U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Vermont
3 judges profiled from their own signed orders: how each rules on motions, with the orders quoted. Court-wide standing orders ↓
Heather Z. Cooper
Bankruptcy judge
Colleen A. BrownRetired 2022
Bankruptcy judge
Francis G. ConradRetired
Bankruptcy judge
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Vermont applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 11, 2026). Courts revise these, so confirm the current version before you file. The court's local rules ↗
- Standing Order 26-02: Chapter 13 confirmation hearing scheduling ↗
- Standing Order 26-01: sealed document access and service ↗
- Standing Order 21-05: remote hearing eligibility and process ↗
Contacting chambers
To appear by Zoomgov, email the courtroom deputy by 10 a.m. the day before the hearing with the hearing and screen name.
“Anyone who wishes to appear at a hearing via Zoomgov must notify the courtroom deputy by email, at [email protected], not later than 10 a.m. the day before the hearing, specifying at which hearing(s) they intend to appear and by what screen name.”
Conferences
The court schedules Chapter 13 confirmation hearings at the location closest to the debtor’s residence.
“The Court schedules confirmation hearings in the location closest to the debtor’s residence.”
Conferences
If the meeting of creditors is less than 20 or more than 45 days before the next local Chapter 13 confirmation hearing, the hearing is held on the next local confirmation date.
“in any case where the meeting of creditors is held less than 20 days or more than 45 days before the next local confirmation hearing, the confirmation hearing will be held on the next local confirmation hearing date.”
Conferences
Remote appearances are generally limited to observing, placing consent or scheduling agreements on the record, short hearings, and specified status hearings.
“Appearance at a remote hearing is limited to instances in which: (i) a party seeks only to observe; or (ii) a party’s appearance is necessary only to place on the record a consent or a scheduling agreement; or (iii) the total length of the hearing is not reasonably expected to exceed 15 minutes; or (iv) the hearing is a status hearing in a chapter 7, 12 or 13 case;”
Sealing
Serve sealed documents by appropriate means outside CM/ECF; the court sends sealed documents by first class mail.
“Parties shall serve sealed documents by other appropriate means as provided by the Federal Rules of Procedure. The Court will serve sealed documents in paper form by first class mail;”
Sealing
A party entitled to access a sealed document must contact the clerk’s office for a paper copy.
“a party with the right to access a sealed document in a case who requires a copy of a sealed document will have to contact the clerk's office directly to request a paper copy.”
Trial
Without specific court authorization, a party cannot appear remotely for a confirmation hearing, trial, evidentiary matter, testimony, or a hearing expected to exceed 15 minutes.
“Unless specifically authorized by the Court, remote hearings may not be used for: (i) chapter 11, 12 or 13 confirmation hearings; (ii) trial or evidentiary matters, or any hearing at which testimony is to be presented; or (iii) hearings the parties reasonably expect to exceed 15 minutes.”