Back to Vermont
Windsor County, VT Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Windsor County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Windsor Probate Division, Probate Division of the Vermont Superior Court |
| Courthouse address | 12 The Green, Woodstock, VT 05091 |
| Mailing address | Use the courthouse address. The Vermont Judiciary does not publish a separate mailing address for this division. |
| Phone | 802-457-2121 |
| [email protected]. This is a unit-wide mailbox, so include the case number and court in the subject line when a case already exists. | |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except observed holidays. Closed the second Friday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to noon for in service training. |
| Filing fee | $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, all under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a), in force since July 1, 2015. |
| Forms | Statewide Vermont Judiciary probate forms are used. There are no Windsor County-only forms and no local cover sheet. |
| E-filing status | Vermont's courts, including the Probate Division, use a statewide e-filing system. The Judiciary is moving filers from Odyssey File & Serve to its new eFileVT platform, 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 lookup | 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. The free Windsor County Probate Division hearing calendar for the next 90 days is published at www.vtcourts.gov/court-calendars. |
| Remote appearance | Remote hearings by Zoom are used across the Vermont courts. Your hearing notice says whether your hearing is remote or in person; you can notify the court in writing to appear remotely instead, or ask permission in writing to appear in person, so that the court and the other party receive it at least three days before the hearing. |
| Website | www.vtcourts.gov/court-locations/windsor-probate-division |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Woodstock, make a practical list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries and institutions. Vermont estate settlement turns quickly on the inventory and on how many banks, brokerages, insurers and agencies will ask for proof that you have authority.
That matters in Windsor County because Vermont issues two certificates of appointment at no charge with the letters of administration under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(b), in force since July 1, 2015, and extra certificates cost $5.00 each under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(c), in force since July 1, 2015. Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps you know which institutions to contact before you make a trip to the register's office.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Windsor County Probate Division at 12 The Green in Woodstock serves Windsor County. The courthouse is in Woodstock, not in the town of Windsor. The Probate and Civil Divisions share the Woodstock courthouse, while the Windsor Criminal Division is in White River Junction.
For a Vermont resident, file in the county where the decedent lived at death, under 4 V.S.A. § 311a(1). For a nonresident decedent who owned Vermont property, file where the property is situated, under 4 V.S.A. § 311a(2). Every Vermont county has its own Probate Division and no county shares one.
Windsor County communities include Andover, Baltimore, Barnard, Bethel, Bridgewater, Cavendish, Chester, Hartford, Hartland, Ludlow, Norwich, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, Springfield, Stockbridge, Weathersfield, West Windsor, Weston, Windsor and Woodstock.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct statewide Vermont Judiciary forms for the estate. A full estate commonly starts with form 700-00001, while a small estate uses form 700-00001SM, Petition to Open Small Estate, 09/2023, when the route is available under 14 V.S.A. § 1901(a), in force since July 1, 2019. Get a certified death certificate and the original will, if any.
- File with the Windsor County Probate Division because the decedent lived in Windsor County, under 4 V.S.A. § 311a(1). You may file in person or by drop box at 12 The Green in Woodstock, by mail to the same address, by email to [email protected] with the case number and court in the subject line when a case already exists, or through the statewide e-filing system if you choose or are required to e-file.
- Pay the graduated filing fee to Vermont Superior Court. The estate fee starts at $50.00 for an estate of $10,000 or less and $110.00 from $10,001 to $50,000, with all estate brackets set by 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a), in force since July 1, 2015. The court may waive part of the filing fee if it finds the applicant unable to pay under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(b), in force since July 1, 2015.
- Use consents and notice correctly. If all required people consent in writing, a will can be allowed without a hearing under 14 V.S.A. § 107(a). A small estate under 14 V.S.A. § 1901(b), in force since July 1, 2019, can be approved without further notice or hearing if no objection is filed.
- If the court schedules a hearing, read the hearing notice for the date, place and appearance method. The Vermont Judiciary publishes a live Windsor County Probate Division calendar covering the next 90 days. In the window published on September 1, 2026, probate hearings in Windsor County were scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays, in the Probate Courtroom in Woodstock. Check the calendar for the current schedule.
- If you need a different appearance method, act early. To appear remotely for an in-person hearing, notify the court in writing. To appear in person for a remote hearing, ask permission in writing. Either way, the court and the other party must receive it at least three days before the hearing.
