Vermont Family Law Guide — Divorce, Custody & Support
Divorce, custody, support, and property division under Vermont law — grounds, process, timelines, and what to expect
Family law covers divorce, child custody, child support, property division, and spousal support — and in many cases, several of these issues are decided at the same time. Whether you are filing, responding to a petition, or seeking to modify an existing order, the process moves through a structured series of stages. The decisions you make early — especially around temporary orders and documentation — directly shape the final outcome.
Of all family law matters, divorce is the most common — and typically the most consequential. A divorce case can involve every other area of family law at once: custody, child support, property division, and spousal support. That is why most family law overviews begin here. Even if your situation involves only one of those issues, understanding the divorce framework helps, because the same statutes, standards, and court procedures apply across the board.
Grounds for divorce in Vermont §15-551
Vermont allows no-fault divorce based on living separate and apart for 6 continuous months with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation §15-551. No-fault means neither party must prove the other did something wrong — the marriage has simply broken down. Vermont also recognizes fault-based grounds including adultery, imprisonment for 3+ years, intolerable severity (cruelty), and others.
The divorce process — step by step
Contested vs. uncontested divorce
| Uncontested | Contested | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Both spouses agree on all issues | Spouses disagree on one or more issues |
| Timeline | Shorter (after waiting period) §15-551 | Longer |
| Court involvement | Court reviews agreement | Court decides disputed issues |
| Who decides | The spouses, by agreement | The judge, based on evidence and statute §15-551 |
Key areas the court addresses
Child custody §15-665
Courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child, considering the quality of the child's adjustment to home, school, and community, the relationship of the child with each parent, and each parent's ability to meet the child's physical and emotional needs.
Child support
Vermont uses an income-shares model. Based on combined adjusted gross income of both parents using Vermont Child Support Guidelines.
Property division §15-751
Vermont follows equitable distribution. The court divides marital property based on what is fair, considering the length of the marriage, each spouse's contributions, and economic circumstances.
Spousal support §15-752
Courts may award maintenance based on the needs of the requesting spouse and the other party's ability to pay, considering the standard of living, length of marriage, earning capacity, and contributions of each spouse.
What changes the outcome?
- Quality and completeness of financial documentation
- Timing of filing, responses, and temporary-order requests
- Existing court orders or pending cases
- Whether children are involved (adds custody and support layers)
- Willingness to negotiate versus taking issues to trial
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Frequently Asked Questions
General answers to common questions. Specific outcomes depend on your facts and timing.
If you have a deadline, court notice, or upcoming hearing, mention it when requesting assistance so timing can be evaluated promptly.
- No-fault: living separate and apart for 6 continuous months with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation
- Fault grounds include adultery, imprisonment for 3+ years, intolerable severity (cruelty), willful desertion or absence for 7 years, incurable insanity