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Orleans County, VT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Orleans County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Orleans Probate Division |
| Official courthouse address | 247 Main Street, Newport, VT 05855 |
| Current public counter and hearing location | 217 Main Street, Newport, VT 05855, at the Orleans Criminal Courthouse next door while 247 Main Street is temporarily closed to the public |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published for the Orleans Probate Division. During the closure, use the current court-assistance address or call before mailing time-sensitive papers. |
| Phone | 802-334-3305 for the Orleans Probate Division. The 217 Main Street building also lists 802-334-3325 for the Orleans Criminal Division. |
| [email protected]. Include the case number, if known, and the court name in the subject line. | |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except observed holidays. Closed the third Wednesday of each month, 8:00 a.m. to noon, for in service training. |
| Filing fee | The filing fee is statewide: $50.00 for an estate of $10,000 or less, $110.00 from $10,001 to $50,000, rising to $3,250.00 above $10,000,000 (32 V.S.A. § 1434(a), in force since July 1, 2015). |
| Orleans County only forms | None. Orleans County uses the Vermont Judiciary statewide probate forms. |
| E-filing | Vermont's courts, including the Probate Division, use a statewide e-filing system. The Judiciary is moving filers from Odyssey File & Serve to eFileVT, also called eFile & Serve. Attorneys and state agencies must e-file; a self-represented filer may e-file but is not required to, and may instead file in person, by mail or by email. |
| Case access | Vermont Judiciary Public Portal at portal.vtcourts.gov. Anonymous users can see Civil Division and Judicial Bureau case summaries remotely; probate case information is available to the general public only at courthouse public access terminals. A party who registers and is granted elevated access can view their own probate case, hearings and filed documents online. Free per-county Probate Division hearing calendars covering the next 90 days are published at www.vtcourts.gov/court-calendars. |
| Remote appearance | Remote hearings by Zoom are used across the Vermont courts. In Orleans County, the current court notice says all hearings will be held in person at 217 Main Street unless you are notified otherwise. |
| Website | www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/orleans-probate-division |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Orleans County, list every asset, debt, beneficiary designation and date-of-death value you can find. Vermont estate settlement turns quickly on the inventory, the bond amount and the number of institutions that will ask for proof of appointment.
When the Probate Division appoints an executor or administrator, Vermont issues two certificates of appointment with the letters of administration at no charge, and each extra certificate costs $5.00 (32 V.S.A. § 1434(c), in force since July 1, 2015). Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families know which banks, brokerages, insurers and agencies may need a certificate before making a trip to the Newport counter.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Orleans Probate Division serves Orleans County from Newport. The official courthouse is at 247 Main Street, Newport, but that building is temporarily closed to the public; court assistance, forms and hearings are currently at 217 Main Street next door.
Communities served include Albany, Barton, Brownington, Charleston, Coventry, Craftsbury, Derby, Glover, Greensboro, Holland, Irasburg, Jay, Lowell, Morgan, Newport town, Troy, Westfield and Westmore, plus the city of Newport. The city of Newport and the town of Newport are separate Orleans County municipalities, and both are served by the same Orleans Probate Division.
For a Vermont resident's estate, file in the district where the decedent lived at death (4 V.S.A. § 311a(1)). For a nonresident decedent with Vermont property, file in any district where the Vermont property is located (4 V.S.A. § 311a(2)).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the right Vermont estate path and forms. Most full estates begin with the statewide Petition to Open Decedent's Estate, form 700-00001. If the estate qualifies under 14 V.S.A. § 1901, use the small estate petition, form 700-00001SM (09/2023). If there are no assets requiring administration, the will may be filed with an original death certificate and Affidavit of No Assets under 14 V.S.A. § 104.
- File with the Orleans Probate Division in Newport. The official courthouse is 247 Main Street, Newport, VT 05855, but the public counter is currently next door at 217 Main Street while 247 Main Street is temporarily closed. You may file in person, by mail, by email to [email protected], or through Vermont's statewide e-filing system if you are using eFileVT or Odyssey File & Serve during the transition. Flatten fillable PDF forms before e-filing.
- Pay the statewide filing fee or request a waiver. The estate filing fee is graduated under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a), in force since July 1, 2015: $50.00 for an estate of $10,000 or less, $110.00 from $10,001 to $50,000, and higher brackets for larger estates. Checks or money orders are made out to Vermont Superior Court.
