

(1) that the petitioner be permitted to adopt the minor as the petitioner's child; and

(2) any other relief sought by the petitioner.
15C V.S.A. § 612 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 6 / Section 612
§ 612. Deceased person
Status: in_force

For good cause shown, the court may order genetic testing of a deceased person.
15 V.S.A. § 901 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 15 / Section 901
§ 901. Parents' liability for damages
Status: in_force

(a) When an unemancipated minor under the age of 18 years willfully or maliciously causes damage to any property, public or private, or injury to a person, either of his or her parents shall be liable to the owner of such property or to the person injured, in an action on this statute, for the damage to property, injury to person, or either, in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 provided such minor would be liable had such minor been an adult. If the damage or injury is caused by two or more such minors, a parent shall be liable for each of his or her children subject to the provisions of this section in an amount not exceeding $5,000.00. The remedy provided shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedy which may exist at law; except, however, that any judgment subsequently recovered in any action brought for money damages on account of the damage or injury contemplated shall be reduced by the extent of any previous judgment recovered in any other such action.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a parent legally deprived or relieved of the custody of the minor prior to the commission of the act complained of.

(c) In an action under this section against a minor's parents, nothing contained in the record of any juvenile proceeding involving the minor shall be admissible as evidence except as provided in 33 V.S.A. § 5117.

(d) Law enforcement officers who come in contact with an owner of property damaged by a minor or a person injured by a minor shall make a reasonable effort to inform such person of the provisions of this section.
15A V.S.A. § 108 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 5 / Section 108
§ 5-108. Decree of adoption
Status: in_force

(a) A decree of adoption issued under this article shall substantially conform to the relevant requirements of section 3-705 of this title and appeals from a decree, or challenges to it, are governed by section 3-707 of this title.

(b) The court shall send a copy of the decree to each person named in the petition at the address stated in the petition.

(c) Within 30 days after a decree of adoption becomes final, the clerk of the court shall prepare a report of the adoption for the State Registrar of Vital Records, and, if the petitioners have requested it, the report shall instruct the State Registrar to issue a new birth certificate to the adoptee, as provided in Article 3, Part 8 of this title.
15B V.S.A. § 1311 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 13 / Section 1311
§ 1311. Pleadings and accompanying documents
Status: in_force

(a) In a proceeding under this title, a petitioner seeking to establish a support order to determine parentage of a child or to register and modify a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country must file a petition. Unless otherwise ordered under section 1312 of this title, the petition or accompanying documents must provide, so far as known, the name, residential address, and Social Security numbers of the obligor and the obligee or the parent and alleged parent, and the name, sex, residential address, Social Security number, and date of birth of each child for whose benefit support is sought or whose parentage is to be determined. Unless filed at the time of registration, the petition must be accompanied by a copy of any support order known to have been issued by another tribunal. The petition may include any other information that may assist in locating or identifying the respondent.

(b) The petition must specify the relief sought. The petition and accompanying documents must conform substantially with the requirements imposed by the forms mandated by federal law for use in cases filed by a support enforcement agency.
15B V.S.A. § 1306 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 13 / Section 1306
§ 1306. Inappropriate tribunal
Status: in_force

If a petition or comparable pleading is received by an inappropriate tribunal of this State or the Office of Child Support, it shall forward the pleading and accompanying documents to an appropriate tribunal in this State or another state and notify the petitioner where and when the pleading was sent.
15 V.S.A. § 1093 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1093
§ 1093. Role of Attorney General; role of law enforcement
Status: in_force

(a) In a case arising under this chapter or involving the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the Attorney General or a State's Attorney may take any lawful action, including resort to a proceeding under this subchapter or any other available civil proceeding to locate a child, obtain the return of a child, or enforce a child custody determination if there is:

(1) an existing child custody determination;

(2) a request to do so from a court in a pending child custody proceeding;

(3) a reasonable belief that a criminal statute has been violated; or

(4) a reasonable belief that the child has been wrongfully removed or retained in violation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

(b) The Attorney General or a State's Attorney acting under this section acts on behalf of the court and shall not represent any party.

(c) At the request of the Attorney General or a State's Attorney acting under this section, a law enforcement officer may take any lawful action reasonably necessary to locate a child or a party and assist the Attorney General or State's Attorney with responsibilities under this section.
15 V.S.A. § 64 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 3 / Section 64
§ 64. Sole deed
Status: in_force

A married woman may convey or mortgage by her sole deed the real estate of which she is seized in her own right to her sole and separate use as she might do by her separate deed if unmarried. She may by her sole deed convey or mortgage and manage and control any other real estate acquired by her on or after February 13, 1919, except that a homestead interest therein and the real estate of which she is seized jointly with her husband may be conveyed or mortgaged only by the joint deed of herself and husband.
15A V.S.A. § 303 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 303
§ 3-303. Caption of petition
Status: in_force

The caption of the petition shall read “In the Matter of the Adoption of .......... .” and shall contain the name by which the adoptee will be known or initials for the adoptee.
15A V.S.A. § 101 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 8 / Section 101
§ 8-101. Interstate compacts on adoption and medical assistance; authorization
Status: in_force

(a) The Commissioner of the Department for Children and Families is authorized to negotiate and enter into interstate compacts with agencies of other states for the provision of medical assistance and other services for children with special needs on behalf of whom adoption assistance is being provided by the State of Vermont or another state party to such a compact and who move into or from Vermont.

