Vermont has a strong commitment to transparency and accountability in government, and as such, has laws in place to ensure that the public has access to government records. These laws are known as public records laws, and they apply to all levels of government in Vermont, including state agencies, municipalities, and school districts.
Under Vermont's public records laws, any person has the right to request access to government records. This includes both written records, such as documents, emails, and reports, as well as electronic records, such as audio or video recordings. There are some exceptions to this rule, however, such as records that contain confidential or privileged information, or records that are part of ongoing law enforcement investigations.
Birth records in Vermont are maintained by the Department of Health. These records contain information about an individual's birth, including the full name of the person, the date and place of birth, and the names of the parents. Noncertified birth records are considered public records and are available to anyone who requests them. To obtain a certified or noncertified copy of a birth certificate, individuals can visit the Vital Records Unit in person, send a request through the mail or order online. There is a fee for each copy of a birth record that is requested. The address to mail the application to is:
Vital Records Office
PO Box 70
Burlington, VT 05402
Death records in Vermont are maintained by the Department of Health, Vital Records Unit. These records contain information about an individual's death, including the full name of the person, the date and place of death, and the cause of death. Noncertified death records are considered public records and are available to anyone who requests them. To obtain a certified or noncertified copy of a death certificate, individuals can visit the Vital Records Unit in person, send a request through the mail or order online. There is a fee for each copy of a death record that is requested.
Marriage records in Vermont are maintained by the Department of Health and by the town or city clerk in the town or city where the marriage took place. These records contain information about a marriage, including the full names of the couple, the date of the marriage, and the names of the officiant and witnesses. Noncertified marriage records are considered public records and are available to anyone who requests them. To obtain a certified or uncertified copy of a marriage certificate, individuals can visit the town or city clerk's office in person or send a request through the mail. They can also order them online through the Department of Health. There is a fee for each copy of a marriage record that is requested.
Divorce records in Vermont are maintained by the Vermont Superior Court where the divorce was granted. These records contain information about a divorce, including the full names of the couple, the date of the divorce, and the terms of the divorce, such as child custody and support arrangements. Divorce records are considered public records and are available to anyone who requests them. To obtain a certified copy of a divorce record, individuals can visit the Vermont Superior Court in person or send a request through the mail. They can also order them online through the Department of Health. There is a fee for each copy of a divorce record that is requested.
Adoption records can be accessed at the Vermont Voluntary Adoption Registry. Information available are typical non-identifying information, identifying information of birth family, and a copy of the original birth certificate. Any birth family member, adoptee, guardian of adoptee or descendants of a deceased adoptee can request non-identifying information. Any birth family or adult aged (18) adoptee can request identifying information. All copies of the original birth certificate require either a letter from the Registry or a court order from the probate court.
Vermont Adoption Registry
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, VT 05671-2401
Criminal records in Vermont are maintained by the Vermont Criminal Information Center (VCIC). These records contain information about criminal offenses that have been committed in Vermont, including the name of the offender, the date of the offense, and the nature of the offense. Criminal records are considered public records and are available to anyone who requests them. To obtain a copy of a criminal record, individuals can visit the VCIC in person or send a request through the mail. There is a fee for each copy of a criminal record that is requested.
Court records in Vermont are maintained by the Vermont Judicial Bureau, which is the state's trial court. These records contain information about court cases that have been heard in Vermont, including the names of the parties involved, the date of the court case, and the outcome of the case. Court records are considered public records and are available to anyone who requests them. To obtain a copy of a court record, individuals can visit the Vermont Judicial Bureau in person or send a request through the mail. There is a fee for each copy of a court record that is requested.
Property records in Vermont are maintained by the Vermont Department of Taxes, Property Valuation and Review Division. These records contain information about real estate properties in Vermont, including the owner's name, the location of the property, and the value of the property.
Vermont has a strong commitment to transparency and accountability in government, and has a number of laws and policies in place to ensure that the public has access to information about the actions and decisions of their government. These laws and policies help to build trust and confidence in the government, and ensure that the government is responsive to the needs and interests of all citizens.