Vt. eFiling: Judicial Bureau E-Filing Guide

JUDICIAL BUREAU eFILING

GUIDE

EFSP v1 Feb 2026

Contents

NOTE ABOUT SYSTEM NAME UPDATES........................................................................................3

ACCESSING eFILE AND SERVE......................................................................................................4

REGISTRATION.............................................................................................................................4

TRAINING AND SUPPORT............................................................................................................4

FILING INTO AN EXISTING CASE...................................................................................................5

FILINGS....................................................................................................................................5

DOCUMENTS.......................................................................................................................5

FEES............................................................................................................................................6

SUBMISSION AGREEMENTS.........................................................................................................6

POST JUDGMENT MOTIONS........................................................................................................7

AGENCY FILERS............................................................................................................................7

WAIVER OF FILING FEES (FORMERLY KNOWN AS “IN FORMA PAUPERIS” PROCESS).....................7

APPEALS......................................................................................................................................7

REQUESTING COPIES, PUBLIC RECORD RETRIEVAL AND OTHER OPTIONAL SERVICES...................8

REFILING AFTER REJECTION.........................................................................................................8

NOTE: This document is NOT intended to be a comprehensive guide to use of the eFile & Serve

System. See information below regarding user guides, trainings and other materials for filers.

This document provides supplemental division-specific guidance for eFiling in the Judicial

Bureau.

NOTE ABOUT SYSTEM NAME UPDATES

The Vermont Judiciary’s electronic case management and electronic filing systems have recently

been rebranded by the vendor that produces them (Tyler Technologies), resulting in some

updates to the labels by which those systems are known. For the court’s case management

system, the name “Odyssey” has been replaced by “Enterprise Justice” or “EJ” for short. For the

electronic filing system, the name “Odyssey File & Serve (EFS”) has been replaced by “eFile &

Serve” (EFS), with our specific Vermont version also being referred to as “eFileVT.” It is

understood that many internal and external users may still refer to these systems as Odyssey,

and that is perfectly acceptable for purposes of communication to the court and among court

users. This notice is being provided to offer context as to why the court’s updated instructional

materials and announcements will no longer reference the “Odyssey” systems. If there are any

questions or concerns about these changes please feel free to reach out to

itsupport@vtcourts.gov.

ACCESSING eFILE AND SERVE

Electronic filing is available in all dockets including the Judicial Bureau through the eFile & Serve

(EFS) system, which is a web-based platform accessible from any modern browser on a

computer or mobile device. EFS can be accessed via a link on the Vermont Judiciary’s website,

or directly at https://efilevt.tylertech.cloud.

REGISTRATION

Registration for eFiling is free and simple. All that is required is a valid email address. There are

different registration options for firm/organizational users and independent users such as self-represented litigants. Instructions on how to register are found in the user guides and other

materials in the Help section of the EFS homepage.

NOTE: All users including attorneys and self-represented litigants who choose to eFile must self-

register. Court staff cannot complete registrations on behalf of filers or edit any user’s

registration information.

TRAINING AND SUPPORT

For general information and questions about use of the eFiling system, there are numerous

guides and resources available on the EFS homepage:

https://odysseyfileandservecloud.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

Vermont-specific guides about filing in various division and case types are on the Judiciary

website’s eFiling page https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermont-judiciary/electronic-

access/electronic-filing, also accessible here from the homepage:

There is also a Judiciary eFiling helpdesk for Vermont-specific eFiling procedural questions at

efilesupport@vtcourts.gov.

FILING INTO AN EXISTING CASE

Judicial Bureau eFiling is only for subsequent filings after a new case is open.

 Location: Select Judicial Bureau

 Case Number: Enter the Case Number (this is the same as the citation number)

Case Number displays, click Actions

Select “File into Case”

FILINGS

Select Filing Code in the dropdown – NOTE: If the filing is post judgement, a fee is due, and filer

needs to select the option with a fee or filing may not be accepted.

DOCUMENTS

 Documents must be uploaded in PDF Format

 Each document uploaded must have a Security type selected or filer cannot proceed.

Judicial Bureau Documents should have a Security type of “Public.”

 Documents containing confidential information such as social security numbers must be

labeled as a “confidential document” from the Security dropdown menu by the

document, and where required by the Rules of Electronic Filing1, a redacted version

must also be filed.

LEAD DOCUMENT

Upload the Answer or Motion or other Filing as the Lead Document by dragging into the

document field or by clicking on the “select file” button to choose a file from your computer. All

uploads must be in PDF format.

 Click Save Changes if no Attachment to upload

ATTACHMENT

Upload any supporting document to the Lead document

 Click Save Changes after uploading Attachment

ADD ANOTHER FILING

Use this function to add documents separate and apart from the original lead document. Filer

must click “Save Changes” then click “Add Another Filing.”

Answer – if Filer files an answer admitting or no contest, filer will have to pay ticket on the Portal

found here:

https://portal.vtcourts.gov/Portal

Or, pay it by phone to the Judiciary Information Cetner at (802)652-1900.

Optional Services and Fees: Service to request copies of documents, exemplified copies, certified

copies, or public record retrieval. See more in Section VI below.

 Click “Add Optional Services and Fees”

 Select service in drop down

Filer must click “Save Changes.”