(b) As used in this article, “state” includes a state, territory, possession, or commonwealth of the United States. Compacts authorized by this article must include:

(1) a provision making it available for joinder by all states;

(2) a provision or provisions for withdrawal from the compact upon written notice to the parties, but with a period of one year between the date of the notice and the effective date of the withdrawal;

(3) a requirement that the protections afforded by or pursuant to the compact continue in force for the duration of the adoption assistance and be applicable to all children and their adoptive parents who on the effective date of the withdrawal are receiving adoption assistance from a party state other than the one in which they are resident and have their principal place of abode;

(4) a requirement that each instance of adoption assistance to which the compact applies be covered by an adoption assistance agreement in writing between the adoptive parents and the state child welfare agency of the state that undertakes to provide the adoption assistance, and further, that any such agreement be expressly for the benefit of the adopted child and enforceable by the adoptive parents and the state agency providing the adoption assistance; and

(5) such other provisions as may be appropriate to implement the proper administration of the compact.

(c) The Commissioner shall designate a compact administrator and deputies, as deemed necessary, who shall have authority to develop rules to be adopted to effectuate the terms and provisions of compacts entered into under the authority of this article.
15B V.S.A. § 1902 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 19 / Section 1902
§ 1902. Transitional provisions
Status: in_force

The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act applies to proceedings begun on or after June 30, 2015 to establish a support order or determine parentage of a child support order or to register, recognize, enforce, or modify a prior support order or determine parentage of a child or to register, recognize, enforce, or modify a prior support order, or determination, or agreement, whenever issued or entered.
15 V.S.A. § 1153 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1153
§ 1153. Certification cancellation
Status: in_force

(a) The Secretary of State may cancel a Program participant's certification if, after the passage of 14 days:

(1) from the date of changing his or her name, the Program participant does not notify the Secretary that he or she has obtained a name change; however, the Program participant may reapply under his or her new name;

(2) from the date of changing his or her address, the Program participant fails to notify the Secretary of the change of address; or

(3) from the date the secretary first receives mail, forwarded to the Program participant's address, returned as nondeliverable.

(b) The Secretary shall cancel certification of a Program participant who applies using false information.

(c) The Secretary shall send notice of cancellation to the Program participant. Notice of cancellation shall set out the reasons for cancellation. The Program participant shall have 30 days to appeal the cancellation decision under procedures developed by the Secretary.

(d) Program participants may withdraw from the Program by giving the Secretary written notice of their intention. The Secretary shall establish, by rule, a secure procedure for ensuring that the request for withdrawal is legitimate.
15 V.S.A. § 102 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 3 / Section 102
§ 102. Complaint by wife to sell real estate
Status: in_force

When a married man is incapacitated for supporting his family, or deserts, neglects, or abandons his wife, or by ill-usage or criminal conduct gives her cause to live apart from him, or is committed to the Commissioner of Corrections, if the wife is of age, a presiding judge of the Superior Court, upon her complaint for that purpose, may authorize such wife to sell and convey her real estate, or personal property that came to the husband by reason of the civil marriage and that remains in the State undisposed of by him. Such judge may authorize a person holding money or other personal estate, to which the husband is entitled in her right, to pay or deliver the same to the wife. A married woman who is of age and lives apart from her husband and has lived apart from her husband more than one year from any cause other than her adultery, and who has real estate in her own right, may petition a presiding judge of the Superior Court for leave to sell and convey such real estate.
15 V.S.A. § 1095 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1095
§ 1095. Application and construction
Status: in_force

In applying and construing this chapter, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.
15 V.S.A. § 606 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 606
§ 606. Action to recover maintenance, child support, and suit money; sanction for noncompliance
Status: in_force

(a) When a judgment or order for the payment of either temporary or permanent maintenance, child support, or suit money has been made by the Family Division of the Superior Court, and personal jurisdiction of the person liable for the payment of money under the judgment or order has been obtained, the party entitled by the terms of the judgment or order to payment thereunder, or the Office of Child Support in all cases in which the party or dependent children of the parties are the recipients of financial assistance from the Department for Children and Families, may file a motion in the Family Division of the Superior Court asking for a determination of the amount due. Upon notice to the other party and hearing thereon, the Family Division of the Superior Court shall render judgment for the amount due under the judgment or order; the court may order restitution to the Department, order that payments be made to the Office of Child Support for distribution, or make such other orders or conditions as it deems proper. The judgment shall be as binding and as enforceable in all respects as though rendered in any other civil action. Notice shall be given in such manner as the Supreme Court shall by rule provide. An additional motion may be brought at any time for further unpaid balances. The Family Division of the Superior Court in which the cause was pending at the time the original judgment or order was made shall have jurisdiction of motions under the provisions of this section, irrespective of the amount in controversy or the residence of the parties. The motions may be brought and judgment obtained on judgments, decrees, and orders previously rendered and still in force.

(b) For the purpose of enforcing child support orders under this title and Title 33, any support payment or installment shall become a judgment on the date it becomes due.

