Vermont · Uncontested divorce · Updated Oct 2026

Uncontested divorce in Vermont

An agreed (uncontested) divorce in Vermont, from official sources: who can use the process for agreed cases, the residency rule, the waiting period, the official forms, the filing fee, the fee waiver, how your spouse can sign instead of being served and mediation.

Quick answer

Agreed cases in Vermont, according to the official sources: Stipulated divorce: if you agree on everything before filing, you file together with a Final Stipulation (form 400-00878) and, with children, a parenting plan; reduced fee.

Who can file (residency)
6 months (with exceptions)
Waiting period
See the rule
Filing fee
$295

Who can use the process for agreed cases in Vermont

  • Stipulated divorce: if you agree on everything before filing, you file together with a Final Stipulation (form 400-00878) and, with children, a parenting plan; reduced fee.
  • In some cases you can ask to waive the final hearing and be divorced on the paperwork.

Before you file in Vermont

Who can file (residency)
You can file once either spouse has lived in Vermont for 6 months, but the divorce can't be granted unless one of you has lived there for 1 year before the final hearing. (Special rule: non-residents married in Vermont can sometimes file in the county where the marriage certificate was filed if their home state won't recognize the marriage.)
Waiting period
After the final hearing, the divorce is a 'decree nisi' and becomes final automatically 90 days later; the judge can shorten or waive this if you both agree. The no-fault ground also requires living apart for 6 months in a row. With minor children a divorce usually takes at least 6 months (Vermont Judiciary).
Law
15 V.S.A. 592 · 15 V.S.A. 554, 551(7)

Forms, fees and filing in Vermont

Official forms
Divorce forms (Vermont courts)
Court self-help
Divorce self-help (Vermont courts)
Filing fee
$295 without a stipulation; $90 if you file a full stipulation and at least one of you is a resident; $180 with a stipulation if neither is a resident (32 V.S.A. 1431(b)(2); Vermont Judiciary fees page). If it becomes contested, you pay the difference.
If you can't afford the fee
Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs: https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/self-help/application-waive-filing-fees-and-service-costs

If your spouse agrees to sign

Hand the papers to your spouse and have them sign an Acceptance of Service (form 400-00844); or mail them with a Notice of Action and Request for Waiver of Service (form 400-00820); or use the sheriff; publication if you can't find them.

If you agree on only some issues

Optional through the Family Mediation Program, but in some cases the judge may require you to meet with a mediator before the case moves on.

An uncontested divorce in Vermont, step by step

  1. Check that you can file in Vermont

    You can file once either spouse has lived in Vermont for 6 months, but the divorce can't be granted unless one of you has lived there for 1 year before the final hearing.

  2. See if you qualify for the simpler process

    Stipulated divorce: if you agree on everything before filing, you file together with a Final Stipulation (form 400-00878) and, with children, a parenting plan; reduced fee.

  3. Fill in the official forms

    Use the court's official divorce forms: Divorce forms (Vermont courts)

  4. File, and pay the fee or ask for a waiver

    $295 without a stipulation; $90 if you file a full stipulation and at least one of you is a resident; $180 with a stipulation if neither is a resident (32 V.S.A. 1431(b)(2); Vermont Judiciary fees page). Can't afford it? Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs: https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/self-help/application-waive-filing-fees-and-service-costs.

  5. Have your spouse sign or be served

    Hand the papers to your spouse and have them sign an Acceptance of Service (form 400-00844); or mail them with a Notice of Action and Request for Waiver of Service (form 400-00820); or use the sheriff; publication if you can't find them.

  6. Wait out the waiting period

    After the final hearing, the divorce is a 'decree nisi' and becomes final automatically 90 days later; the judge can shorten or waive this if you both agree.

  7. Get the final decree

    The judge signs the final decree (judgment), which ends the marriage. Get a certified copy and keep it.

Questions about uncontested divorce in Vermont

Is there a simplified divorce for agreed cases in Vermont?

Stipulated divorce: if you agree on everything before filing, you file together with a Final Stipulation (form 400-00878) and, with children, a parenting plan; reduced fee. In some cases you can ask to waive the final hearing and be divorced on the paperwork.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Vermont?

After the final hearing, the divorce is a 'decree nisi' and becomes final automatically 90 days later; the judge can shorten or waive this if you both agree. The no-fault ground also requires living apart for 6 months in a row. With minor children a divorce usually takes at least 6 months (Vermont Judiciary).

Who can file for an uncontested divorce in Vermont?

You can file once either spouse has lived in Vermont for 6 months, but the divorce can't be granted unless one of you has lived there for 1 year before the final hearing. (Special rule: non-residents married in Vermont can sometimes file in the county where the marriage certificate was filed if their home state won't recognize the marriage.)

Does my spouse have to be served if we agree in Vermont?

Hand the papers to your spouse and have them sign an Acceptance of Service (form 400-00844); or mail them with a Notice of Action and Request for Waiver of Service (form 400-00820); or use the sheriff; publication if you can't find them.

How much does it cost to file an uncontested divorce in Vermont?

$295 without a stipulation; $90 if you file a full stipulation and at least one of you is a resident; $180 with a stipulation if neither is a resident (32 V.S.A. 1431(b)(2); Vermont Judiciary fees page). If it becomes contested, you pay the difference.

Is mediation required in Vermont?

Optional through the Family Mediation Program, but in some cases the judge may require you to meet with a mediator before the case moves on.

More about divorce in Vermont

Uncontested divorce in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.