Divorce records in Chittenden County, Vermont, can be accessed through several channels. ChittendenCourt.us can help find publicly available divorce record information for Chittenden County. Beyond that, the Vermont Superior Court — Family Division for Chittenden County maintains the original case files and decrees. The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) and the Vermont Department of Health also issue certified copies of divorce certificates for divorces that occurred anywhere in the state.
Chittenden Divorce Records Search
In Vermont, divorce cases are handled by the Superior Court — Family Division. For Chittenden County, this court sits in Burlington and maintains all divorce-related filings, including final divorce decrees, settlement agreements, custody and support orders, motions, and other documents filed during the proceeding.
The court clerk's office is the custodian of the complete case file. A separate divorce certificate — a summary vital record confirming that a divorce took place — is maintained at the state level by the Vermont Department of Health and can also be obtained through VSARA.
Note that under Vermont's Rules for Public Access to Court Records, family case records are not available for online public access. You will need to request records in person, by mail, or by phone from the court clerk.
Chittenden Superior Court — Family Division
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Chittenden
Chittenden County divorce cases are filed in and adjudicated by the Vermont Superior Court — Family Division, Chittenden Unit. When a judge signs the final divorce decree, that decree and the entire case file remain with the court clerk's office in Burlington. This is where you go for the full court record — the decree itself, property settlement agreements, parenting plans, and any post-judgment modifications.
Separately, the state vital records system maintains a divorce certificate, which is a shorter document confirming the divorce, the names of the parties, and the date the divorce was granted. Two state-level offices can issue certified copies:
- Vermont Department of Health — issues certified and noncertified copies of divorce records for events that occurred in Vermont. You can order vital records online, by mail, or in person.
- Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA) — acts as an issuing agent for the Department of Health and can provide certified copies of divorce records, including marriage, civil union, and divorce certificates.
Which office to contact:
| What You Need | Contact |
|---|---|
| Full divorce decree, settlement agreement, custody orders, court filings | Chittenden Superior Court — Family Division, Burlington |
| Certified divorce certificate (vital record) | Vermont Department of Health or VSARA |
| Historical or genealogical divorce records research | VSARA vital records research page |
Vermont Department of Health — Vital Records Office
Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (VSARA)
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Chittenden
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Certified copy of divorce certificate (VT Dept. of Health or VSARA) | $10 per copy | 2–4 weeks by mail |
| Additional certified copy ordered at same time | $5 each additional | Same as above |
| Court record copy (per page, Chittenden Superior Court) | $0.25 per page | Varies; in-person requests may be same day |
| Certified court document copy | $5 per document plus per-page copy fee | Varies |
| Online vital records order (through VSARA online service) | $10 per copy plus processing fee | 2–4 weeks |