(c) An action to enforce a judgment under subsection (b) of this section may be brought no later than six years after the youngest child covered by the support order attains the age of majority or no later than six years after a child covered by subsection 659(b) of this title is no longer covered.

(d)(1) In lieu of interest on unpaid child support that has accrued under a child support order, a child support surcharge shall be imposed on past-due child support. Beginning on July 1, 2004, the surcharge shall be computed and assessed monthly at a rate of one percent or an annual rate of 12 percent and shall not be compounded. Beginning on January 1, 2012, the surcharges shall be computed and assessed monthly at a rate of one-half percent or an annual rate of six percent and shall not be compounded. All surcharges shall be deemed principal and not interest. Payments received for child support obligations shall be allocated and distributed as follows:

(A) first to current support obligations;

(B) second to arrearages; and

(C) third to surcharge arrears.

(2) In the interests of justice, the court may discharge all or part of a surcharge that accrued subsequent to the date of the last judgment upon a finding that since that date, the obligated parent became unable to comply with the underlying support obligation. The obligated parent shall bear the burden of proving inability to comply.
15 V.S.A. § 681 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 681
§ 681. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Deploy” and “deployment” mean military service in compliance with military orders received by a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including any reserve component thereof to report for combat operations, contingency operations, peacekeeping operations, a remote tour of duty, or other active service for which the deploying parent is required to report unaccompanied by any family member. Deployment includes a period during which a military parent remains subject to deployment orders and remains deployed on account of sickness, wounds, leave, or other lawful cause.

(2) “Deploying parent” means a military parent who has been notified by military leadership that he or she will deploy or mobilize with the U.S. Armed Forces, including any reserve component thereof, or who is currently deployed or mobilized with the U.S. Armed Forces, including any reserve component thereof. “Nondeploying parent” means a parent who is either not a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including any reserve component thereof, or is a military parent who is currently not a deploying parent.

(3) “Military parent” means a natural parent, adoptive parent, or legal parent of a child under the age of 18 whose parental rights have not been terminated or transferred to the state or another person through a juvenile proceeding pursuant to 33 V.S.A. chapter 53 or guardianship pursuant to 14 V.S.A. chapter 111 by a court of competent jurisdiction, and who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including any reserve component thereof.

(4) “Mobilization” and “mobilize” mean the call-up of National Guard or Reserve service members to extended active service. For purposes of this definition, “mobilization” does not include National Guard or Reserve annual training, inactive duty days, drill weekends, temporary duty, or state active duty.

(5) “State active duty” means the call-up by a governor for the performance of any military duty in state status.

(6) “Temporary duty” means the transfer of a service member to a geographic location outside Vermont for a limited period of time to accomplish training or to assist in the performance of a noncombat mission.
15A V.S.A. § 104 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 1 / Section 104
§ 1-104. Legal relationship between adoptee and adoptive parent after adoption
Status: in_force

When a decree of adoption becomes final:

(1) the adoptive parent and the adoptee have the legal relation of parent and child and have all the rights and duties of that relationship including the right of inheritance and succession from or through each other and the kindred of the adoptive parent; and

(2) the adoptee is the child, heir, or issue of the adoptive parent for the purposes of interpretation or construction of a donative disposition in any instrument, whether executed before or after an adoption, unless the instrument expressly states a contrary intention or excludes the adoptee by name or by classification not based on a family or parent and child relationship.
15B V.S.A. § 1317 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 13 / Section 1317
§ 1317. Communications between tribunals
Status: in_force

A tribunal of this State or the Office of Child Support may communicate with a tribunal outside this State in a record, or by telephone, electronic mail, or other means, to obtain information concerning the laws of that state, the legal effect of a judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding. A tribunal of this State or the Office of Child Support may furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal outside this State.
15 V.S.A. § 553 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 553
§ 553. Collusion
Status: in_force

The term “collusion,” as used in divorce actions, shall not be construed to include conversations or negotiations of the parties carried on in good faith in an effort to resolve their marital difficulties, where the purpose or result of the conference is not to hinder or obstruct justice or to suppress evidence as to the merits of the case.
15 V.S.A. § 1207 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 23 / Section 1207
§ 1207. Commissioner of Health; duties
Status: in_force

(a) The Commissioner shall provide civil union license and certificate forms to all town and county clerks.

(b) The Commissioner shall keep a record of all civil unions.
15A V.S.A. § 112 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 6 / Section 112
§ 6-112. Action for disclosure of information
Status: repealed

(a) A person denied disclosure of information under section 6-104 of this title may file a petition in the court to obtain the information being sought.

(b) In determining whether to grant a petition under this section, the court shall review the records of the relevant proceeding for adoption and shall make specific findings concerning:

(1) the reasons the information is sought;

(2) [Repealed.]

(3) if known, whether the individual about whom information is sought is alive;

(4) whether it is possible to satisfy the petitioner's request without disclosing the identity of another individual; and

(5) the expressed needs of the adoptee, including the emotional and mental health needs of the adoptee.

(c) Before making a determination under this section, the court shall make a reasonable effort to confidentially contact the person whose identity is being sought in order to determine that person's response to the petition and shall consider any response in reaching its decision.

