Vt. eFiling: Juvenile E-Filing Guide

JUVENILE eFILING GUIDE

EFSP v1 January 2026

NOTE: This guide is NOT intended to be a comprehensive guide to use the Odyssey File & Serve

System. It provides supplemental division-specific guidance for eFiling in the Juvenile Docket.

Detailed instructions about registering and using the eFiling system are available at:

https://vermont.tylertech.cloud/OfsWeb/ Odyssey File & Serve -- Self-Help section of the

eFiling website contains links to manuals for general system use, as well as various other help

resources including training videos and webinars.

https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermont-judiciary/electronic-access/electronic-filing

Electronic Filing | Vermont Judiciary

VT Judiciary website eFiling page, contains division-specific filer guides, videos and training and

support information.

Contents

ACCESSING eFILEVT.....................................................................................................................4

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

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

TEMPLATES.................................................................................................................................5

CREATING A TEMPLATE............................................................................................................5

COPYING A TEMPLATE.............................................................................................................5

USING A TEMPLATE.................................................................................................................6

FILING INTO EXISTING CASES.......................................................................................................6

FILING A NEW CHINS CASE......................................................................................................7

CASE INFORMATION............................................................................................................7

PARTY INFORMATION..........................................................................................................7

FILINGS....................................................................................................................................9

FEES......................................................................................................................................11

SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................11

SUBMIT.................................................................................................................................11

FILING A NEW DELINQUENCY OR YOUTHFUL OFFENDER CASE..................................................12

CASE INFORMATION..............................................................................................................12

CHARGES...............................................................................................................................12

PARTIES.................................................................................................................................13

FILINGS..................................................................................................................................15

FEES......................................................................................................................................17

SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................17

SUBMIT.................................................................................................................................18

FILING CODES WITH “AGENCY FILERS ONLY” DESCRIPTION........................................................18

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY FILINGS..........................................................................................18

eSERVICE...................................................................................................................................19

REQUESTING COPIES.................................................................................................................19

VIEWING CASE RECORDS...........................................................................................................20

ACCESSING eFILEVT

All Vermont Courts have adopted universal eFiling in all dockets through the Enterprise Justice

File & 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’s eFiling page at https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermont-judiciary/electronic-access/electronic-filing or directly at: https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermontjudiciary/electronic-access/electronic-filing

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 “self-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, Tyler Technologies

guides and videos are available here: Electronic Filing | Vermont Judiciary

https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermont-judiciary/electronic-access/electronic-filing

 Live web training sessions and recorded trainings that can be viewed any time

 A Database of FAQs

 Chat, messaging and other contact options for support

 Training videos

 Downloadable user guides

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

website’s eFiling page Electronic Filing | Vermont Judiciary

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. Please use this email for eFiling questions and do not send eFiling

questions to the main Judiciary Helpdesk email.

TEMPLATES

Templates are a feature within the e-filing system that allows users to create case initiation

filings and existing case filings faster. Templates are a way to set the website up for the same

type of cases and filings. Please note: Templates are specific by court location and case type.

CREATING A TEMPLATE

 Sign in

 At Templates, select “View my templates”

 Select “+ Add Template”

 Name the Template

 Select whether “New Case” or “Existing Case”

 Select “Edit Details”

 Complete the required fields:

o Court Location

o Case Category

• For CHINS cases select Family

• For Delinquency and Youthful Offender cases select Criminal (in Enterprise

Justice and EFS due to the charge component, they are entered under “Criminal”

but otherwise are part of the Family Division)

o Case Type

 8. Complete as much information in each section as applicable to the template

o Parties

o Filings

o Service

o Fees

 9. Select “Summary”

 10. Review the template

o Select “Edit” at any section to edit it

 11. Select “Save Template”

COPYING A TEMPLATE

 Sign in

 At Templates, select “View my templates”

 Click the 3 dots under Actions at the end of the template you want to copy

o Select “Copy Template”

 Edit the Template Name

 Select “Edit Details”

 Edit any necessary details in the Template

 Once you reach Summary, select “Summary” to review your edits

o Select “Edit” at any section to edit is

 Select “Save Template”

USING A TEMPLATE

 Sign in

 On the Home page at Templates, select the Template you want to use

o If the needed Template isn’t showing, select “View my templates”

 3. Select this icon to use the Template for filing

FILING INTO EXISTING CASES

All existing pending and closed cases that were in our legacy case management system (VTADS)

will be searchable in EFS and available for making subsequent filings by clicking “Start Filing”

from the Filer Dashboard and then selecting “File Into Existing Case.”

Select the Location by using the dropdown arrow or start typing the location and then selecting

it once it appears.

Search for the case by:

 Case Number (default)—type the case number exactly as it appears

or select

 Party Name

Click “Search” once you complete the search criteria.

