Vermont Small Claims Electronic Filing: eFileVT, Email, and Online Options
Three Ways to File Without Going to the Courthouse
Vermont gives self-represented small claims filers three options besides walking into the courthouse: the eFileVT platform, direct email to the county clerk, and regular mail. Each works, but the costs and procedures are different.
eFileVT (Tyler eFile & Serve)
The Vermont Judiciary's electronic filing platform is powered by Tyler Technologies' eFile & Serve system. Licensed attorneys and government agencies are required to use it, but pro se litigants can choose to.
To file through eFileVT, you register for an account, upload your completed Form 100-00257 (Small Claims Complaint) as a flattened PDF, pay the filing fee electronically, and submit. The system generates a transmission receipt, but your case isn't officially docketed until the clerk reviews and accepts the filing.
The catch is cost. On top of the standard filing fee ($65 for claims $1,000 or less, $90 for claims over $1,000), eFileVT charges a $14 per-case system fee. Credit card payments add a 2.89% processing fee; eCheck payments cost $1.00. For a $90 filing, the total through eFileVT runs about $107 with card fees.
One critical requirement: all fillable PDFs must be "flattened" before upload. Open the completed form, select Print, choose "Print to PDF," and save the output. The clerk rejects unflattened PDFs, and the filing date relates back only if you correct and resubmit within the clerk's re-submission window.
Email Filing to the County Clerk
This is the cheaper electronic option. Instead of going through eFileVT, you email your completed documents directly to the Civil Division clerk in the county where you're filing. There's no system fee — you pay only the standard filing fee.
The Judiciary has specific rules for email filings:
- Send to the county's official Civil Division email — not to individual judges or staff
- Subject line format: Court Division, Unit Name, Case Number (if assigned), and Document Title
- Attachments must be flattened PDFs — same requirement as eFileVT
- Signatures can be a scanned physical signature, an electronic signature image, or a typed
/s/ Full Legal Name
Email filing works well for small claims because the forms are straightforward. You fill out Form 100-00257 on your computer, flatten the PDF, and send it. The case is formally commenced only when the clerk accepts the filing and receives the filing fee or fee-waiver application. Follow the clerk's instructions for payment.
The filing date is the date the clerk accepts the submission, not the date you hit send. If the clerk rejects your documents, the filing date relates back only if you correct and resubmit within the clerk's re-submission window.
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Paper Mail
Still an option and still free of system fees. Mail your completed forms to the Civil Division Clerk in the target county with a check or money order for the filing fee. The case is formally commenced when the clerk accepts the package and receives the filing fee or fee-waiver application.
Mail filing adds postal transit time on both ends, but it avoids the eFileVT system fee and doesn't require flattening PDFs (you can print, sign, and mail physical copies).
Which Option to Choose
| Method | Filing Fee | Extra Fees | What to expect | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eFileVT | $65–$90 | $14 + card/check fee | Online submission; clerk review required | Filers comfortable with the platform |
| Email to clerk | $65–$90 | None | Clerk review and acceptance required | Most pro se filers |
| Paper mail | $65–$90 | Postage only | Includes postal transit; clerk acceptance required | Filers without reliable internet |
For most self-represented filers, email filing hits the best balance of convenience and cost. You avoid the $14 system fee, you don't need to learn the eFileVT interface, and you get an email confirmation.
After Filing
Regardless of how you file, the next steps are the same: after accepting the complaint and receiving the fee or fee-waiver application, the clerk assigns a docket number and issues the summons. Within seven days of receiving the signed summons, mail the complaint, summons, and Defendant Instruction Form (100-00259) to the defendant by first-class mail, then file Form 100-00260.
The Vermont Small Claims Filing Guide covers every filing channel with step-by-step instructions, including the exact email addresses for each county clerk's office and a checklist for assembling your initial filing packet.
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