Rules of civil procedure and service of process requirements for Vermont.
Last updated October 22, 2026
Vermont's rules for serving a summons and complaint are in the Vermont Rules of Civil Procedure (V.R.C.P.), mainly Rule 4. Vermont doesn't license process servers. Instead, service is made by sheriffs, constables and others authorized by law, or by a person a judge specially appoints.
The rules changed recently. Since January 1, 2026, an amended Rule 4(c) makes special appointments easier to get. On January 1, 2027, an amended Rule 55(a) adds a requirement for default judgments based on out-of-state service.
Disclaimer: Laws change, and this page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Check the current rules through the Vermont Judiciary or ask an attorney before relying on it.
Vermont process servers
Process-serving software: ServeManager
ServeManager is process-serving software used by agencies across Vermont. It tracks every attempt with date, time, GPS and photos, and generates affidavits of service from the job, so you can attach each case's appointment order to the job and keep it with your records.
No. Vermont has no license or registration for process servers. Under V.R.C.P. 4(c), service is made by:
Rule 4(c) was amended effective January 1, 2026. Special appointments must now be granted "freely and promptly on motion" when service by the appointee would be more economical or efficient than service by an officer. The old standard, which required substantial savings in travel fees, is gone. Other parties don't need to be notified of the motion.
The motion should explain the appointee's qualifications so the judge can decide whether they're suitable and reliable. The appointee must serve a copy of the appointment order along with the summons and complaint, so the person served can see the service is valid. The Reporter's Notes say the change responds to delays caused by limited availability of sheriffs and other officers.
The plaintiff or plaintiff's attorney can mail papers themselves when the rules allow service by mail or a request to waive service. Subpoenas follow Rule 45.
For a step-by-step guide, see Become a Process Server in Vermont.
The summons and complaint must be served together.
The server delivers a copy of the summons and complaint to the defendant personally, or to an agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service. If the agent is one named by statute, any further notice the statute requires must also be given.
The papers can be left at the defendant's dwelling house or usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and discretion who lives there.
A person whose contacts with Vermont support jurisdiction can be served outside the state in the same way as in Vermont, or in any way allowed by the law of the state where they're served. The server files an affidavit stating the time, manner and place of service.
Starting January 1, 2027, a party asking for a default judgment based on service under another state's law must cite the statute or rule from that state that allows the method used (V.R.C.P. 55(a)).
Mail service is limited. When personal service can't be made with due diligence, Rule 4(f) allows registered or certified mail, restricted delivery, return receipt requested, in certain cases, such as when the defendant has property in Vermont affected by the case or is a defendant in a divorce or annulment. The plaintiff files an affidavit describing the attempts at personal service along with the return receipt.
If service can't be made another way with due diligence, the court can order publication on a motion supported by affidavit. The order is published once a week, at least seven days apart, for two or more successive weeks, and a copy is mailed to the defendant if their address is known. Service is complete on the 21st day after the first publication. See What is service by publication?
The plaintiff can mail the defendant a notice and request to waive service, giving at least 30 days to return it (60 days if the defendant is outside the United States). A defendant who waives gets 60 days from the date the request was sent to answer (90 if outside the United States). A defendant in the United States who refuses without good cause can be charged the cost of service.
Under V.R.C.P. 4(d):
Anyone 18 or older who isn't a party can serve a subpoena. The server delivers a copy to the person named. If attendance is required, the server must also tender fees for one day's attendance and the mileage allowed by law. A subpoena can be served anywhere in Vermont. When proof is needed, the server files a certified statement of the date and manner of service and the names of the people served (V.R.C.P. 45).
The server makes proof of service on the original process, or on a paper attached to it, and returns it to the plaintiff's attorney with their fees and mileage noted. The plaintiff's attorney files the proof with the court within the time the defendant has to respond. A server other than a sheriff, deputy sheriff or constable must make proof by affidavit.
The server also writes the date of service on the copy left with the defendant. Failing to file proof, or to write the date, doesn't make the service invalid.
Find agencies across the state in our Vermont process server directory.
This page is a general overview of Vermont law, not legal advice. Laws change. Check the current rules or talk to an attorney about your case.
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