VERMONT DIVORCE PAPERS WITH EXPLANATIONS

The documents listed below are the primary documents for a Vermont uncontested divorce. You will notice that some of the documents apply with children. If you do not have minor children, these documents are typically not required.

Understanding the Vermont Divorce Papers:

• Court Information Sheet: Form 800. This form identifies the parties and any public assistance from the Department of Economic Services or the Office of Child Support (OCS).
• Summons: In a divorce where the spouses agree about the divorce and its terms and conditions, the couple may file combined divorce papers. When the couple agree, a plaintiff in a marriage without children may file a combined Summons, Complaint for Divorce and Notice for Appearance, which requires a Form #835; likewise, a Plaintiff in a marriage with children may file a combined Summons, Complaint for Divorce, Notice for Appearance, and an Affidavit of Child Custody, which requires a Form #836. The use of these combined forms expedites the dissolution of the marriage.
• Notice of Pro Se Appearance (Plaintiff): Form 838. This notice informs the court that the plaintiff is acting as his or her own attorney.
• Original Complaint for Divorce: Form #833. The complaint for Divorce, which must be notarized, identifies the parties, the history of the marriage, the children and the relief sought.
• Property and Debt Information Sheet: This sheet catalogues the property and debt of the spouses.
• Notice and Acknowledgement of Receipt of Summons and Complaint: Form 820. The defendant completes this form in order to let the court know that he or she received all copies of the filed divorce papers in Vermont.
• Affidavit of Child Custody: Form #834. This Affidavit, filed by the plaintiff and notarized, identifies the children of the marriage, states their residential history for the past five years and stipulates whether or not the plaintiff is involved in any pending litigation concerning the custody of the children, whether or not the children are involved in custody litigation in Vermont or any other state as well as identifying any other party who has physical custody or makes claims of custody or visitation.
• UCCJEA Information Sheet: This information sheet provides information about the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, which limits the state with jurisdiction over child custody to one and thus avoids competing orders and provides enforcement provisions for child custody orders.
• Notice of Appearance, Answer to the Divorce Complaint, and Counterclaim: Form #838. The answer to the divorce complaint, filed by the defendant, permits him or her to agree or disagree with the allegations in the Complaint. The Notice of Appearance means the defendant accepts the jurisdiction of the court and enters his appearance in the case. The counterclaim permits the defendant to make his or her claims in the divorce action.
• Marital Settlement Agreement: This agreement entered into between a husband and a wife establishes the terms and conditions of their divorce and resolving such matters as property division as well as custody, visitation and child support, if applicable.
• Schedule for Possession of Minor Children: This schedule shows the visitation and parenting time routine for the noncustodial parent.
• Financial Affidavit (Plaintiff): Form #813 A. This form profiles the income and expenses of the plaintiff.
• Financial Affidavit (Defendant): Form #813 A. This form profiles the income and expenses of the defendant.
• Shared Custody Child Support Worksheet Procedures: This worksheet describes the procedures for calculating child support when the parents share custody.
• Shared Custody Child Support Worksheet: This worksheet is used to calculate child support when the parents share custody based on the Vermont state guidelines.
• Shared Custody Child Support Schedule: This worksheet shows the amount of support each parent pays when custody is shared.
• Sole Custody Child Support Worksheet Procedures: This worksheet describes the procedures for calculating child support when one parent has sold custody.
• Sole Custody Child Support Worksheet: This worksheet is used to calculate child support when one parent has sold custody.
• Sole Custody Child Support Schedule: This worksheet, which is based on the state guidelines, shows the amount of support when one parent has sole custody
• Self-Employment and/or Spousal Support Adjustment Worksheet: This form is used to calculate adjustments when one spouse is self employed and paying spousal support.
• Intact Family Expenditures Table: This table is used to estimate the expenditures of an intact family.
• Decree of Divorce: This is a court order that ends the marriage.