(d), (e) [Repealed.]
15B V.S.A. § 1104 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 11 / Section 1104
§ 1104. Remedies cumulative
Status: in_force

(a) Remedies provided by this title are cumulative and do not affect the availability of remedies under other law, or the recognition of a foreign support order on the basis of comity.

(b) This title does not:

(1) provide the exclusive method of establishing or enforcing a support order under the law of this State; or

(2) grant a tribunal of this State jurisdiction to render judgment or issue an order relating to child custody or visitation, or both, in a proceeding under this title.
15 V.S.A. § 61 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 3 / Section 61
§ 61. Contracts; suits on contracts; partnership with husband
Status: in_force

A married woman may make contracts with any person other than her husband and bind herself and her separate property in the same manner as if she were unmarried. She may sue and be sued as to all such contracts made by her, either before or during coverture, without her husband being joined in the action as plaintiff or defendant, and execution may issue against her and be levied on her sole and separate goods, chattels and estate. Irrespective of the provisions herein, a married woman may enter into a contract of general or limited business partnership in which partnership her husband is also a partner, may contract with him for such purpose and may be a partner with him.
15 V.S.A. § 1105 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1105
§ 1105. Service
Status: in_force

(a) A complaint or ex parte temporary order or final order issued under this chapter shall be served in accordance with the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure and may be served by any law enforcement officer. A court that issues an order under this chapter during court hours shall promptly transmit the order electronically or by other means to a law enforcement agency for service.

(b)(1) A defendant who attends a hearing held under section 1103 or 1104 of this title at which a temporary or final order under this chapter is issued and who receives notice from the court on the record that the order has been issued shall be deemed to have been served. A defendant notified by the court on the record shall be required to adhere immediately to the provisions of the order. The clerk shall mail a copy of the order to the defendant at the defendant's last known address.

(2) An ex parte temporary order issued under this chapter shall remain in effect until either it is dismissed by the court or the petition is denied at the final hearing. If the plaintiff fails to appear at the final hearing, the petition shall be dismissed, provided that the court may continue the temporary order until the final hearing if it makes findings on the record stating why there is good cause not to dismiss the petition. If a final order is issued, the temporary order shall remain in effect until personal service of the final order.

(c) Abuse orders shall be served by the law enforcement agency at the earliest possible time and shall take precedence over other summonses and orders. Orders shall be served in a manner calculated to ensure the safety of the plaintiff. Methods of service that include advance notification to the defendant shall not be used. The person making service shall file a return of service with the court stating the date, time, and place at which the order was delivered personally to the defendant.

(d) If service of a notice of hearing issued under section 1103 or 1104 of this title cannot be made before the scheduled hearing, the court shall continue the hearing and extend the terms of the order upon request of the plaintiff for such additional time as it deems necessary to achieve service on the defendant.
15 V.S.A. § 1185 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 21 / Section 1185
§ 1185. Filing of a new case by a person subject to an order restricting abusive litigation
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who is subject to an order restricting abusive litigation is prohibited from filing, initiating, advancing, or continuing the litigation against the protected party for the period of time that the filing restrictions are in effect.

(b) A person who is subject to an order restricting litigation against whom prefiling restrictions have been imposed pursuant to this subchapter who wishes to initiate a new case or file a motion in an existing case during the time the person is under filing restrictions shall make an application to a judicial officer. A judicial officer shall review such application and determine whether the proposed litigation is abusive litigation or if there are reasonable and legitimate grounds upon which the litigation is based. The judicial officer shall determine whether a hearing is necessary.

(c)(1) If the judicial officer determines the proposed litigation is abusive litigation based on reviewing the files, records, and pleadings, it is not necessary for the person protected by the order to appear or participate in any way. If the judicial officer is unable to determine whether the proposed litigation is abusive without hearing from the person protected by the order, then the court shall issue an order scheduling a hearing and notifying the protected party of the party's right to appear or participate in the hearing. The order shall specify whether the protected party is expected to submit a written response. When possible, the protected party shall be permitted to appear remotely.

(2) If the judicial officer believes the litigation that the party who is subject to the prefiling order is making application to file will constitute abusive litigation, the application shall be denied, dismissed, or otherwise disposed of with prejudice.

(3) If the judicial officer believes that the litigation the party who is subject to the prefiling order is making application to file will not be abusive litigation, the judicial officer may grant the application and issue an order permitting the filing of the case, motion, or pleading. The order shall be attached to the front of the pleading to be filed with the clerk. The party who is protected by the order shall be served with a copy of the order at the same time as the underlying pleading.

(d) The judicial officer shall make findings and issue a written order supporting the ruling. If the party who is subject to the order disputes the finding of the judicial officer, the party may seek review of the decision as provided by the applicable court rules.

(e) If the application for the filing of a pleading is granted pursuant to this section, the period of time commencing with the filing of the application requesting permission to file the action and ending with the issuance of an order permitting filing of the action shall not be computed as a part of any applicable period of limitations within which the matter must be instituted.

(f) If, after a party who is subject to prefiling restrictions has made application and been granted permission to file or advance a case pursuant to this section, any judicial officer hearing or presiding over the case, or any part thereof, determines that the person is attempting to add parties, amend the complaint, or is otherwise attempting to alter the parties and issues involved in the litigation in a manner that the judicial officer reasonably believes would constitute abusive litigation, the judicial officer shall stay the proceedings and refer the case back to the judicial officer who granted the application to file, for further disposition.