- Handle notice and consents. If all required consents are filed, a will may be allowed without a hearing under 14 V.S.A. § 107. If notice to creditors is published, creditor claims run four months from first publication under 14 V.S.A. § 1203. If notice is not published, the backstop is one year from death under 14 V.S.A. § 1203 and 14 V.S.A. § 931.
- Watch the hearing notice and the Orleans calendar. The Vermont Judiciary publishes a live Orleans County Probate Division calendar covering the next 90 days. In the window published on September 1, 2026, probate hearings in Orleans County were scheduled on Thursdays, in the Orleans first floor hearing room at 217 Main Street. Check the current calendar before you travel.
- Follow the Orleans in-person notice unless you are told otherwise. Vermont uses Zoom for remote hearings, and statewide practice lets a party notify the court in writing to appear remotely instead, or ask permission in writing to appear in person instead, so that the court and the other party receive it at least three days before the hearing. Orleans County has a more specific current notice: hearings are in person at 217 Main Street unless you are notified otherwise.
- Receive authority from the court. After appointment and any required bond, Vermont issues letters of administration and certificates of appointment. The certificate of appointment is what banks, brokerages, insurers, employers and agencies usually ask to see.
- Administer, report and close the estate. File the inventory, form 700-00030, within 30 days of your appointment, which is what the Vermont Judiciary's instructions require. The statute sets an outer limit of 60 days (14 V.S.A. § 1051), and the court can extend the time for good cause. Before final closing, Vermont requires tax clearance from the Department of Taxes, and the Probate Division will not issue the final decree of distribution until it has that clearance (32 V.S.A. § 7454; 14 V.S.A. § 1069(5)).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Orleans County
The Orleans County Probate Division uses the Vermont Judiciary's statewide probate forms. There are no Orleans County only forms and no Orleans County cover sheet. The same numbered 700-series forms are used in all fourteen Vermont counties and are available through the Vermont Judiciary forms page and the Estates, Wills and Trusts page.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Open a full estate | 700-00001 Petition to Open Decedent's Estate |
| Open a small estate under 14 V.S.A. § 1901 | 700-00001SM Petition to Open Small Estate (09/2023) |
| List interested persons | 700-00002E List of Interested Persons for Estates |
| Inventory | 700-00030 Inventory Schedule |
| Nonresident fiduciary | 700-00026 Appointment of Resident Agent under 14 V.S.A. § 904 |
| Sell estate real estate | 700-00035 Motion for License to Sell or Convey Real Estate. The motion fee is $100.00 under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(26), in force since July 1, 2015. |
| Close or report | 700-00152 Fiduciary's Closing Report & Discharge, 700-00153 Receipt, or the route-specific closing form |
| Guide | 700-00302 Probating a Vermont Estate (01/2026) |
Timeline
- The Vermont Judiciary publishes a live Orleans County Probate Division calendar covering the next 90 days.
- In the window published on September 1, 2026, probate hearings in Orleans County were scheduled on Thursdays.
- The calendar listed the Orleans first floor hearing room at 217 Main Street, consistent with the current courthouse-closure notice.
- Check the calendar again before filing or traveling, because the calendar is a schedule of upcoming hearings, not a promise of future hearing days or a filing-to-hearing wait.