For these cases, use the existing docket number in its full original format (including the 4-letter

county initial/docket code at the end. Use dashes and no spaces in the numbers, then a space

before the letters). Some case and party types are “masked” in EFS for confidentiality reasons,

meaning that names and other identifying information are not displayed to filers. These types

include Juvenile, Mental Health and Relief from Abuse filings. For these types, you will need to

know the county/unit and the docket/case number in order to file into it.

For very old cases (generally pre-1990) that were never in the VTADS system, they will not be

searchable to file into in EFS. Any filings for such cases may/must be submitted to the court

through alternative means (mail or email with clerk’s permission).

When the case information appears, click on Actions and select the appropriate action you wish

to use:

 File Into Case

 File Into Case With Template

 View Service Contacts

 Bookmark Case

FILING A NEW CHINS CASE

If you have a template created, on the Home Dashboard, select the template name under

Templates. Select the Template you want to use. Select “Use Template”. If you don’t have or

want to use a template, select “Start Filing” then “Start New Case.”

NOTE: only 1 CHINS case type may be filed at a time. There is no mechanism for filing a

“combined” CHINS case with multiple types- one must be chosen, or separate petitions must be

filed in such situations.

CASE INFORMATION

 Location: Use dropdown or start typing the appropriate county

 Case Category: Select Family

 Case Type: Use the dropdown to select the appropriate type

o CHINS A – Abandoned or Abused by Parent/Guardian/Custodian

o CHINS B – Without Parental Care of Subsistence (Neglect)

o CHINS C – Is Without or Beyond the Control of Parent/Guardian/Custodian

o CHINS D – Habitually and Without Justification Truant

PARTY INFORMATION

 Petitioner defaults as the first Party Type to add

 Select Person or Entity (for a business or agency)

 Business Name – State of Vermont *This defaults in the Filing, you only need to add the

appropriate attorney for the State

 Save Changes (you will do this after each party is added)

 Juvenile defaults as the second Party Type to add

 Complete the juvenile’s name, DOB and any other known information

 Save Changes

 DCF defaults as the third Party Type to add for CHINS A, B and C—the appropriate DCF

agency should be added in this role (not the DCF Case Worker—they can be added after

the default parties)

 Save Changes

 Once the default parties are added, you can add more parties by clicking on “+ Add

More” such as the parent(s), DCF Case Worker, etc.

 You MUST add the party(s) the petition is being filed against – Mother, Father, Guardian,

 Custodian, etc.

 Continue this way until all parties are added

Please Note: The system is not configured to enter Race, or Ethnicity (if applicable) for the

juvenile CHINS cases, however these are still required fields for all juvenile filings so they

must be complete on the petition you file; they will be entered by the clerk on the Enterprise

Justice side.

FILINGS

 Filing Type – Defaults to Efile

o Select “eFile and Serve” as appropriate

 Filing Code—Use the dropdown or start typing—JCHINSFILE - Juvenile CHINS Petition

and Affidavit (Agency Filers Only) should be used as the lead filing code

 Lead Document—Upload the Petition and Affidavit

 Security—Should default to Confidential, if not, use the dropdown to select confidential

 Attachments—Upload any additional documents that are appropriate and specific to the

lead filing such as additional affidavits

 Save Changes

If an emergency motion is being filed with this case such as for a temporary care order or

emergency conditional custody order, once you save changes for this section, go back to this

section and select “+ Add More.” It is recommended that you also alert the Juvenile Clerk by

phone or email if this is an emergency filing.

 Filing Code—Use the dropdown to select the appropriate motion—*NOTE most juvenile

events contain the word juvenile in them—ex. Motion Juvenile for Emergency Care

Order or Motion Juvenile for Emergency Conditional Custody Order

 Lead Document—Upload the motion

FEES

Payment Account – Use dropdown to select Waiver – **the Waiver Account must be set up by

the firm administrator. See instructions available at Electronic Filing | Vermont Judiciary

SUMMARY

 Review Submission Agreements

o ✔ I certify that …filer must check both.

 Review the filing and edit any sections if needed

SUBMIT

 Select “Submit” once you are sure you have everything correct

 An “Envelope Submitted” dialog will pop-up with your envelope #

o You can “View Receipt” or “Return to dashboard”

FILING A NEW DELINQUENCY OR YOUTHFUL OFFENDER CASE

If you have a template created, on the Home Dashboard, select the template name under

Templates. Select the Template you want to use. Select “Use Template.”

If you don’t have or want to use a template, select “Start Filing” then “Start New Case.”

