Vt. eFiling: Vermont eFiling General Policy and Procedure Guide

VERMONT eFILING GENERAL

POLICY AND PROCEDURE GUIDE

EFSP v1 January 2026

Contents

ABOUT THIS GUIDE................................ ................................ ................................ ............................. 3

SYSTEM NAME UPDATES................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 3

eFILING SYSTEM................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 3

WHO MUST eFILE................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ 4

DOCUMENTS THAT CANNOT BE eFILED................................ ................................ ............................... 4

FILING FEES................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 4

SERVING DOCUMENTS ON OTHER eFILERS................................ ................................ .......................... 6

SERVICE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE VERMONT RULES FOR ELECTRONIC FILING................................ ... 6

SERVING DOCUMENTS ON NON-eFILERS................................ ................................ ............................. 6

CERTIFYING COMPLIANCE WITH SERVICE OBLIGATIONS................................ ................................ ...... 7

RECEIVING DOCUMENTS SERVED THROUGH EFS................................ ................................ ................. 7

USER REGISTRATION................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 7

ATTORNEY REGISTRATION IN EFS REGISTRATION................................ ................................ ................ 7

AVAILABILITY OF EFS................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 8

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 8

NOTARIZED DOCUMENTS................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 8

PUBLIC VS. NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION—FILER RESPONSIBIITIES................................ ....................... 9

CONFIDENTIAL CASE MASKING................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 10

DOCUMENT FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS................................ ................................ ................... 10

FORM-FILLABLE PDFs................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 10

SUPPORT................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 11

ABOUT THIS GUIDE

This guide summarizes Vermont’s policies and requirements for use of the eFile and Serve

electronic filing system. All filers are encouraged to review it thoroughly to ensure they

understand and comply with all requirements.

Policies are governed by the Vermont Rules of Electronic Filing, available at:

https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/sites/default/files/documents/PROMULGATED%2012-10-

19%20VREF%202020%20with%20amendments%20through%203-15-21%20%20with%20TOC.pdf

and the Vermont Rules for Public Access to Court Records, available at:

https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/sites/default/files/documents/PROMULGATED%20V

RPACR.pdf

This guide does not provide full instructions for use of the e Filing system. Additional

information is contained in division-specific Vermont filler guides available at:

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

and in system user guides and other training resources from Tyler Technologies available in

the “Self Help” section on the EFS website.

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

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.

eFILING SYSTEM

eFile & Serve (EFS) is a web-based platform for electronically filing documents in all units and

divisions of the Vermont Judiciary. Electronic filing is accessible to all court users, including self-represented litigants.

EFS may be accessed from the “eFiling” link on the Court’s website or may be directly accessed

here: https://efilevt.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp/ui/landing. The system is accessible from most

modern web browsers and from smartphones and mobile devices.

EFS is hosted by Tyler Technologies, which provides ongoing support and service for the system.

More information about Tyler is available at https://www.tylertech.com/.

WHO MUST eFILE

All attorneys and public agency personnel are required to file documents electronically through

EFS. 1 Self-represented litigants can choose between filing electronically and filing documents in

paper form. Once a filer has filed a document through EFS, he or she must continue to use EFS

to file documents for the rest of that case. 2

DOCUMENTS THAT CANNOT BE eFILED

A few types of documents cannot be filed through EFS. The rules of electronic filing allow for

filings by alternative means, 3 (hard copy or by email with the court’s permission) in these

situations:

 Wills deposited for safekeeping or original wills filed in probate cases.

 After hours emergency filings that require immediate attention prior to the next

business day, unless specific arrangements have been made with after-hours personnel

(court staff or judge).

 Documents that are sent to the court but are not related to any specific case file. For

example, invoices, records requests and other communications addressed to a staff

member or judge.

 Post judgment motions in older cases (generally pre-1990) that were never entered in

the legacy case management system. This includes petitions to expunge criminal

records.

 Criminal Division matters initiated by filers other than authorized state agency.

 Criminal filers (including civil suspensions, civil miscellaneous cases, ordinance cases and

investigative requests if filed directly by law enforcement).

NOTE: The Court cannot accept responsive filings and motions in any format for Criminal

Division matters that have not yet been initiated by the state and filed with the court. As soon

as the case is submitted by the filing agency it will become available for subsequent filings in

EFS.