Local nuance
Orleans County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for Orleans County filings |
|---|---|
| Temporary courthouse closure | The official Orleans Probate Division courthouse is 247 Main Street, Newport. The Vermont Judiciary says that building is temporarily closed to the public, and court assistance and forms are available next door at 217 Main Street. |
| In-person hearing notice | The Orleans notice says all hearings will be held in person at 217 Main Street unless you are notified otherwise. Read the hearing notice and call 802-334-3305 if the location or appearance method is unclear. |
| Two numbers in the same block | Use 802-334-3305 for the Orleans Probate Division. The 217 Main Street building also lists 802-334-3325 for the Orleans Criminal Division, which is a separate number for the building where the public counter currently operates. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Orleans County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating probate assets from jointly owned or beneficiary-designated property. If estate settlement is needed, file with the Orleans Probate Division in Newport and use the current 217 Main Street counter while the 247 Main Street courthouse is closed. | Sunset helps identify accounts, ownership patterns and beneficiary designations before you decide what must be listed on the Vermont forms. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the estate qualifies under 14 V.S.A. § 1901, file the statewide small estate petition with the Orleans Probate Division. A nonresident fiduciary must address the resident-agent requirement under 14 V.S.A. § 904. | Sunset helps assemble the probate packet, flag the resident-agent issue and connect you with a Vermont attorney if you need local help. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale generally requires court authority before closing. Use the statewide motion for license to sell or convey real estate, and file it in the Orleans Probate Division if venue belongs in Orleans County. The motion fee is $100.00 under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(26), in force since July 1, 2015. | Sunset helps organize asset information, generate form-ready details and coordinate attorney support for the real estate step. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Access and Resource Center | Free court process information, help with Vermont court forms and information about ways to get an attorney. Staff do not provide legal advice. Case types include full estates and small estates under 14 V.S.A. § 1901. | 802-879-1185; [email protected]. Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed court holidays. In-person support is by appointment in Burlington. |
| Vermont Judiciary Information Center | Use this number if you do not know your case number or which court has your case. | 802-652-1900 |
| Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Judiciary-listed referrals to Vermont attorneys. | 800-639-7036 or the online referral form |
| Vermont Association for Justice Lawyer Referral Service | Judiciary-listed lawyer referral service searchable by practice area and proximity. | Online referral service |
| VTLawHelp.org | Plain-language Vermont probate information, including guidance on going to the Probate Division in the county where the decedent lived. | vtlawhelp.org/going-through-probate |
| Vermont Department of Taxes | Issues the tax clearance the Probate Division needs before the final decree of distribution. The application is Form E-2A for tax clearance, and the closing requirement appears in 32 V.S.A. § 7454. | tax.vermont.gov |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions so families can build a clearer asset list before filing, requesting certificates of appointment or making repeated trips to Newport for estate settlement tasks.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you gather into an organized probate packet for the Orleans Probate Division, using Vermont's statewide forms and the current 217 Main Street filing logistics.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Vermont attorney would help, Sunset connects families with vetted counsel for questions about resident agents, real estate sales, objections, tax clearance or other estate settlement issues.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, understand next steps and find attorney help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Orleans County?
File with the Orleans Probate Division in Newport. The official courthouse is 247 Main Street, but the Vermont Judiciary says that building is temporarily closed to the public. Court assistance, forms and hearings are currently at 217 Main Street next door.
Is the Orleans Probate Division open all week?
The regular counter hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except observed holidays. The office is closed the third Wednesday of each month, 8:00 a.m. to noon, for in service training.
Can I e-file in an Orleans County probate case?
Yes. Vermont's courts, including the Probate Division, use statewide e-filing. The Judiciary is moving filers from Odyssey File & Serve to eFileVT, also called eFile & Serve. Attorneys and state agencies must e-file; self-represented filers may e-file but can also file in person, by mail or by email.
Are Orleans County probate hearings remote or in person?
Vermont uses Zoom for remote hearings, but Orleans County has a specific current notice: all hearings are held in person at 217 Main Street unless you are notified otherwise. If you need a different appearance method, read the hearing notice and contact the court early.
What days are probate hearings scheduled in Orleans County?
The Vermont Judiciary publishes a live Orleans County Probate Division calendar covering the next 90 days. In the window published on September 1, 2026, probate hearings in Orleans County were scheduled on Thursdays. That is not a guaranteed sitting schedule, so check the current calendar before you travel.
Can I view an Orleans County probate case from home?
Anonymous public users can see Civil Division and Judicial Bureau case summaries remotely through portal.vtcourts.gov, but probate case information is available to the general public only at courthouse public access terminals. A party who registers and is granted elevated access can view their own probate case, hearings and filed documents online.
Does Orleans County have its own probate forms?
No. The Orleans Probate Division uses the Vermont Judiciary statewide probate forms. There are no Orleans County only forms and no Orleans County cover sheet.
How much is the filing fee in Orleans County?
The fee is the same statewide and is graduated under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a), in force since July 1, 2015: $50.00 for an estate of $10,000 or less, $110.00 from $10,001 to $50,000, rising to $3,250.00 above $10,000,000.
Do I have to travel to Newport if I live out of state?
Not always. A self-represented filer may file by mail, by email or by optional e-filing, and Vermont uses Zoom in some hearings. Orleans County's current notice says hearings are in person at 217 Main Street unless you are notified otherwise, so check the hearing notice before making travel plans.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.