How probate works in Caledonia County: the Superior Court - Probate Division record, what the process costs, and how to file there.
Probate Court Record
Caledonia County
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Filing in person
Self-represented filing
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About the court
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Caledonia County, probate runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 1126 Main Street, Suite 1, St. Johnsbury.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Vermont intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Vermont estates take 9 months to 15 months to move through this process. Creditors have 4 months14 V.S.A. §§ 1201-1207Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present a claim, counted from the first publication of the notice to creditors.
What probate costs in Caledonia County, Vermont comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Superior Court - Probate Division at 1126 Main Street, Suite 1, St. Johnsbury.
Vermont charges $50 - $3,250 (based on estate value)32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(1)-(8)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Vermont are negotiated, typically 1.7%Modeled estimate under 14 V.S.A. § 1065 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source to 2.7%Modeled estimate under 14 V.S.A. § 1065 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Vermont allows executors 'reasonable compensation' — around 2.2%–3.8% of a $500,000 estate, judging by what the states with statutory schedules pay14 V.S.A. § 1065 (reasonable compensation; no statutory percentage)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source. Family members who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Vermont requires publishing notice to creditors in a local newspaper, and the estate pays for it.
Vermont requires the executor to post a surety bond. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Industry surety premium estimate; the bond itself under 14 V.S.A. § 906; 14 V.S.A. §§ 2101-2110Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value annually for the duration of probate.
Probate in Vermont typically runs 9 months to 15 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate cases in Caledonia County, Vermont are filed at the Superior Court - Probate Division.
The Access and Resource Center helps people without a lawyer in any Vermont court, including formal and small estates, with court processes and forms. Staff take calls and emails on weekdays and meet in person in Burlington by appointment. They do not give legal advice, and interpreter services are free.
In Vermont, informal probate is not available14 V.S.A. § 1851Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Caledonia County Self-Filing Assessment.
These are specific requirements for filing probate in this county. Following these guidelines will help avoid delays or rejected filings.
The clerk names the newspaper for the Notice to Creditors
A fiduciary who publishes the Notice to Creditors does so once in a newspaper circulating where the decedent lived, and the court clerk says which newspapers can be used. A copy of the published notice is filed with the court as proof of publication.
SourceE-filed PDFs must be flattened
A fillable court form must be saved as a flat PDF, usually by printing it to PDF, before it is e-filed, or the filing fails.
SourceThe petition and notice are served by restricted mail
The notice and petition that open a probate proceeding go to each party by restricted mail: the Postal Service or a commercial carrier that takes a receipt signed by the addressee or a member of the household. Where delivery is refused or no receipt comes back, service is complete when the papers were also sent by first-class mail, were not returned, and tracking information is filed.
SourceFiled with the opening petition at the Superior Court - Probate Division: Entry fee (checks or money orders payable to Vermont Superior Court); Certified copy of the death certificate (plus a certified copy of the death certificate of any heir at law who predeceased the decedent, for the List of Interested Persons); List of Interested Persons for Estates (form 700-00002E); ORIGINAL Will and any codicils (if any); For an ancillary (out-of-state) estate: authenticated copy of the will and probate from the decedent’s primary estate14 V.S.A. §§ 902-906 (appointment of executors & administrators, letters, bond); §§ 902-903 (to whom letters issue); § 906 (bond) — § 901 repealed 1985Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.
In Caledonia County certified copies of the death certificate come from the Town Clerk of the town or city where the death occurred, or from Vermont Department of Health - Vital Records Office.
Vital Records Office Record
Caledonia County · State vital records office
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| First certified copy | $10 |
Verified October 15, 2026 · Source
Coroner or Medical Examiner Record
Caledonia County · Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
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Serves this county
Mail and offices
Fax
Verified November 3, 2026 · Source
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Town Clerk.
Deeds and other real property documents for Caledonia County are recorded with the Town Clerk at 51 Depot Square, Suite 101, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. Phone: 1-802-748-4331. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.
The Town Clerk charges $15 for the first page plus $15 for each additional page.
Caledonia County does not offer e-recording.