- After appointment, use the authority documents correctly. Vermont issues letters of administration and two certificates of appointment at no charge under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(b), in force since July 1, 2015. Extra certificates cost $5.00 each under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(c), in force since July 1, 2015.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory, handle creditors and distributions, and start the Vermont tax work early. Vermont will not let you close the estate until the Department of Taxes issues a tax clearance on Form E-2A, and the Probate Division will not issue the final decree of distribution until it has the clearance under 32 V.S.A. § 7454 and 14 V.S.A. § 1069(5).
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Windsor County
The Windsor County Probate Division uses the Vermont Judiciary's statewide probate forms. There are no Windsor County-only forms and no local cover sheet: the same numbered 700 series is filed in all fourteen counties, it is free, and it is published on the Judiciary's court forms page and its Estates, Wills, and Trusts page.
| Need | Common Vermont forms |
|---|---|
| Open a full estate | 700-00001 Petition to Open Decedent's Estate, 700-00148 Notice of Appearance, 700-00002E List of Interested Persons for Estates, 700-00020 Estate Administration Bond and 700-00008 Certificate of Service. |
| Open a small estate | 700-00001SM Petition to Open Small Estate, 09/2023, 700-0002E List of Interested Persons for Estates, 700-00030 Inventory Schedule, 700-00402 Affidavit of Paid and Outstanding Funeral Expenses and Debts for Small Estate, 700-00020PESM Small Estate Administration Bond and 600-00264 Certificate of Service. This route is under 14 V.S.A. § 1901, in force since July 1, 2019. |
| Nonresident fiduciary | 700-00026 Appointment of Resident Agent, used when a nonresident fiduciary must designate a Vermont resident agent under 14 V.S.A. § 904. |
| Creditors | PE 32 Notice to Creditors or 700-00033 Motion to Waive Notice to Creditors. |
| Sell real estate | 700-00035 Motion for License to Sell or Convey Real Estate and PE 43 Report on License to Sell, Convey, Mortgage or Lease Real Estate or Personal Property. |
| Close the estate | 700-00152 Fiduciary's Closing Report and Discharge, 700-00153 Receipt, and for a small estate under 14 V.S.A. § 1901, in force since July 1, 2019, 700-00055 Report of Fiduciary of Small Estate. |
| Guide | 700-00302 Probating a Vermont Estate, 01/2026. |
If you e-file a fillable PDF, save it as a flat file first. Otherwise, the filing can fail and you may need to refile.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Windsor County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | File in Woodstock if the decedent lived in Windsor County. A jointly owned home may pass outside the estate, while the inventory and spouse notices determine what stays in the probate estate. The spouse's statewide rights include the elective share rules under 14 V.S.A. § 319. | Sunset helps identify accounts, policies and assets before the inventory is signed, so the spouse can separate probate assets from nonprobate transfers during estate settlement. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | You can file by mail to 12 The Green or by email to [email protected]. A small estate must fit 14 V.S.A. § 1901, in force since July 1, 2019. If the fiduciary is not a Vermont resident, the court has discretion and the fiduciary must appoint a Vermont resident agent under 14 V.S.A. § 904, usually on form 700-00026. | Sunset helps assemble the packet remotely, identify accounts before anyone books travel, and decide how many certificates of appointment to request. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | Real estate usually means a full estate rather than the small-estate route under 14 V.S.A. § 1901, in force since July 1, 2019. A sale needs a motion for a court license filed in Woodstock, and the petition for a license to sell real estate costs $100.00 under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(26), in force since July 1, 2015. | Sunset helps locate and value estate assets before the sale motion is filed, and can connect the family with a local probate attorney for the real estate work. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Access and Resource Center | Free information about Vermont state court processes, help with Vermont state court forms and information about ways to get the help of an attorney. Case types include formal and small estates under 14 V.S.A. § 1901, in force since July 1, 2019. Staff do not provide legal advice. | 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 at the Costello Courthouse, 32 Cherry Street, Burlington. |
| Vermont Judiciary Information Center | Use this statewide number if you do not know your case number or which court has the case. | 802-652-1900 |
| Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service | Referrals to Vermont attorneys who provide an initial 30-minute consultation for no more than $25. | 800-639-7036 or the online referral form linked from the Vermont Judiciary's finding legal help page. |
| Vermont Association for Justice Lawyer Referral Service | Searchable lawyer referral by practice area and proximity. The Judiciary notes that this service does not set a consultation rate. | Use the link from the Vermont Judiciary's finding legal help page. |
| VTLawHelp.org | Self-help page titled Going Through Probate After Someone Died. | vtlawhelp.org/going-through-probate |
| Vermont Department of Taxes | Handles the estate tax forms and the tax clearance needed before the Probate Division issues the final decree of distribution under 32 V.S.A. § 7454. | tax.vermont.gov |
When to hire an attorney
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across institutions so families can see what the estate may own before they file in Woodstock, request certificates of appointment and start the inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps turn what you know into an organized estate settlement packet using the Vermont Judiciary's statewide forms, including the forms filed with the Windsor County Probate Division.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate has a house to sell, a dispute, tax clearance issues under 32 V.S.A. § 7454, or an out-of-state fiduciary question, Sunset can help you find a local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset is built to reduce the administrative burden of estate settlement, from asset discovery through the probate packet and attorney connection.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Windsor County, Vermont?
