Can you get your Vermont court filing fee waived?
Vermont decides fee waivers using 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. That gives you a number to compare against, but it is usually a presumption or one route of several, not a hard ceiling.
Compare your income
For a household of 1, 150% of the federal poverty guidelines is $23,940 a year ($1,995 a month). The guideline itself is $15,960.
Ways to qualify in Vermont
- Public benefits. Receiving Reach Up, 3SquaresVT, or Any public assistance counts toward qualifying, often without any income showing at all.
- Income. At or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size.
- Inability to pay. You explain your income, expenses and debts on a sworn form, and the court decides whether paying the fee would leave you unable to cover basic needs. This route has no income cutoff.
Qualifies at or below 150% of the guidelines, on receipt of any public assistance, or if the court finds that paying would compromise support funds.
What to file
Vermont uses the Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs (600-00228). File it at the same time as your petition or response, not after.
This page explains how Vermont decides fee waivers. It is not legal advice, and it cannot tell you how a judge will rule on your case. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm.
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