(g)(1) If a party who is protected by an order restricting abusive litigation is served with a pleading filed by the person who is subject to the order, and the pleading does not have an attached order allowing the pleading, the protected party may respond to the case by filing a copy of the order restricting abusive litigation.

(2) If it is brought to the attention of the court that a person against whom prefiling restrictions have been imposed has filed a new case or is continuing an existing case without having been granted permission pursuant to this section, the court shall dismiss, deny, or otherwise dispose of the matter. This action may be taken by the court on the court's own motion or initiative. The court may take whatever action against the perpetrator of abusive litigation deemed necessary and appropriate for a violation of the order restricting abusive litigation.
15A V.S.A. § 407 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 2 / Section 407
§ 2-407. Consequences of consent or relinquishment
Status: in_force

(a) Except under a circumstance stated in section 2-408 of this title, a consent to the adoption of a minor, which consent is executed by a parent or guardian in substantial compliance with sections 2-405 and 2-406 of this title, is final and irrevocable 21 days after execution, and:

(1) unless a court orders otherwise to protect the welfare of the minor, entitles the prospective adoptive parent named or described in the consent to the legal and physical custody of the minor, and imposes on that person responsibility for the support and medical and other care of the minor;

(2) terminates any responsibility of a parent who executed the consent with respect to the minor, including child support (except for arrearages) upon filing the consent with the Family Division of the Superior Court that entered the child support order and notifying the office of child support; and

(3) terminates any right of a parent or guardian who executed the consent to object to the minor's adoption by the prospective adoptive parent unless otherwise provided in the consent.

(b) Except under a circumstance stated in section 2-409 of this title, a relinquishment of a minor to an agency executed in substantial compliance with sections 2-405 and 2-406 is final and irrevocable 21 days after it is executed, and:

(1) unless a court orders otherwise to protect the welfare of the minor, entitles the agency to the legal custody of the minor until a decree of adoption becomes final;

(2) empowers the agency to:

(A) place the minor for adoption;

(B) consent to the minor's adoption; and

(C) delegate to a prospective adoptive parent responsibility for the support and medical and other care of the minor;

(3) terminates any responsibility of the person who executed the relinquishment with respect to the minor, including child support (except for arrearages) upon filing the relinquishment with the Family Division of the Superior Court that entered the child support order notifying the office of child support; and

(4) terminates any right of the person who executed the relinquishment to object to the minor's adoption and, unless otherwise provided in the relinquishment, any right to notice of the proceeding for adoption.
15 V.S.A. § 636 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 636
§ 636. Filing certified copies of orders with court which committed party with a mental condition or psychiatric disability
Status: in_force

If the party with a mental condition or psychiatric disability was committed by a court of competent jurisdiction, the clerk of the court shall file a certified copy of all orders entered in proceedings brought under these provisions.
15C V.S.A. § 116 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 1 / Section 116
§ 116. Full faith and credit
Status: in_force

A court of this State shall give full faith and credit to a determination of parentage and to an acknowledgment of parentage from another state if the determination is valid and effective in accordance with the law of the other state.
15C V.S.A. § 103 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 1 / Section 103
§ 103. Scope and application
Status: in_force

(a) Scope. This title applies to determination of parentage in this State.

(b) Choice of law. The court shall apply the law of this State to adjudicate parentage.

(c) Effect on parental rights. This title does not create, enlarge, or diminish parental rights and responsibilities under other laws of this State or the equitable powers of the courts, except as provided in this title.
15B V.S.A. § 1211 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 12 / Section 1211
§ 1211. Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify spousal support order
Status: in_force

(a) A tribunal of this State issuing a spousal support order consistent with the law of this State has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify the spousal support order throughout the existence of the support obligation.

(b) A tribunal of this State may not modify a spousal support order issued by a tribunal of another state or foreign country having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the order under the law of that state or foreign country.

(c) A tribunal of this State that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order may serve as:

(1) an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce the spousal support order issued in this State; or

(2) a responding tribunal to enforce or modify its own spousal support order.
15A V.S.A. § 109 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 6 / Section 109
§ 6-109. Disclosure authorized in course of employment
Status: in_force

This article does not preclude an employee of the agency or the registry from:

(1) inspecting permanent, confidential, or sealed records for the purpose of discharging any obligation under this title;

(2) disclosing the name of the court where a proceeding for adoption occurred or the name of the agency that placed an adoptee to an individual described in sections 6-104 and 6-105 of this title who can verify his or her identity; or

(3) disclosing nonidentifying information contained in confidential or sealed records in accordance with any other applicable State or federal law.
15C V.S.A. § 311 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 3 / Section 311
§ 311. Release of information
Status: in_force

(a) The Department of Health shall provide the completed following forms only to the parties who signed the document, the Office of Child Support, and the Family Services Division of the Department of Children and Families:

(1) acknowledgment of parentage,

(2) voluntary acknowledgment of parentage,

(3) denial of parentage, and

(4) rescission of these documents.

