Vermont COPE Class: What to Know About the Mandatory Divorce Parenting Seminar

If you're divorcing or separating in Vermont with minor children, both parents must complete the Coping with Separation and Divorce (COPE) seminar. This isn't optional — the court generally won't schedule your final hearing until both parents have filed completion certificates.

What the COPE Class Covers

The COPE seminar is a four-hour educational workshop administered by the University of Vermont Extension and other court-certified providers. The curriculum covers:

• How parental separation affects children at different developmental stages
• Strategies for maintaining healthy parent-child relationships during transitions
• How to protect children from adult conflict
• Improving co-parenting communication
• Overview of the legal custody process and family resources

This isn't therapy or mediation. You and your co-parent don't need to attend together — in fact, most parents attend separate sessions.

Deadlines and Registration

The court typically orders completion within 60 days of case initiation. Some judges set specific deadlines at the first status conference. Don't wait — register as soon as you file.

Sessions are offered throughout the state, including online options. The UVM Extension website lists available dates and locations.

Cost and Fee Waivers

The standard registration fee is $79 per parent. If that's a financial burden, Vermont offers two forms of relief:

Sliding-scale reduction: File the "Helping Children Cope with Divorce Program — Application for Reduced Fee" with your court clerk. Based on your income, the court may reduce the fee to $30 or $15.

Full fee waiver: Available if you receive public assistance or have household income below 150% of the federal poverty level. File a fee waiver application (Form 600-00228) along with your COPE registration.

What Happens If You Don't Complete It

The court takes the COPE requirement seriously. Consequences of non-completion can include:

• Your final hearing getting postponed indefinitely
• The judge drawing negative inferences about your willingness to prioritize your child's adjustment
• In rare cases, sanctions for non-compliance with a court order

The four hours are a small investment compared to the delays non-completion causes.

How COPE Connects to Your Parenting Plan

The COPE seminar introduces the concepts behind Vermont's PR&R framework — the same framework that structures your parenting plan on Form 400-00825. Many parents find that the class clarifies what the court expects in a parenting plan and makes the drafting process less overwhelming.

Use the seminar as a starting point, then get specific with your own plan. The Vermont Child Custody & Parenting Plan Guide picks up where COPE leaves off, with detailed worksheets for each section of the parenting plan form and age-appropriate schedule templates.

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