Recording Office Record
Caledonia County
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| Base fee (first page) | $15 |
| Each additional page | $15 |
| PTT-172 Vermont Property Transfer Tax ReturnRequired with most deeds | $15 |
32 V.S.A. § 1671(a)(6)
Verified October 17, 2026 · Source
Vermont uses formal, court-supervised probate, which makes an attorney worthwhile for most estates in Caledonia County — the filing sequence, notice requirements, and accounting leave little room for error. Estates under the small-estate threshold are the usual exception.
Probate attorney fees in Vermont are based on reasonable compensation, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Caledonia County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Superior Court - Probate Division, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
Solo PracticeSt. Johnsbury, VT
Solo general practice in St. Johnsbury, in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Clarke Atwell, a general practice attorney for 29 years, prepares wills, trusts and estate plans alongside small business, real estate, lease, right-of-way, boundary line and municipal law work.
PracticesEstate PlanningBusiness LawReal Estate
Solo PracticeSt. Johnsbury, VT
St. Johnsbury general practice in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, opened by Jay C. Abramson in 1995. Abramson, a Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation since 2005, prepares wills, revocable trusts and powers of attorney, plans for Medicaid coverage of long-term care, and represents families in guardianship proceedings.
PracticesEstate PlanningElder LawGuardianshipSpecial Needs PlanningMedicaid Planning
Solo PracticeWalden, VT
Walden, Vermont practice run by Deborah T. Bucknam, who has practiced in Vermont since 1979, including in the Probate Division of the Superior Court. The firm prepares and files the court documents for opening, administering and closing estates, represents parties in will contests and other contested probate matters, and handles guardianship proceedings.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateProbate LitigationGuardianshipFamily Law
Solo PracticeHardwick, VT
Solo general civil practice in Hardwick, Vermont, opened by Kristina I. Michelsen in January 2011. Michelsen prepares wills alongside landlord/tenant, real estate, land use, employment and small business work; after law school she clerked for the judges in the three Northeast Kingdom county courts.
PracticesEstate PlanningBusiness LawReal Estate
FirmBurlington, VT
Burlington firm on Main Street with Vermont offices in Montpelier, St. Johnsbury and Brattleboro and one in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Its trusts and estates team handles probating wills, trust administration, gift and estate tax returns, and probate and trust dispute resolution, alongside planning for U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. The group is chaired by Willemien Dingemans Miller, an ACTEC Fellow since 2000.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate Litigationand 5 more
FirmColchester, VT
Colchester firm on Water Tower Circle with an office in Newport and by-appointment offices in Montpelier and St. Albans. It guides named executors and beneficiaries through the probate process and represents people seeking or opposing appointment as guardian for vulnerable or elderly adults, in contested and uncontested matters. Planning covers wills, trusts and lifetime giving plans.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateGuardianshipBusiness Lawand 2 more
Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.
Data sourced from Vermont statutes and official state code. Fee percentages are modeled estimates; each figure's note says how. How we research.
Free tools for settling an estate in Vermont: whether probate is needed, executor and trustee pay, creditor deadlines and taxes. Run each tool for Vermont.
Settling an estate in Vermont: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 60 days14 V.S.A. §§ 1051-1053Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 months14 V.S.A. §§ 1201-1207Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
Settling a trust in Vermont happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust Code14A V.S.A. § 101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries within 60 days14A V.S.A. § 813Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.
In Vermont, informal probate is not available14 V.S.A. § 1851Verified Sep 9, 2026View source, so self-filing means a formal court petition rather than a registrar filing.
Browse vetted Vermont attorneys handling probate matters.
Each institution has a separate death claim process. Find yours below.
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
Enter the estate value to see Vermont attorney fees, executor fees, court costs and the timeline.
General information about probate costs, not legal or financial advice. Fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value or net property after debts. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
Enter the estate value to see whether Vermont lets a self-represented person open probate, what the court requires, and what each route costs.
General information about filing probate without a lawyer, not legal advice. Both routes are priced by the probate cost estimator on the same estate; the attorney fee is the one line that differs. Actual costs vary by county, attorney and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney for legal questions.
