Patricia Kingsley

Plenty of change

What does the Emergency Declaration in response to COVID-19 mean for the average Vermonter dealing with a civil dispute?

In the last two months, nearly every aspect of daily life has been altered in some way by the health crisis brought on by COVID-19. The Vermont Judiciary is no exception.

Vermont courts, however, have made every effort to remain accessible to Vermonters while also balancing the need to protect the immediate health and safety of the public and the courthouse staff.

To that end, the Vermont Supreme Court issued an administrative order that took effect on March 17. This Emergency Declaration postpones all “nonemergency Superior Court hearings, whether evidentiary or non-evidentiary.” This postponement is now set to expire on May 31, unless the Vermont Supreme Court acts to extend it.

But what does that mean for the average Vermonter dealing with a civil dispute?...

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