How Long Does a Divorce Take in Vermont?

An uncontested divorce in Vermont takes roughly 3–6 months. A contested case can stretch to 12–18 months or longer. The difference isn't just about conflict — Vermont has built-in waiting periods that set a hard floor on how fast any divorce can move.

The Waiting Periods That Set Your Timeline

Vermont imposes three separate timing requirements that can run concurrently or stack up:

Six-month separation period. For a no-fault divorce under 15 V.S.A. § 551(7), you must show that you and your spouse have been living separate and apart for at least six consecutive months. This separation can happen under the same roof — sleeping in separate rooms and maintaining separate households — but you need to be able to demonstrate it to a judge.

One-year residency requirement. Either spouse must have lived in Vermont continuously for one full year before the court can issue a final decree. You can file after six months of residency, but the decree can't come down until the one-year mark is hit.

Ninety-day nisi period. After the judge signs the divorce decree, a mandatory 90-day cooling-off period begins. You remain legally married during this time. Both parties can agree to shorten or waive it, but doing so can affect health insurance eligibility and tax filing status.

Uncontested (Stipulated) Timeline

When both spouses agree on all terms before filing:

If you file as stipulated, can waive the final hearing (no children), and both spouses already meet the residency and separation requirements, you're looking at the shorter end of that range.

Contested Timeline

When spouses disagree on property, support, custody, or any other issue:

Contested cases can exceed 18 months when custody disputes require guardian ad litem reports, when assets are complex enough to need appraisals, or when one party is uncooperative with discovery.

What Speeds Things Up

• Agree on terms before filing. The single biggest accelerator. Drops your fee from $295 to $90 and can cut 6–12 months off the timeline.
• Have your separation period already running. The six-month separation clock can tick before you file. If you've already been separated for six months when you submit your complaint, that waiting period is already satisfied.
• Start residency early. If you recently moved to Vermont, the one-year residency requirement may be your longest wait. File at the six-month mark so the case progresses while you accumulate the remaining six months.
• Waive the final hearing. Available for stipulated cases without minor children. Eliminates the court scheduling bottleneck.

What Slows Things Down

• Children. Cases with minor children require a final hearing (no waiver), a COPE parenting class, and potentially a guardian ad litem investigation for contested custody.
• Incomplete financial disclosures. Both parties must file verified financial affidavits. If one party delays, the court can issue orders but the case stalls.
• Default proceedings. If your spouse doesn't respond within 21 days, you can seek a default judgment — but the default process adds its own timeline.
• Court capacity. Vermont's Family Division courts vary by county. Some schedule hearings within weeks; others have months-long backlogs.

The Nisi Period Decision

The 90-day nisi period is often the last bottleneck. Waiving it gets you to "officially divorced" faster, but consider:

• Health insurance through your spouse's employer typically terminates on the date of final divorce, not the decree date. Keeping the nisi period gives you 90 more days of coverage.
• Federal tax filing status is determined by your marital status on December 31. If your decree enters nisi in October, staying married through December 31 might let you file jointly one more year.

For a complete walkthrough of every deadline and waiting period — with a timeline tracker worksheet — see the Vermont Divorce Filing Process Guide.

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