Vermont | NCSC

Effective Date:	1999
State:	Vermont
Court Type:	Appellate
Implementing Authority:	Supreme Court
Status:	Mandatory
Time Standards:	Juvenile Abuse and Neglect/Termination of Parental Rights Appeals: (filing to disposition) 95% within 6 months
	Vermont Criminal Case Disposition Guidelines
	Vermont Family Court Case Disposition Guidelines

Effective Date:	1981
State:	Vermont
Court Type:	Trial
Case Type:	Civil
Implementing Authority:	Supreme Court
Status:	Mandatory
Time Standards:	Regular: (filing to disposition) 80% within 1 year Limited: (filing to disposition) 80% within 6 months

Effective Date:	September 1, 2004
State:	Vermont
Court Type:	Trial
Case Type:	Criminal
Implementing Authority:	Supreme Court
Status:	Mandatory
Time Standards:	Misdemeanors (Maximum Sentence of Less than One Year of Imprisonment): (date of first arraignment to disposition) 60% within 9 weeks 70% within 13 weeks 100% within 18 weeks Felonies and Other Misdemeanors: (date of first arraignment to disposition) 70% within 18 weeks 80% within 26 weeks 100% within 12 months

Effective Date:	February 10, 2006
State:	Vermont
Court Type:	Trial
Case Type:	Domestic
Implementing Authority:	Supreme Court
Status:	Mandatory
Time Standards:	Time Frames for Cases Heard by Judges: Standard Pending Divorce with Children Temporary/Interim Order: 100% within 3 months Final Order: 100% within 9 months Pending Divorce with No Children Temporary Order (if requested): 100% within 3 months Final Order: 100% within 9 months Pending Parentage Temp/Interim Order with Paternity Test: 100% within 3.5 months Temp/Interim Order no Paternity Test: 100% within 3 months Final Order: 100% within 6 months Post Judgment Enforcement Enforcement -all issues except child support contempt: 100% within 2 months Child Support Contempt: 100% within 3 months Post Judgment Modification Modification of PR&R: 100% within 3 months Modification of PC Contact: 100% within 2 months Modification of Child Support: 100% within 3 months Spousal Maintenance: 100% within 4 months Child Support Appeals: 100% within 4 months Time Frames for Cases Heard by Judges: Complex Pending Divorce with Children Final Order: 100% within 18 months Pending Divorce with No Children Final Order: 100% within 18 months Pending Parentage Final Order: 100% within 9 months Post Judgment Enforcement Child Support Contempt: 100% within 6 months Post Judgment Modification Modification of PR&R: 100% within 6 months Modification of PC Contact: 100% within 3 months Modification of Child Support: 100% within 4 months Spousal Maintenance 100% within 6 months Child Support Appeals: 100% within 4 months Time Frames for Cases Heard by Magistrates: Standard Pending Divorce and Parentage Establishment of Child Support by Temp/Interim Order: 100% within 90 days Finalize Child Support (Track from date of Final Order): 100% within 60 days Post Judgment Divorce and Parentage Enforcement of Child Support: 100% within 60 days Modification of Child Support: 100% within 90 days Time Frames for Cases Heard by Magistrates: Complex Pending Divorce and Parentage Establishment of Child Support by Temp/Interim Order: 100% within 120 days Finalize Child Support (Track from date of Final Order): 100% within 90 days Post Judgment Divorce and Parentage Modification of Child Support: 100% within 120 days

Effective Date:	January 24, 2007
State:	Vermont
Court Type:	Trial
Case Type:	Juvenile
Implementing Authority:	Supreme Court
Status:	Mandatory
Time Standards:	Children in Custody of DCF or Non-Parent in CHINS Cases: Standard Removal to Disposition 100% within 3.1 months Removal to First Permanency Hearing 100% within 12 months Removal to Return of Custody Order 100% within 18 months Removal to Permanent Guardianship Order 100% within 18 months Removal to Adoption (excluding appeal time) 100% within 20 months Removal to Court’s signed approval of plan for Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement 100% within 24 months Children in Custody of DCF or Non-Parent in CHINS Cases: Complex Removal to Disposition 100% within 5.1 months Removal to First Permanency Hearing 100% within 12 months Removal to Return of Custody Order 100% within 21 months Removal to Permanent Guardianship Order 100% within 21 months Removal to Adoption (excluding appeal time) 100% within 23 months Removal to Court’s signed approval of plan for Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement 100% within 24 months Children who Remain in Custody of Parents in CHINS Cases: Standard Removal or Preliminary Hearing to Disposition without a Protective Order 100% within 3.1 months Removal or Preliminary Hearing to Case Closure with Protective Order 100% within 11.1 months Children who Remain in Custody of Parents in CHINS Cases: Complex Removal or Preliminary Hearing to Disposition without a Protective Order 100% within 5.1 months Removal or Preliminary Hearing to Case Closure with Protective Order 100% within 13.1 months Children in Custody of DCF in Delinquency Cases: Standard Removal to Disposition 100% within 3.1 months Removal to First Permanency Hearing 100% within 12 months Removal to Return of Custody Order 100% within 18 months Removal to Permanent Guardianship Order 100% within 18 months Removal to Adoption (excluding appeal time) 100% within 20 months Removal to Court’s signed approval of plan for Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement 100% within 24 months Children in Custody of DCF in Delinquency Cases: Complex Removal to Disposition 100% within 5.1 months Removal to First Permanency Hearing 100% within 12 months Removal to Return of Custody Order 100% within 21 months Removal to Permanent Guardianship Order 100% within 21 months Removal to Adoption (excluding appeal time) 100% within 23 months Removal to Court’s signed approval of plan for Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement 100% within 24 months Children in Custody of Parents in Delinquency Cases: Standard Case Filing to Disposition 100% within 3 months Violation of Probation Filing to Disposition of VOP Complaint 100% within 45 days Children in Custody of Parents in Delinquency Cases: Complex Case Filing to Disposition 100% within 5 months Violation of Probation Filing to Disposition of VOP Complaint 100% within 60 days


Monitoring Information:	Vermont documents court performance relevant to time standards by producing manual and computer-generated reports with information compiled at both local and statewide levels. Reports on criminal and juvenile time standards are sent electronically weekly to all Trial Court Judges and Court Clerks and Managers, to the State Court Administrator, to the Administrative Judge for Trial Courts, to CAO staff and to the Supreme Court. Reports on domestic time standards are sent to the same group electronically monthly. Reports/summaries on civil time standards are compiled and distributed annually. Reports/summaries are available to the public through annual reports, the Web site, and bar publications.
Notes:	Vermont finds % listing of cases exceeding time standards classified by court location to be the most helpful measure of court timeliness.