(b) The Health Department shall release the forms to the Office of Child Support only upon request and the Office of Child Support may use the forms for the sole purpose of initiating a parentage or support proceeding on behalf of a dependent child as defined in 33 V.S.A. § 3901.

(c) The Health Department shall release the forms to the Family Services Division of the Department for Children and Families only upon request and the Family Services Division may use the forms for the sole purpose of addressing parentage or support proceedings relating to a child who is in the care of the Department for Children and Families.
15B V.S.A. § 1301 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 13 / Section 1301
§ 1301. Proceedings under this title
Status: in_force

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, this chapter applies to all proceedings under this title.

(b) An individual petitioner or a support enforcement agency may initiate a proceeding authorized under this title by filing a petition in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a petition or a comparable pleading directly in a tribunal of another state or foreign country which has or can obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.
15A V.S.A. § 702 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 702
§ 3-702. Disclosure of fees and charges
Status: in_force

At least ten days before the hearing:

(1) the petitioner shall file with the court a signed and verified accounting of any payment or disbursement of money or anything of value made or agreed to be made by or on behalf of the petitioner in connection with the adoption or pursuant to Article 7 of this title. The accounting shall include the date and amount of each payment or disbursement made, the name and address of each recipient, and the purpose of each payment or disbursement;

(2) the attorney for a petitioner, parent, or guardian shall file with the court an affidavit itemizing any fee, compensation, or other thing of value received by, or agreed to be paid to, the attorney incidental to the placement and adoption of the minor; and

(3) if an agency or guardian placed the minor for adoption, the agency or guardian shall file with the court an affidavit itemizing any fee, compensation, or other thing of value received by the agency for, or incidental to, the placement and adoption of the minor.
15B V.S.A. § 1302 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 13 / Section 1302
§ 1302. Proceeding by a minor parent
Status: in_force

A minor parent, or a guardian or other legal representative of a minor parent, may maintain a proceeding on behalf of or for the benefit of the minor's child.
15 V.S.A. § 1203 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 23 / Section 1203
§ 1203. Person shall not enter a civil union with a relative
Status: in_force

(a) A woman shall not enter a civil union with her mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, brother's daughter, sister's daughter, father's sister, or mother's sister.

(b) A man shall not enter a civil union with his father, grandfather, son, grandson, brother, brother's son, sister's son, father's brother, or mother's brother.

(c) A civil union between persons prohibited from entering a civil union in subsection (a) or (b) of this section is void.
15 V.S.A. § 7 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 1 / Section 7
§ 7. Affirmance of civil marriage by decree of court
Status: in_force

When the validity of a civil marriage is denied or doubted by either of the parties, the other party may file a libel for affirming the marriage. Upon proof of the validity thereof, it shall be declared valid by a decree of the court. Such decree shall be conclusive upon persons concerned.
15 V.S.A. § 787 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 787
§ 787. Employer's responsibility; compensation
Status: in_force

(a) Upon receipt of notice of wage withholding under this chapter or under a similar law of another state, an employer shall:

(1) withhold from the wages paid to the obligor the periodic support amount specified in the order for each wage period;

(2) within seven working days after wages are withheld, forward the withheld wages to the registry and specify the date the support was withheld from wages;

(3) retain a record of all withheld wages;

(4) cease withholding wages upon notice from the court or the registry; and

(5) notify the registry within 10 days of the date the obligor's employment is terminated.

(b) In addition to the amounts withheld pursuant to this subchapter, the employer may retain not more than $5.00 per month from the obligor's wages as compensation for administrative costs incurred.

(c)(1) Any employer who fails to withhold wages pursuant to a wage withholding order within 10 working days of receiving actual notice or upon the next payment of wages to the obligor, whichever is later, shall be liable to the obligee in the amount of the wages required to be withheld.

(2) No employer who withholds wages from the obligor shall, without good cause, fail to forward payment to the registry for more than 30 days. An employer who violates this subdivision shall be assessed a civil penalty of not more than $100.00 for a first violation and not more than $1,000.00 for a second or subsequent violation.

(3) A proceeding pursuant to this section shall be heard by the Family Division of the Superior Court.

(d) The employer may combine amounts withheld from the wages of more than one employee in a single payment to the registry, listing separately the amount of the payment that is attributable to each individual employee.

(e) An employer shall only withhold wages from the nonexempt portion of the obligor's wages as defined under section 303(b) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. § 1673(b)).

(f) An employer who makes an error in the amount of wages withheld shall not be held liable if the error was made in good faith.

(g) On request of the Office of Child Support, the employer shall furnish the Social Security number and the amount of wages of any employee.
15A V.S.A. § 302 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 3 / Section 302
§ 3-302. Time for filing petition
Status: in_force

(a) Unless the court for good cause extends the time for filing, a petition for adoption shall be filed no later than 45 days after a minor is placed with the petitioner for the specific purpose of adoption. This provision does not apply to foster parent, relative, or stepparent adoptions.

