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Small Claims Court Limits in Vermont

In Vermont, small claims court hears claims up to $10,000, the filing fee is $65 or $90 depending on the amount, and lawyers are allowed.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Vermont at a glance

Maximum claim
$10,000
Collection of consumer credit or medical debt over $5,000 is not allowed in small claims.
Filing fee
$65 to $90
$65 for claims of $1,000 or less; $90 for claims over $1,000.
Lawyers allowed
Yes

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Vermont

What is the small claims court limit in Vermont?

Maximum claim in Vermont: $10,000. Collection of consumer credit or medical debt over $5,000 is not allowed in small claims.

How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Vermont?

Filing fee in Vermont: $65 to $90. $65 for claims of $1,000 or less; $90 for claims over $1,000.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Vermont?

Yes. Lawyers allowed in Vermont: yes.

Where do the Vermont small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from 12 V.S.A. 5531 and 32 V.S.A. 1431. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

12 V.S.A. 5531 was last amended by 2023 Acts No. 46, effective June 5, 2023.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

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