Probate in Franklin County, Vermont
When someone who lived in Franklin County dies, probate is handled by the county probate court. This page points you to that court and summarizes the Vermont rules that apply — the small-estate threshold, the key deadlines, and the instruments Vermont uses. For your own dates and numbers, use the free calculators linked below.
Where to file
Probate is filed in Franklin County, where the person who died last lived. Local forms, e-filing rules, and scheduling vary by county — confirm with the county probate court.
Find your court — Vermont Judiciary — Court LocationsDoes this estate need full probate?
Vermont lets smaller estates skip full probate using the Small estate administration (14 V.S.A. §§1901–1903) for estates up to $45,000.
Check your estate Source — 14 V.S.A. §1901 ($45k FMV; personalty only; raised from $10k by 2019 Act 36)Key probate deadlines in Vermont
- Lodge the will with the court
- 30 days after the date of death
- File the estate inventory
- 60 days after appointment as personal representative
- Creditor-claim period closes
- 4 months after first publication of the notice to creditors (outer bar: 12 months from death)
Good to know in Vermont
- The court empowers the personal representative with Letters Testamentary / Letters of Administration.
- The estate closes with the Fiduciary’s Closing Report & Discharge.
- Vermont estate tax return due 9 months after death; $5M exemption.
Talk it through, or find a local pro
Ask the guide a question about probate in Franklin County, or browse vetted probate attorneys and real-estate advisors who work in Vermont.
Selling an inherited home? Estimate the tax with the capital-gains calculator. Just getting started? Print the Vermont after-a-death checklist.