(b) If a petition is not filed within 45 days after placement or within any extended period of time approved by the court, any interested person or agency may file an action challenging the prospective adoptive parent's custody of the minor.
15 V.S.A. § 552 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 552
§ 552. Reconciliation
Status: in_force

If one of the parties had denied under oath or affirmation that the parties have lived apart for the requisite period of time or has alleged that reconciliation is reasonably probable, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including the circumstances that gave rise to the filing of the complaint and the prospect of reconciliation, and shall:

(1) make a finding whether the parties have lived apart for the requisite period of time or not and whether the reconciliation of the parties to the civil marriage is reasonably probable or not; or

(2) continue the matter for further hearing not less than 30 or more than 60 days later, and may suggest to the parties that they seek counseling. At the adjourned hearing, the court shall make a finding whether the parties have lived apart for the requisite period of time or not and whether the reconciliation of the parties to the civil marriage is reasonably probable or not.
15A V.S.A. § 101 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 7 / Section 101
§ 7-101. Enforcement
Status: in_force

(a) The Attorney General shall enforce the provisions of this title and may review and investigate compliance therewith.

(b) Whenever the Attorney General has reason to believe that a person has violated or is violating a provision of this title, and that proceedings would be in the public interest, the Attorney General may bring an action in the name of the State against such person to ensure compliance. The action may be brought in the superior court of the county in which such person resides or in which the violation occurred or is occurring. The court may grant temporary, preliminary, and permanent injunctive relief to restrain and prevent violations of this title.

(c) In addition to the foregoing, the Attorney General may request and the court is authorized to render any other appropriate relief as may be in the public interest, and may:

(1) impose a civil penalty of not more than $5,000.00 for each violation. In the case of a continuing violation, a civil penalty of not more than $1,000.00 may be imposed for each day the violation continues; and

(2) order reimbursement to the State of Vermont for the reasonable value of its services and its expenses in investigating and prosecuting the action.
15C V.S.A. § 112 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 1 / Section 112
§ 112. Admission of parentage authorized
Status: in_force

(a) Admission of parentage. A respondent in a proceeding to adjudicate parentage may admit parentage of a child when making an appearance or during a hearing in a proceeding involving the child or by filing a pleading to such effect. An admission of parentage pursuant to this section is different from an acknowledgment of parentage as provided in chapter 3 of this title.

(b) Order adjudicating parentage. If the court finds an admission to be consistent with the provisions of this chapter and rejects any objection filed by another party, the court may issue an order adjudicating the child to be the child of the person admitting parentage.
15A V.S.A. § 207 — VT Code / Title 15A / Chapter 2 / Section 207
§ 2-207. Action by Department
Status: in_force

If, before a decree of adoption is issued, the Department learns from an evaluator or another person that a minor has been placed for adoption with a person who is the subject of a preplacement evaluation on file with the Department containing a finding of unsuitability, the Department shall immediately review the evaluation and investigate the circumstances of the placement and may request that the person return the minor to the custody of the person who placed the minor or to the Department. If the person refuses to return the minor, the Department shall immediately commence an action or proceeding to remove the minor from the home of the person and, pending a hearing, the court shall make an appropriate order for the care and custody of the minor.
15C V.S.A. § 804 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 8 / Section 804
§ 804. Birth and parentage orders
Status: in_force

(a) Before or after the birth of a resulting child, a party to a gestational carrier agreement may commence a proceeding in the Probate Division of the Superior Court to obtain an order and judgment of parentage doing any of the following:

(1) Declaring that the intended parent or parents are the parent or parents of the resulting child and ordering that parental rights and responsibilities vest exclusively in the intended parent or parents immediately upon the birth of the child.

(2) Declaring that the gestational carrier or the carrier's spouse, if any, are not the parents of the resulting child.

(3) Designating the contents of the birth certificate and directing the Department of Health to designate the intended parent or parents as the parent or parents of the child. The Department of Health may charge a reasonable fee for the issuance of a birth certificate.

(4) Sealing the record from the public to protect the privacy of the child and the parties.

(5) Providing any relief the court determines necessary and proper.

(b) Neither the State nor the Department of Health is a necessary party to a proceeding under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) The Probate Division of the Superior Court shall forward a certified copy of the order issued pursuant to this section to the Department of Health and to the intended parents or their representative.

(d) The intended parent or parents and any resulting child shall have access to their court records at any time.

(e) An uncontested petition for a judgment of parentage pursuant to this section shall be resolved by the court promptly.
15B V.S.A. § 1501 — VT Code / Title 15B / Chapter 15 / Section 1501
§ 1501. Employer's receipt of an income withholding from another state
Status: in_force

An income withholding order issued in another state may be sent by or on behalf of the obligee, or by the support enforcement agency, to the person defined as the obligor's employer under the income withholding law of this State without first filing a petition or comparable pleading or registering the order with a tribunal of this State.
15 V.S.A. § 1074 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1074
§ 1074. Temporary emergency jurisdiction
Status: in_force

(a) A Vermont court has temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child is present in Vermont, and the child has been abandoned or it is necessary in an emergency to protect the child because the child, or a sibling or parent of the child, is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse.

(b) If there is no previous child custody determination that is entitled to be enforced under this chapter, and a child custody proceeding has not been commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under sections 1071-1073 of this title, a child custody determination made under this section remains in effect until an order is obtained from a court of a state having jurisdiction under sections 1071-1073 of this title. If a child custody proceeding has not been or is not commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under sections 1071-1073 of this title, a child custody determination made under this section becomes a final determination, if it so provides, and Vermont becomes the home state of the child.