FEES

 Filer selects payment account

o If Filer files an Application to Waive Filing Fees, filer will need to create a Waiver

Account to use for the filing fee, which will waive all filing fees.

 Filer selects person responsible for fees, which is the person filing

 Filing Attorney – will populate when using Attorney Account

 Click “Save Changes”

The per case fee is $14.00 per filer or firm, payable upon a party’s first filing. Convenience fees

remain in place with a 2.89% processing fee for credit card payments and $1.00 per case for

eCheck payments.

Please note:

The new per case fee is $14 per party, per filer within a firm, charged once upon first filing. If a

party’s representation changes from one firm to another, the fee will be charged again upon the

new firm’s first filing into the case. A pro se litigant who chooses to use the eFiling system is also

required to pay the fee upon first filing. If a pro se litigant later seeks representation, the fee

would be charged again upon the firm’s first filing against the firm’s payment account.

Some filers may be erroneously re-assessed the $14 charge as a result of merging of system

entities in the court’s case management system (a process to correct duplicate records for the

same individual). When a party entity for whom the per case fee has been paid is merged into

another entity for whom the fee has not been paid, the fee will assess again. Filers in those

situations may contact Tyler Technologies for a refund.

SUBMISSION AGREEMENTS

Filer must Certify that filer is in compliance with the Rules for Public Access to Court Records

and with all service obligations by checking the boxes.

 Click Summary

 A summary of the Envelope displays, Filer must click “Submit”

POST JUDGMENT MOTIONS

Most motions filed after judgment or disposition generally require a filing fee.

If filing a post judgment motion, select the existing motion with a post-judgment fee or if there

is not a listed motion, select Motion Miscellaneous with $45.00 fee.

AGENCY FILERS

Government Agency Filers and other entities who are exempt by rule or statute from paying any

court filing fees will continue to be exempt from paying fees when filing in EFS. Such filers

should set up a “waiver” payment account when registering and use this for filings made in the

course of their official job duties.

WAIVER OF FILING FEES (FORMERLY KNOWN AS “IN FORMA PAUPERIS”

PROCESS)

To request a waiver of filing fees when submitting either a new or a subsequent case filing

through EFS, select “waiver” as the payment method (the filer must have a waiver account set

up as a payment method – this can be done in the filer’s EFS account settings).

You must include a completed Application to Waive Filing Fees (form # 228, available on

www.vermontjudiciary.org) in PDF format.

Do not upload the form as an attachment to your lead document; rather, after uploading your

other documents, click on “Add another Filing” then use the filing code “Application to

Waive Filing and Service Fees.”

Cases will be accepted by the court through EFS regardless of whether the filer qualifies for a

waiver or not. Review is completed by court staff after the initial acceptance from the eFiling

system. If the request to waive fees is denied, or if the filer fails to submit the application form,

they will receive notice from the court instructing them on how much is due and the date by

which it must be paid to avoid dismissal of the filing.

APPEALS

When filing an Appeal of a Judicial Bureau case, file the Notice of Appeal in the existing Judicial

Bureau case and pay the filing fee to the Judicial Bureau.

REQUESTING COPIES, PUBLIC RECORD RETRIEVAL AND OTHER OPTIONAL

SERVICES

NOTE: Many documents in newer and active cases are available to be printed and downloaded

for free from the Public Portal for users with a right of access. Most older cases that have not

had recent activity continue to be held in paper files from which copies must be requested.

Information is provided below about requesting copies of case records through the eFiling

system. Complete information about copy and records request is found here:

https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermont-judiciary/records-requests

Regular photocopies, certified copies and exemplified copies of court documents may be

requested by case parties through the eFiling system by filing a request into the case from which

you are requesting document copies. Requests may be submitted on their own or in conjunction

with other filings.

 Using the filing code “Copy Request,” submit a letter or document clearly stating the

request including the specific documents for which you want printed copies, and

whether you need a regular, certified or exemplified copy and how you would like the

document(s) sent to you (mail or email). Please note that certified copies produced and

delivered electronically will have a certification stamp image and signature electronically

applied. For some purposes and in some other jurisdictions a raised seal and original

signature is required, so requests should state clearly which method is needed.

 To submit payment for the copies, in addition to selecting the filing code and attaching a

written request, the filer must select the appropriate copy type and fee from the

“Optional Services” section. There are different fees for each type of copy so be sure to

select the correct option.

o Regular printed copies of court documents cost 25 cents/page and there is a $1.00

minimum for any copies, so if the document is 1-4 pages long the cost will be $1.00

(select the option for “photocopies1-4”).

o Printed copies of documents longer than 4 pages will be [# of pages X 25 cents] (select

the option for “photocopies 5+” and enter the total# of pages of the document(s)).

o Certified copies have a fee of $5.00 per document.

o Exemplified copies have a fee of $10.00 per document

REFILING AFTER REJECTION

When a filing is rejected:

 Filer will receive an email with the rejection reason and any comment the court may add

 Filer can see the envelope on the Dashboard of Filer’s Account

o Click Returned Filings

o Find rejected envelope

o Click Actions

o View Envelope Details

 Click to Expand Filings Section

 If filing was rejected, filer has 7 days to refile with a correct document in order to retain

the original filing date.

 Process to follow:

o Go to Filings Tab

o On the rejected filing, to far right, click 4th button “Copy this envelope”