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Divorce Residency Requirements in Vermont

In Vermont, either spouse must have lived in the state for 6 months to file, and 1 year before the final hearing, and the no-fault ground is living apart for 6 consecutive months.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Vermont at a glance

State residency
6 months to file (1 year before final hearing)
County residency
No county period in the residency statute
No-fault ground
Living apart for 6 consecutive months
The court must also find that resuming marital relations is not reasonably probable.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Vermont

How long must you live in Vermont before filing for divorce?

State residency in Vermont: 6 months to file (1 year before final hearing).

Is there a county residency requirement for divorce in Vermont?

County residency in Vermont: No county period in the residency statute.

What is the no-fault ground for divorce in Vermont?

No-fault ground in Vermont: Living apart for 6 consecutive months. The court must also find that resuming marital relations is not reasonably probable.

Where do the Vermont divorce residency requirements come from?

The rules above come from 15 V.S.A. 592 and 15 V.S.A. 551. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Nonresidents married in Vermont may file in some cases under 15 V.S.A. 592(b) if their home state will not grant the divorce.

What this means in practice

Residency is about where a spouse actually lives and intends to stay, not just a mailing address. Courts may look at a driver's license, voter registration, a lease or deed, tax filings and employment records. Keeping copies of these documents can help if residency is questioned.

Meeting the residency requirement is separate from any waiting period after filing. Some states also require a period of separation before a no-fault divorce, or a cooling-off period before the final decree. Checking all of these timelines together gives a more realistic picture of when a divorce can be finalized.

Military members and their spouses often have special residency rules based on where they are stationed. If the spouses live in different states, more than one court may be able to hear the divorce, and the choice can affect issues like property division and support. A local family law attorney can confirm where to file.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.