(c) If there is a previous child custody determination that is entitled to be enforced under this chapter, or a child custody proceeding has been commenced in a court of a state having jurisdiction under sections 1071-1073 of this title, any order issued by a Vermont court under this section shall specify in the order a period that the court considers adequate to allow the person seeking an order to obtain an order from the state having jurisdiction under sections 1071-1073 of this title. The order issued in Vermont remains in effect until an order is obtained from the other state within the period specified or the period expires.

(d) A Vermont court that has been asked to make a child custody determination under this section upon being informed that a child custody proceeding has been commenced in, or a child custody determination has been made by, a court of a state having jurisdiction under sections 1071-1073 of this title shall immediately communicate with the other court. A Vermont court that is exercising jurisdiction pursuant to sections 1071-1073 of this title, upon being informed that a child custody proceeding has been commenced in, or a child custody determination has been made by, a court of another state under a statute similar to this section, shall immediately communicate with the court of that state to resolve the emergency, protect the safety of the parties and the child, and determine a period for the duration of the temporary order.
15 V.S.A. § 712 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 712
§ 712. Whole of real estate may be sold
Status: in_force

If, in the opinion of the court or of such judge, the real estate upon which such lien exists is so constituted as to render it impracticable to divide the same, the whole of such real estate may be ordered to be sold.
15 V.S.A. § 786 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 786
§ 786. Obligee's responsibility
Status: in_force

(a) The obligee shall notify the registry and the obligor of any event that would affect the amount of support to be withheld under the order. Any person who has assigned or authorized all rights of collection shall notify the assignee of any event that would affect the amount of support to be withheld under the order. Notice shall be in writing, mailed or delivered within seven days of any such event.

(b) Any amounts received by the obligee in excess of the amounts required to be withheld under any wage withholding order shall be paid by the obligee to the registry within seven days of receipt.
15 V.S.A. § 785 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 11 / Section 785
§ 785. Wage withholding orders
Status: in_force

(a) A wage withholding order shall set forth:

(1) the annualized amount of child support;

(2) frequency of the child support payment;

(3) judgment for support arrearages, if any;

(4) provisions for periodic repayment of arrearages;

(5) appropriate reduction and termination dates.

(b) A wage withholding order shall require an employer to withhold a periodic amount of child support up to the maximum amount permitted under section 303(b) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. § 1673(b)). All wage withholdings shall be made payable to the Registry.

(c) The court shall file a wage withholding order with the Registry. Within seven business days of receipt of the order, the Registry shall provide the obligor's employer with notice of withholding by first class mail and send a copy of the notice and the order to the obligor and the obligee.
15C V.S.A. § 606 — VT Code / Title 15C / Chapter 6 / Section 606
§ 606. Admissibility of results of genetic testing
Status: in_force

(a) Production of results; notice. Unless waived by the parties, a party intending to rely on the results of genetic testing shall do all of the following:

(1) make the test results available to the other parties to the parentage action at least 15 days prior to any hearing at which the results may be admitted into evidence;

(2) give notice to the court and other parties to the proceeding of the intent to use the test results at the hearing; and

(3) give the other parties notice of this statutory section, including the need to object in a timely fashion.

(b) Objection. Any motion objecting to genetic test results shall be made in writing to the court and to the party intending to introduce the evidence at least seven days prior to any hearing at which the results may be introduced into evidence. If no timely objection is made, the written results shall be admissible as evidence without the need for foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or accuracy.

(c) Results inadmissible; exceptions. If a child has a presumed parent, acknowledged parent, or adjudicated parent, the results of genetic testing shall be admissible to adjudicate parentage only:

(1) with the consent of each person who is a parent of the child under this title, unless the court finds that admission of the testing is in the best interests of the child as provided in subsection 615(b) of this title; or

(2) pursuant to an order of the court under section 603 of this title.
15 V.S.A. § 1089 — VT Code / Title 15 / Chapter 20 / Section 1089
§ 1089. Hearing and order
Status: in_force

(a) Unless the court issues a temporary emergency order pursuant to section 1074 of this title, upon a finding that a petitioner is entitled to immediate physical custody of the child, the court shall order that the petitioner may take immediate physical custody of the child unless the respondent establishes that:

(1) the child custody determination has not been registered and confirmed under section 1085 of this title and that:

(A) the issuing court did not have jurisdiction under subchapter 2 of this chapter;

(B) the child custody determination for which enforcement is sought has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under subchapter 2 of this chapter; or

(C) the respondent was entitled to notice, but notice was not given in accordance with the standards of section 1066 of this title, in the proceedings before the court that issued the order for which enforcement is sought; or

(2) the child custody determination for which enforcement is sought was registered and confirmed under section 1085 of this title but has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a court of a state having jurisdiction to do so under subchapter 2 of this chapter.

(b) The court may award the fees, costs, and expenses authorized under section 1091 of this title and may grant additional relief, including a request for the assistance of law enforcement officials, and set a further hearing to determine whether additional relief is appropriate.

(c) If a party called to testify refuses to answer on the grounds that the testimony may be self-incriminating, the court may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.

(d) A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses and a defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child may not be invoked in a proceeding under this subchapter.