FILING FEES

The system use fee is $14.00 per filer/firm, per case, payable upon a party’s first filing. Payment

convenience fees of 2.89% processing fee for credit card payments and $1.00 per case for

eCheck payments also apply.

Neither of these fees are kept by the Vermont Judiciary; the system use fee is paid to the

system vendor, and the payment convenience fee is paid to the credit card processing vendor.

For criminal cases and any other case type where there is no court fee, the party filing will not

incur the user fee either (see details further below).

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 self-represented 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 due to various factors.

Filers in those situations may contact efilingsupport@vtcourts.gov.

For the following exemptions, parties should choose a waiver account when filing:

STATUTORY OR ROLE EXEMPTIONS

 Government and appointed filers, including mediators, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. §

1433 and Rule 10(d)(1) of the Rules for Electronic Filing (2021)

 Stalking & Sexual Assault cases, pursuant to 12 V.S.A. § 5133(f)

 Relief from Abuse cases, pursuant to 15 V.S.A. § 1103(f)

 Abuse Prevention for Vulnerable Adult, pursuant to 33 V.S.A § 6933(b)

AS APPLIED ECONOMIC HARDSHIP EXEMPTIONS

 Fee waiver determination, pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 1431(h) or 32 V.S.A. § 1434(b) in

Probate cases, and

 Fee waiver determination, pursuant to V.R.C.P. 3.1 and V.R.P.P. 3.1

Government agency filers and others who are statutorily exempt from paying filing fees may

file via a “waiver” account that can be set up for each registered user. There is a guide to

creating a waiver account posted at https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermontjudiciary/electronic-access/electronic-filing.

A waiver account would also be used by anyone filing an Application to Waive Filing and

Service Fees (formerly IFP/In Forma Pauperis). Filers upload the completed application in PDF

format along with their other filing(s) and are notified after court review whether the

application has been granted. If the request is denied, the filing will still be accepted but the

filer will be sent a notice of a deadline for making payment of the appropriate fee.

Case filing fees paid to the Court are established by statute. Current fees and authorizing

statutes are available at https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/fees.

The latest updates and answers to frequently asked questions regarding electronic filing are

available on the Judiciary website at https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/about-vermontjudiciary/electronic-access/electronic-filing.

SERVING DOCUMENTS ON OTHER eFILERS

The eFiling system’s “eService” function can be used to serve documents electronically on

other registered EFS users. This function can be used on its own or concurrently with

submission of documents to the court. There is no additional fee for using the eService

function. Service is sent to recipients as soon as a court clerk has accepted the filing into the

case management system. Returned/rejected filings are not served.

Note: in order to serve documents through the efiling system, the filing type of “eFile and

Serve” or “Serve” must be selected. Selecting “eFile” alone will not result in service.

SERVICE OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE VERMONT RULES FOR ELECTRONIC

FILING

At the time of registering and beginning to use EFS, all eFilers must create a Service Contact

with one or more designated email addresses for receiving service of documents on cases, and

must make their service contact available on the Public List for opposing filers to select4.

All eFilers are required to serve documents on opposing parties with service contacts through

the eService feature of EFS, unless a statute or rule requires a different form of service for a

particular case type, or unless the parties have agreed in writing upon an alternate form of

service for the case and submitted that agreement to the court 5.

More information and detailed steps for eService are in the Vermont eService Guide available at

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

SERVING DOCUMENTS ON NON-eFILERS

When an opposing party is not a registered EFS user service must be completed via the

applicable rules of procedure for the case type. 6 EFS may not be used for service where a rule

or statute requires personal service of documents.

CERTIFYING COMPLIANCE WITH SERVICE OBLIGATIONS

All eFilers must certify compliance with service requirements by completing a submission

agreement checkbox as part of the filing submission process. By completing the checkbox, the

filer attests that they have either (1) made service using the EFS Serve feature or (2) filed a

certificate of service for any parties served through other means.

An eFiler must file a Certificate of Service any time service of a filing is made by means other

than through EFS upon a non-eFiler, an eFiler who has not provided a Service Contact or a party

with whom the filer has an agreement for an alternative method of service 7.

RECEIVING DOCUMENTS SERVED THROUGH EFS

When a document is served through EFS, the recipient will receive an email containing a link

to the document. The document will be available for download from the link for 30 days after

the date of service. Beyond that time, the document would be accessed through the Public

Portal Vermont Judiciary Public Portal.