CASE INFORMATION

 Court Location: Use dropdown or start typing the appropriate county

 Case Category: Select Criminal (in Enterprise Justice and EFS, due to the charge

component, Juvenile Delinquency and Youthful Offender cases are entered under

“Criminal” but otherwise are part of the Family Division)

 Case Type: Use the dropdown to select Juvenile Delinquency or Youthful Offender

CHARGES

 Charge Phase: Use the dropdown to select Case Filing

 Offense Code: Click in the Offense Code to open the Add Offense dialog

o Scroll or type in the Filter Results to find the Offense

 Select the offense, then “Confirm”

 Enter the charge details:

o Charge Description – DO NOT enter/alter anything here – this will auto populate

based on the Offense Code selected

o Statute – DO NOT enter anything here

o Degree – Use the dropdown to select Misdemeanor or Felony

o Date of Offense – enter the date mmddyy or use the calendar to enter the offense

date

o Time of Offense (From) To are not required

o Additional Statute – DO NOT enter anything here

o Date of Arrest – enter the date mmddyy or use the calendar to enter the arrest date

o Law Enforcement Unit – use the dropdown to select the Law Enforcement Unit

(arresting agency)

o Arrest Location – use the dropdown to select the arrest location

o Save

 To add additional charges, select “+ Add More” and add the required information

o The Date of Arrest, Arrest Location and Law Enforcement Unit default to what you

entered on the previous charge – adjust if needed

o Save

PARTIES

 Juvenile defaults as the first Party Type to add, select “+ Add party details”

o Complete the juvenile’s name, DOB and any other known information

o Save

 If the juvenile is under 18, you will need to add another party(s) for the parent(s),

guardian, or custodian, select “+ Add More”

o Complete the necessary information

o Save

 Continue this way until all parties are added

Please Note: the system is not configured to enter Race, or Ethnicity (if applicable) for the

Juvenile Delinquency or Youthful Offender cases, however these are still required fields for all

juvenile filings so they must be complete on the petition you file; they will be entered by the

clerk on the Enterprise Justice side.

FILINGS

 Once all parties are added, click on “Parties →”

 Select “+ Add Filing”

 Filing Type – Defaults to Efile

o Select “eFile and Serve” as appropriate

 Filing Code – Use the dropdown to select Juvenile Delinquency Petition and Affidavit or

Juvenile Youthful Offender Petition as the lead filing code

 Lead Document – Upload the Petition and Affidavit

 Security – Should default to Confidential, if not, use the dropdown to select confidential

 Attachments – Upload any additional documents that are appropriate and specific to the

lead filing such as additional affidavits

 Save

 To add the Juvenile Citation, and the Juvenile Law Enforcement Data Sheet, select “+

Add More”

 Repeat until the appropriate filings and documents are added to the case

FEES

 Payment Account – Use dropdown to select Waiver – **the Waiver Account must be set

up by the firm administrator. See instructions available at Electronic Filing | Vermont

Judiciary

SUMMARY

 Review Submission Agreements

o ✔ I certify that …filer must check both

 Review the filing and edit any sections if needed

SUBMIT

 Select “Submit” once you are sure you have everything correct

 An “Envelope Submitted” dialog will pop-up with your envelope #

o You can “View Receipt” or “Return to dashboard”

FILING CODES WITH “AGENCY FILERS ONLY” DESCRIPTION

In the rare circumstances when a non-agency filer is authorized to file one of these documents

(e.g. a Termination of Parental Rights Petition), they may disregard the “Agency Filers Only”

language and use that filing code anyway. There is no system setting that will prevent the court

from receiving and accepting one of these filing codes from any filer. The language is included

on the filing code mainly to dissuade filers from selecting it erroneously when they are not in

fact authorized to file under that code.

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY FILINGS

Filings submitted through EFS are generally only reviewed during the court’s business hours.

Filings received after hours will be reviewed when the Court is open.

After hours filings for RFAs, Juvenile matters and other emergencies should continue to be

submitted through the current/existing procedures until further notice.

eSERVICE

The eFiling system contains a “Serve” feature that allows filers to simultaneously submit

documents to the court and serve them on opposing parties/counsel who are also registered in

the eFiling system.

Vermont’s Rules for Electronic Filing require service of filed documents on other eFilers to take

place through the system unless the parties agree in writing to an alternative method. Please

see the eService Guide and other related materials on the Judiciary’s eFiling page for further

details on using the Serve function.

When a filing is submitted through the eFiling system but is served on any parties through any

alternative means (because the recipient is not an eFilers or because there is an agreement

between the parties), the filer must also submit a certificate of service in compliance with

applicable rules.

REQUESTING COPIES

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.

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

requested 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

o $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

VIEWING CASE RECORDS

Case records (docket entries, orders, etc.) cannot be viewed in the eFiling system. Case records

are available on the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal at:

https://portal.vtcourts.gov/Portal

User guides and other information about the Public Portal is located at:

https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermont-judiciary/public-portal