Domestic Violence Protection Order - Vermont
Before you use this: This is a proposed final court order for a judge to review and sign after notice and a hearing. The Court Administrator provides form orders under 15 V.S.A. § 1103(h); use the court's current form when the court directs.
VERMONT SUPERIOR COURT — FAMILY DIVISION
FINAL RELIEF FROM ABUSE ORDER
| Party | Role |
|---|---|
| [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME] | Plaintiff |
| v. | |
| [DEFENDANT FULL NAME] | Defendant |
County: [COUNTY]
Docket number: [DOCKET NUMBER]
Petition filed: [__/__/____]
Hearing held: [__/__/____]
Order issued: [__/__/____] at [TIME] [AM/PM]
Order expires: [__/__/____] at [TIME] [AM/PM]
1. Findings
After notice to Defendant and a hearing, the Court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that:
- Plaintiff and Defendant are family or household members within 15 V.S.A. chapter 21 because [RELATIONSHIP FACTS].
- Defendant abused Plaintiff [and/or the following child or children: NAMES] by [SPECIFIC ACTS AND DATES].
-
☐ There is a danger of further abuse, shown by [FACTS].
☐ Defendant is under Department of Corrections supervision and has a conviction within 15 V.S.A. § 1103(c)(1)(B), as shown by [CONVICTION AND SUPERVISION FACTS]. -
The restrictions selected below are necessary to protect Plaintiff [and/or the named children] from abuse. [ADDITIONAL FINDINGS OR REFERENCE TO ORAL FINDINGS ON RECORD].
2. Protection and contact
Defendant is ordered:
- Not to abuse Plaintiff or the following protected children: [NAMES, OR NONE].
- Not to contact Plaintiff [or protected children: NAMES] directly, indirectly, or through another person for the purpose of making contact, including by telephone, writing, email, text, or other electronic communication.
- To remain at least [DISTANCE] from Plaintiff [and protected children: NAMES], Plaintiff's residence at [ADDRESS OR CONFIDENTIAL ADDRESS DESIGNATION], and these designated locations: [LOCATIONS].
- [SPECIFIC EXCEPTION, IF ANY, INCLUDING THE PERSON, METHOD, PURPOSE, AND TIME; OTHERWISE: NONE]. An exception applies only as written here.
3. Additional relief selected by the Court
Only checked provisions are ordered. Strike any unchecked text in the signed order.
☐ Residence. Defendant shall immediately vacate [RESIDENCE], and Plaintiff has sole possession of that residence. [PROPERTY RETRIEVAL DIRECTIONS, IF ORDERED].
☐ Temporary parental rights and responsibilities. [CHILD NAME]: [SPECIFIC AWARD AND TERMS].
☐ Parent-child contact. Defendant's contact with [CHILD NAME] shall occur only as follows: [DAYS, TIMES, LOCATION, SUPERVISION, EXCHANGE AND COMMUNICATION TERMS].
☐ Plaintiff's living expenses. On the finding that Defendant has a duty to support Plaintiff, Defendant shall pay $[AMOUNT] [FREQUENCY] from [DATE] through [DATE], a period no longer than three months.
☐ Temporary child support. On the finding that Defendant has a duty to support [CHILD NAME], Defendant shall pay $[AMOUNT] [FREQUENCY] from [DATE] through [DATE], a period no longer than three months, subject to any lawful extension if this proceeding is consolidated with a legal separation, divorce, or parentage action.
☐ Animal. Possession, care, and control of [ANIMAL] is awarded to [PERSON] on these terms: [TERMS].
☐ Personal documents. Defendant shall return to Plaintiff [DOCUMENTS] by [DATE AND METHOD].
☐ Vehicle. On the finding that [OWNERSHIP, PAYMENT, POSSESSION, OR RESTRICTED-USE FACT], Plaintiff has possession of [VEHICLE] from [DATE] through [DATE].
4. Duration, service, and transmission
This Order remains in force for the fixed period stated above unless the Court modifies or extends it. The Court may extend it on Plaintiff's motion without a finding of new abuse during the order's term. The Court may modify it on either party's motion and a showing of a substantial change in circumstance.
The issuing Court shall promptly transmit this Order to a law enforcement agency for service. The serving agency shall serve it at the earliest possible time in a manner calculated to protect Plaintiff, without advance notice to Defendant, and file a return stating the date, time, and place of personal delivery. If Defendant was notified on the record at the hearing that this Order issued, the clerk shall mail a copy to Defendant at the last known address. The Court shall transmit a copy to the Department of Public Safety protection order database.
VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER IS A CRIME SUBJECT TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OR A FINE, OR BOTH, AND MAY ALSO BE PROSECUTED AS CRIMINAL CONTEMPT PUNISHABLE BY FINE OR IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH.
Issued by the Vermont Superior Court, Family Division, at [CITY], [COUNTY] County, Vermont, on [__/__/____] at [TIME] [AM/PM].
Judge signature: ______________________________
Judge printed name: [JUDGE NAME]
About this template
- Last updated
- October 21, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 21, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Vermont
- Category
- Family Law
Legal authority
- 15 V.S.A. § 1101 (abuse and household-member definitions)
- 15 V.S.A. § 1102 (jurisdiction and venue)
- 15 V.S.A. § 1103 (final relief from abuse order)
- 15 V.S.A. § 1105 (service)
- 15 V.S.A. § 1107 (protection order database)
- 15 V.S.A. § 1108 (enforcement)
Family law covers the paperwork that shapes divorce, custody, child support, adoption, guardianship, and other family matters. These filings are emotional and high-stakes, and they also have to meet strict procedural rules for service, financial disclosure, and parenting plans. Clean, accurate paperwork keeps the focus on getting a workable outcome for the family instead of getting derailed by technical problems that delay hearings or force amended filings.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 21, 2026.
15 V.S.A. § 1101(3) (checked October 21, 2026): "Household members means persons who, for any period of time, are living or have lived together, are sharing or have shared occupancy of a dwelling, are engaged in or have engaged in a sexual relationship, or minors or adults who are dating or who have dated."
15 V.S.A. § 1102(a) (checked October 21, 2026): "The Family Division of the Superior Court shall have jurisdiction over proceedings under this chapter."
15 V.S.A. § 1103(b) (checked October 21, 2026): "Except as provided in section 1104 of this title, the court shall grant relief only after notice to the defendant and a hearing."
15 V.S.A. § 1103(c)(1) (checked October 21, 2026): "The court shall make such orders as it deems necessary to protect the plaintiff or the children, or both, if the court finds that the defendant has abused the plaintiff"
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