USER REGISTRATION

Every EFS user (including both attorneys and non-attorney public agency personnel who are

required to eFile) self-registers with an individual username and password, but users within

a firm, agency or organization must register under a firm account managed by one or more

firm administrators. They may then share payment accounts, service contacts and other

features, although every user within the firm maintains individual login credentials.

Any organization, not only law firms, can and should register as a firm; one designated firm

administrator must initially create the firm in the system. The firm admin will then be able to

invite other attorney and non-attorney users to register directly into that firm account.

Paralegals, administrative and other support staff members may register as filers and may file

documents on behalf of attorneys in their firm (the actual filed documents must be signed by

the attorney). A firm administrator may also give administrative rights to other firm users as

appropriate. Self-represented litigants and other filers not associated with a firm or

organization may register for individual EFS accounts. See user guides and resources on EFS

website for registration instructions for all user types.

ATTORNEY REGISTRATION IN EFS REGISTRATION

Attorneys must be registered as attorneys in their firm’s account in eFile and Serve and must be

entered with their correct Bar Number (the 4-digit number assigned by the Attorney Licensing

office, not the ERN number assigned by eCabinet). The Bar Number is labeled Attorney Number

in the EFS Registration process.

A firm administrator can add and edit firm attorneys from the “Firm Attorneys” section in the

Actions dropdown menu. Note that adding an attorney to the “Firm Attorneys” list does not

negate the need for that attorney to also register into the firm as a user.

EFS requires at least one attorney entity be registered in each firm. For organizations without

attorneys, there are instructions on the Judiciary website eFiling page at:

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

for setting up a workaround to this requirement.

AVAILABILITY OF EFS

EFS is available for filing and service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for times of

regular and as-needed maintenance. Notice of such downtimes will be posted on the EFS

homepage and on the Judiciary website.

Documents may be filed through EFS at any time. A document will be deemed filed as of a

particular day if it has been successfully submitted by 11:59 p.m. 8, unless it is subsequently

rejected and returned by the court reviewer.

However, it is important to understand that submitted filings are only reviewed and accepted

during the court’s normal business hours.

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES

The rules allow a variety of types of signatures on eFiled documents.9

 A scanned image of a document with an original signature affixed by hand

 A facsimile signature image electronically applied to a document

 A typographical signature containing the filer’s typed-in name preceded by “/s/

A filing of any stipulation or agreement signed by multiple parties constitutes a representation

by the filer that all signatures are valid and that all parties consented to the filing of the

document. 10

NOTARIZED DOCUMENTS

A document that would otherwise require notarization may be filed electronically by inserting

the following language above the signature and date:

"I declare that the above statement is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and

belief. I understand that if the above statement is false, I will be subject to the penalty of

perjury."

Alternatively, an electronic scanned copy of an original notarized document will also be

accepted.11

PUBLIC VS. NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION—FILER RESPONSIBIITIES

Filers are responsible for appropriately designating each individual document filed as either

public or confidential. This is done as a mandatory step in the filing process. Filers should be

familiar with the Vermont Rules of Public Access to Court Records, as well as the rules for the

applicable case type, to determine whether a filing is public or non-public. There are many

categories of information that are considered not public(confidential). Filers should carefully

review Vermont Rule of Public Access 6(b) and the Appendix to that rule in certifying their

compliance with the VREF and Public Access rules.

A document may be confidential in its entirety, such as a medical or financial record. This

should be identified as a confidential document. Alternatively, a particular document may

include certain information, such as a social security number, that is confidential. In such

situations, it is the filer’s responsibility to redact or omit non-public information on public

documents, and to separately file the complete or unredacted document as a confidential

document. 12

When filing original and redacted versions of a document, filers are instructed to note the

redaction actions taken in the “Comments to the Court” field.

EFS requires filers to check several boxes certifying that their filings comply with all applicable

rules. It should be noted that EFS requires users to check this box for documents that are

served, but not filed, though the certification applies only to documents filed with the court.

*** NOTE: Checking this box meets the requirements for a certificate of compliance

under Vermont Rules of Public Access to Court Records Rule 7(a)(1) and Vermont

Rules ofElectronic Filing Rule 7(a)(5). Checking the box once will apply to all

documents within an envelope. No separate certificate of compliance needs to be

filed.

CONFIDENTIAL CASE MASKING

Juvenile, Mental Health, Relief from Abuse and other confidential case types will be available

for parties to file into through EFS, but will be identifiable only by their case number—party

names for these cases are not displayed in EFS. All parties filing into confidential case types

will need to know the case number and unit (county) of the case.

