Vermont Small Claims Fee Waiver: Form 600-00228 and Eligibility

Filing a counterclaim, appealing a judgment, or reopening a default in Vermont small claims court all come with fees — $25 to $120 depending on the action. If you cannot afford those fees, Form 600-00228 lets you apply to have them waived entirely.

What Gets Waived

An approved fee waiver covers all state-assessed court fees for your case: counterclaim filing fees ($25 or $35), post-judgment motion fees ($65), appeal fees ($120), and sheriff service costs. It also covers the $14 Odyssey File & Serve e-filing fee. OFS lists separate processing charges of 2.89% for credit cards or $1.00 for eCheck.

The waiver does not cover private costs like photocopying, postage, or travel to the courthouse. It covers what the court charges — not what the process costs you out of pocket.

Who Qualifies

The application asks for household income, public assistance enrollment, and monthly expenses. The clerk reviews that financial information when considering the application.

The form lists TANF (Reach Up in Vermont), SSI, and General Assistance as public assistance. Social Security is listed separately as income. Complete the financial questions that apply to you; the clerk reviews the application.

How to Apply

Download Form 600-00228 (Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs) from the Vermont Judiciary Forms Library or pick one up at the courthouse. Complete the sections that apply, including household size, income sources, monthly expenses, and any public assistance you receive. If you receive public assistance, the form says to skip to the signature section.

Submit the form to the Civil Division clerk in the county where your case is filed. Submit it alongside the filing it applies to, such as your counterclaim or Notice of Appeal. The clerk reviews the application and approves or denies the waiver.

If denied, you still owe the original fee. Contact the clerk promptly about paying it and any effect on the filing deadline.

When to File

File the fee waiver application at the same time as the action that triggers the fee. If you are filing a counterclaim with your Answer, submit Form 600-00228 alongside it. If you are appealing a judgment, include the waiver application with your Notice of Appeal (Form 100-00291).

Do not let a fee prevent you from meeting a deadline. The 30-day appeal window and the 90-day window for motions to re-open are strict. File the waiver application with the underlying motion before the deadline. If the waiver is denied, contact the clerk about paying the fee; do not assume a pending waiver automatically extends the deadline.

Filing Your Answer Is Free

One important note: there is no fee to file your initial Answer (Form 100-00126) as a defendant. You only need a fee waiver if you are filing a counterclaim, a post-judgment motion, or an appeal. The basic act of responding to a small claims complaint costs nothing.

For step-by-step help with the entire response process, including when fee waivers apply and how to handle counterclaims and appeals, the Responding to a Small Claims Case in Vermont guide covers every fee and form in the defendant's workflow.

See more Vermont guides →