Orange County, VT Consumer Law

Tools and Resources for Orange County, VT Consumers

Vermont Inheritance Law & Probate Procedure

• Vermont PROBATE COURT FINDER:
  
  • Probate Court for Orange County: Key information about your local probate court (Probate Court in Vermont) for Orange County.
• How Probate Works in Vermont: How to handle the probate of an inheritance at Orange County's probate court.
  • Here are links to Vermont probate forms from the Vermont probate court website.
• Small Estates Procedures in Vermont: Learn how to use Vermont's Small Estate procedures that can save you time and money.

  • In Vermont there's no Affidavit procedure. You can use a summary probate procedure for estates if the decedent is survived by a spouse, civil union partner, or children and owned no real estate and the value of the personal property is $45,000 or less.

    Vt. Stat. Ann. 14 Section 1902.

• Vermont Estate Taxes:

  • The state of Vermont imposes an estate tax on property owned in Vermont. If you are inheriting property from the state of Vermont, it may be subject to estate tax if the overall value of the estate is more than $5,000,000.

• Avoiding Probate in Vermont. Find out what property bypasses probate death and goes directly to beneficiaries. such as:
  • Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)

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Vermont Wage & Hour Law

• Vermont Minimum Wage:  

  • The minimum wage in Vermont is $13.67 an hour. Because this is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25, employees in The Green Mountain State must be paid at least $13.67 an hour. 

  • Find out more about Vermont’s minimum wage at https://labor.vermont.gov/rights-and-wages/wage-and-hour.

• Overtime Pay: Every state has rules about weekly maximum hours and overtime. Learn about the overtime laws in Vermont and whether they apply to you.

  • If you work more than 40 hours in a workweek, your employer must pay you 1-1/2 times your regular hourly wage for each overtime hour you work, unless you  or your employer are exempt. Exempt businesses include: 

    • retail and  service establishments
    • hotels, motels, and restaurants, and
    • certain amusement and recreational establishments.

    Learn more about Vermont's overtime rules and exemptions in A Summary of Vermont Wage and Hour Laws, available at the Vermont Department of Labor website. 

• Wage Claims: If you're being unlawfully underpaid, you need to learn how to file a "Wage Claim" in Vermont. 

  • The Vermont Department of Labor has posted the form to file a wage claim at its website. 

• Tips : Every state has special pay rates for tipped workers. Find out the rules for tipped workers in Vermont.

  • In Vermont, your employer may pay you a minimum wage of $6.84 an hour, as long as you earn enough in tips to bring your total hourly pay up to the full minimum wage, $13.67 an hour. If you don’t earn enough in tips to bring your compensation to the full minimum wage, your employer must make up the difference.

• State Labor Board:
  • Learn more about your rights under Vermont law from the Vermont Department of Labor. 802-951-4083

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Vermont Unemployment Benefits

• Benefit Amounts in Vermont: Learn how unemployment works, how much you'll get, and for how long.
  • In Vermont, unemployment benefits range from $80 per week to $705 per week.
  • Formula:

    In Vermont, your weekly benefit will be your total earnings in the two highest paid quarters of the base period, divided by 45. 

  • Duration:

    In Vermont, you can receive unemployment benefits for a maximum of 26 weeks under state law. 

• Eligibility: >Whether you qualify for unemployment.
• How to Apply: How to apply for unemployment in Vermont.
• Unemployment Office Near Me? How to find your local unemployment office.

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Bankruptcy & Debt

• Free Vermont MEANS TEST CALCULATOR for Orange County (applies the state and county income and expense standards into your means test calculation. Updated with the latest median income and expense standards for April 1, 2024)
• Free Vermont BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FINDER: Search detailed listings of bankruptcy exemptions under Vermont law and Federal law, for use in filing out Schedule C, when you file for bankruptcy. 
• Vermont BANKRUPTCY COURT ESSENTIAL INFO: Get information about using your local bankruptcy court.
• FREE BANKRUPTCY FORMS:
  We'll tell you which bankruptcy forms you need and where to find them.

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Child Custody & Family Courts in Vermont 

• State Standards For Custody Decisions: How Vermont Courts make child custody decisions
• Family Court for Orange County: Orange County Family Court information, including maps, forms and links.
• Enforcement of Custody Orders: Can you enlist local police to help enforce a custody court order?
• Child Custody Lawyers: To help you handle your child custody matters.

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Vermont Obamacare

• Sign Up: We have the latest on how to sign up for Obamacare Insurance in Vermont!
• Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Vermont? Learn about whether Vermont imposes tax penalties for not having health insurance.
• Special Enrollment Periods: How to enroll because of a "special enrollment period."
• Rates & Providers in Your County: Information and rates for providers for Orange County if you live in a state served by Healthcare.gov.

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Democracy In Vermont, Orange County, Randolph 

• Elected Representatives: Find out the websites and phone numbers of those representing you at the Federal, State, County, and City levels of government.
• How to Vote: Learn how to register and where and when to vote in Orange County, VT.
• Gerrymandering in Vermont: Has your state been gerrymandered? Find out how to end gerrymandering and have voters pick politicians, not vice versa.
• Tracking Issues: Organizations that track legislation you care about 

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Find a Lawyer in Orange County, VT

• Our Lawyers by Zipcode section allows users to find a local lawyer using the best online resources, including on topics we don't cover.
• DUI, Criminal Defense
• Auto Accidents & Personal Injury
• Immigration

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