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Free · general informationVermont
What to do when someone dies in Vermont
The first things Vermont’s own law asks for after a death, quoted word for word, then the pages for everything that follows, in the order it usually comes. Nothing here decides what a particular family must do. That belongs to the office named, the court, or an attorney in Vermont.
Every fact dated, in the official words
Each state’s own law
Every quotation checked October 24, 2026
Your planner for Vermont is ready.US$39 once, printed at home.
Pages taken from the planner, by email: who to phone first, and a blank records sheet.
Every quotation on this page is the official body’s own words, as they stood on the day we read them. The date is beside each one.
§1The report of death: who submits it, how soon, and its registration
Registering the death comes first. These are Vermont’s own words on who files the record, and how soon.
Within 24 hours after a death, the licensed health care professional who last attended a deceased person shall submit the medical portion of a report of death in a manner prescribed by the State Registrar.
The licensed health care professional may delegate to the funeral director or the person in charge of the body, with that individual’s consent, the responsibility of completing the nonmedical portion of the report of death.
The State Registrar shall register the report of death in the Statewide Registration System upon receipt of the required information.
Vermont · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 18 V.S.A. §5202(a)
§2How soon the death certificate is made available to the family, or to whoever has charge of the body
Within 24 hours after death, the death certificate shall be made available upon request to the family of the deceased, if any, or the undertaker or person who has charge of the body.
Vermont · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 18 V.S.A. §5207
§3What the person holding the will must do, how soon, and the contempt that can follow a refusal
The will has its own rules. These are Vermont’s own words on who brings it to the court after a death, and what the court does with it.
If a person has the custody of a will, within 30 days after learning of the death of the testator, the custodian shall deliver the will to the Probate Division of the Superior Court where venue lies or to the executor named in the will.
A person who intentionally refuses or fails to deliver a will after being ordered to do so by the court in a proceeding brought for the purpose of compelling delivery may be subject to proceedings for civil contempt under 12 V.S.A. § 122.
Vermont · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 14 V.S.A. §§103, 106
§4Depositing a will with the Probate Division for safekeeping, and who may have it back during life
A will may be deposited for safekeeping in the Probate Division of the Superior Court for the district in which the testator resides on payment to the court of the applicable fee required by 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(18).
During the life of the testator, that will shall be delivered only to the testator or in accordance with the testator’s order in writing duly acknowledged or otherwise proved to the satisfaction of the court
Vermont · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 14 V.S.A. §2
Within 24 hours after a death, the licensed health care professional who last attended a deceased person shall submit the medical portion of a report of death in a manner prescribed by the State Registrar.
The licensed health care professional may delegate to the funeral director or the person in charge of the body, with that individual’s consent, the responsibility of completing the nonmedical portion of the report of death.
The State Registrar shall register the report of death in the Statewide Registration System upon receipt of the required information.
Vermont · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 18 V.S.A. §5202(a)
Within 24 hours after death, the death certificate shall be made available upon request to the family of the deceased, if any, or the undertaker or person who has charge of the body.
Vermont · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 18 V.S.A. §5207
If a person has the custody of a will, within 30 days after learning of the death of the testator, the custodian shall deliver the will to the Probate Division of the Superior Court where venue lies or to the executor named in the will.
A person who intentionally refuses or fails to deliver a will after being ordered to do so by the court in a proceeding brought for the purpose of compelling delivery may be subject to proceedings for civil contempt under 12 V.S.A. § 122.
Vermont · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 14 V.S.A. §§103, 106
A will may be deposited for safekeeping in the Probate Division of the Superior Court for the district in which the testator resides on payment to the court of the applicable fee required by 32 V.S.A. § 1434(a)(18).
During the life of the testator, that will shall be delivered only to the testator or in accordance with the testator’s order in writing duly acknowledged or otherwise proved to the satisfaction of the court
Vermont · general information · checked October 24, 2026 · 14 V.S.A. §2
