Vermont · 14 counties
When someone dies in Vermont
Two things matter first: getting certified death certificates, and, if money is short, reaching the burial assistance program in the county where the death happened. Pick your county below for exact contacts.
The paperwork
Death certificates in Vermont
Certified copies come from the Any Vermont town or city clerk, or the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration (official site).
If you are in Vermont, the fastest and cheapest route is your town or city clerk, who is authorized to issue certified copies directly. A clerk copy is $10, or $12 by credit card, versus $12 plus a $2 online processing fee through Vermont.gov. Online orders ship by standard mail within 5 to 7 business days. Records can also be ordered from the Vermont State Archives and Records Administration.
Planning ahead
Nobody has died yet? Set up a power of attorney
If someone you love is aging or ill, the cheapest protection your family can get is a power of attorney, and it must happen while they can still sign. We cover Vermont's exact rules and official forms.
Vermont power of attorney rulesIf money is tight
Statewide burial assistance
Vermont's Department for Children and Families runs a statewide General Assistance program that can help pay for a simple burial or cremation when a deceased person did not have enough resources to cover the cost. The funeral home applies on the family's behalf and, if approved, the state pays the funeral home directly rather than reimbursing the family. Vermont's own health department advises contacting your local funeral home to start this DCF application process before finalizing arrangements, so it is wise to ask about eligibility before you sign a contract.
Pick your county