DOCUMENT FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS

All electronically filed documents must be submitted in PDF format. If a situation arises in

which a filer is required to submit a document in Word or other format, a judge or clerk may

direct the filer to submit it through alternative means.

Filers are responsible for ensuring that scanned PDF documents are viewable and legible and are

in a “flat” format; this means that fillable field forms and any other document with objects or

images added or embedded in it must be saved/printed as a “flat” PDF file before attaching and

submitting. See directions below for flattening fillable forms.

Every individual document in a filing must be submitted as a separate PDF. Filings will not be

accepted if multiple filed documents are scanned/uploaded together as one combined PDF.

Multi-page documents should be submitted as one PDF.

EFS allows filers to submit multiple documents within the same “envelope” when filing.

Documents that are related to each other should be filed as part of the same envelope. The EFS

system use fee is charged per-envelope, so it is to the filer’s benefit to include all related

documents within the same envelope submission.

Documents that cannot reasonably scanned and submitted as a PDF because of their size,

shape or condition may be filed through alternative means.13

FORM-FILLABLE PDFs

When eFiling a form-fillable PDF (which includes all of the posted court forms on the Judiciary

website), you must first save it as a flat file. Otherwise, the filing will fail and you will need to

refile.

Follow the steps below to "flatten" a completed PDF fillable form:

1. Open fillable form.

2. Add appropriate data.

3. Right click on document and select Print. NOTE: if document opens in Adobe,

Select File and select Print.

4. Select the PDF printer. (The Adobe PDF printer is installed automatically with

Adobe Acrobat. Other users may have “Microsoft Print to PDF”). Numerous free

PDF printer drivers are available for download from the Internet.

5. Select OK.

6. Specify location to save the printed, "flattened" version of the form.

7. Select Save.

SUPPORT

EFS is hosted by Tyler Technologies, which provides primary customer support to users about the

system itself. eFiling questions related to Vermont-specific procedures and policies should be

directed to the Vermont eFiling Help Desk at efilesupport@vtcourts.gov.

For general support using the eFiling system, Tyler Technologies provides the following support

guidance (information also available on EFS website):

Although we would like to help in every situation, there are times when you will need to

contact the court you are filing into for more information. Listed below are some examples

of when it would be appropriate to contact technical support and when it would be best to

contact the courts.

Vermont court contact information can be found at:

https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/court-locations

Technical Support Courts

Site access To suggest additions or modifications to

data selection values available on the site

One-on-one training over the phone Court specific procedures

Webinars Questions related to filing codes

Desktop/Browser support Court dates

Filing status Changes to party information

Issues viewing stamped documents Information about rejected filings beyond

the rejection comments in the system

Financial reconciliation Court portal/ Docket viewing

Court specific procedures for cancellations

Internal errors

and refunds of accepted filings

Email Us: Efiling.Support@Tylertech.com Emails received during normal business hours are

normally responded to within 24 hours, Monday - Friday between 7:00am and 9:00pm Central

Time. E-mails received after 9:00pm Central Time or on a holiday will be responded to on the

following business day.

Click Here to Chat With Us :Start a chat for immediate assistance, and one of our trained

specialists will assist. Normal business hours are Monday - Friday, 8 am - 7 pm Central Time.

(Holiday hours may vary)

Call Us: We are available Monday - Friday, 7 am - 9 pm Central Time. (Holiday hours may vary)

1.800.297.5377

Users are also encouraged to consult all the resources available on the EFS website’s Help section

(available by clicking on the small question mark icon along the top of the screen), which contains

user manuals, training materials and a knowledge base of troubleshooting questions and answers

and other information.

Additionally, there are many guides and resources available on the Judiciary’s eFiling page at

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

This page includes division-specific guides for filing new and subsequent case filings in all

different dockets.

V.R.E.F. 3(a)

V.R.E.F. 3(d)

V.R.E.F. 3(b)

V.R.E.F. 4(b)(3)

V.R.E.F. 11(d)

V.R.E.F. 11(g)(1)

V.R.E.F. 11(g)(2)

V.R.E.F. 5(c)

V.R.E.F. 9(a)(2)

V.R.E.F. 9(b)

V.R.E.F. 9(c)

V.R.E.F. 5(b); V.R.P.A.C.R 7(a)(1).

V.R.E.F. 3(b)(6)