15 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 1204

Section 1204(f) places civil-union partners on equal footing with spouses concerning children, including a recognized child's right to inherit from a partner who dies intestate.

Whether the Defense of Marriage Act Precludes the Nonbiological Child of a Member of a Vermont Civil Union From Qualifying for Child's Insurance Benefits Under the Social Security Act · filed 2007-10-16(f)

Insofar as Vermont law further seeks to place partners in a civil union on equal footing with married couples with respect to children, see id. § 1204(f), we believe that Vermont courts similarly would conclude that the property of a partner in a civil union who dies intestate would descend on the same terms as it would for a married person, and in particular, would go to those who would be recognized as his or her children under Vermont law. Accordingly, as applied here, we conclude that Vermont law would recognize Elijah as Karen’s child for purposes of his right to inherit, should she die intestate.

Civil-union parties have the same legal rights and responsibilities as married spouses, so a parent's sexual orientation is irrelevant to a custody determination.

Miller-Jenkins v. Miller-Jenkins · filed 2010-10-29(a)

The State of Vermont has determined that same-sex couples have the same rights and responsibilities as opposite-sex couples—thus, the sexual orientation of the parents is irrelevant in a custody determination.

Section 1204(a) gives civil-union parties the same legal benefits, protections, and responsibilities as married spouses.

Neyman, F. v. Buckley, F. · filed 2016-12-28(a)

The Vermont statute specifically grants parties to a civil union all the same “benefits, protections and responsibilities under law” as are conferred to “spouses in a marriage.”

Section 1204 gives civil-union parties access to divorce, property division, and maintenance as part of their spousal rights.

Sherman v. Rouse · filed 2020-03-02(d)

As we indicated above, under Vermont law, parties to a civil union share a “spousal relationship” that entitles them to “all the same benefits, protections, and responsibilities under law . . . as are granted to spouses in a civil marriage[,]” which includes the right to a divorce, property division, and “maintenance.” 15 V.S.A. § 1204.

Section 1204(a) governs the rights and responsibilities of civil-union parties but does not import marriage eligibility requirements into civil unions.

Miller-Jenkins v. Miller-Jenkins · filed 2006-08-04(a)

Section 1204 plainly addresses the responsibilities of persons who have entered into a civil union and not the eligibility for that status. ... These provisions would be superfluous if § 1204 generally made chapter 1 applicable to civil unions. Accordingly, there is no indication that the Legislature intended to apply chapter 1 generally to civil unions or to apply specific sections beyond those explicitly adopted.