File with the Windsor County Probate Division at 12 The Green, Woodstock, VT 05091. If the decedent lived in Windsor County, venue is in the county where the decedent lived at death under 4 V.S.A. § 311a(1). If the decedent was not a Vermont resident but owned Vermont property in Windsor County, venue can be based on where that property is situated under 4 V.S.A. § 311a(2).
Is the Windsor County Probate Division in the town of Windsor?
No. The Windsor County Probate Division is in Woodstock at 12 The Green. The town of Windsor is a separate community inside Windsor County.
What are the counter hours at the Windsor County Probate Division?
The Windsor Probate Division is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except observed holidays. It is closed the second Friday of each month from 8:00 a.m. to noon for in service training.
Can I file by mail or email instead of driving to Woodstock?
Yes. You may mail filings to 12 The Green, Woodstock, VT 05091, or email them to [email protected]. If a case already exists, include the case number and court in the subject line. Self-represented filers may also use e-filing but are not required to; Vermont is moving from Odyssey File & Serve to eFileVT, also called eFile & Serve.
Can I look up a Windsor County probate case online?
A member of the public cannot remotely browse Windsor County probate case information through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal. Anonymous remote access is limited to Civil Division and Judicial Bureau case summaries, while probate case information is available to the general public only at courthouse public-access terminals. A party who registers and receives elevated access can view their own probate case, hearings and filed documents through portal.vtcourts.gov.
When does the Windsor County Probate Division hold hearings?
The Vermont Judiciary publishes a live Windsor County Probate Division calendar covering the next 90 days. In the window published on September 1, 2026, probate hearings in Windsor County were scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays, in the Probate Courtroom in Woodstock. Check the calendar for the current schedule.
Do I have to appear in person, or can I appear remotely?
Your hearing notice tells you whether the hearing is remote by Zoom or in person. If your hearing is in person and you want to appear remotely, notify the court in writing. If your hearing is remote and you want to appear in person, ask permission in writing. The court and the other party must receive the writing at least three days before the hearing.
Are there Windsor County forms for probate?
No. The Windsor County Probate Division uses the Vermont Judiciary's statewide probate forms. There is no Windsor County-only cover sheet. The same numbered 700 series forms are used across Vermont, including form 700-00001SM, Petition to Open Small Estate, 09/2023, for the small estate route under 14 V.S.A. § 1901, in force since July 1, 2019.
What does it cost to open an estate in Windsor County?
The estate filing fee is statewide and graduated. It is $50.00 for an estate of $10,000 or less, $110.00 from $10,001 to $50,000, and rises to $3,250.00 above $10,000,000, all under 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a), in force since July 1, 2015. Do not treat a single number as the filing fee for every estate.
I live out of state and my parent lived in Windsor County. Do I have to travel to Woodstock?
Not necessarily. You can file by mail or email, and a self-represented filer may use e-filing if they choose. If you serve as a nonresident fiduciary, Vermont requires a resident agent and gives the court discretion over the appointment under 14 V.S.A. § 904. Sunset can help organize the filing packet before you decide whether travel is necessary.
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.