{"id":376830,"date":"2016-04-11T01:24:12","date_gmt":"2016-04-11T06:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/vermont-law\/vermont-domestic-violence-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:51:36","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:51:36","slug":"vermont-domestic-violence-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/vermont-law\/vermont-domestic-violence-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Vermont Domestic Violence Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Vermont Domestic Violence Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last reviewed\n

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Vermont regulates domestic violence under the state’s domestic relations and abuse prevention statutes. Vermont domestic violence laws define "abuse" as causing physical harm, placing another in fear of imminent serious physical harm, abuse to children<\/a>, stalking<\/a>, or sexual assault<\/a> between family or household members. "Household members" are persons who are living or have lived together, are sharing or have shared a dwelling place, are engaged in or have engaged in a sexual relationship, or minors or adults who are dating or who have dated.<\/p>\r\n

Domestic Abuse Protection Order<\/h2>\r\n

Obtaining a protective order is often the best step to secure abuse protection. Under Vermont domestic violence laws, a "protection order" is defined as any injunction or order issued for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts towards another person. This also includes any contact or communication with that person. Any family or household member may seek relief from abuse by another family member by filing a complaint containing a signed affidavit with the court.<\/p>\r\n

You can access a domestic abuse protection form online: Relief From Abuse<\/a> (Vermont Judiciary).<\/p>\r\n

Notice and Hearing<\/u><\/h3>\r\n

In order to protect the defendant’s due process rights<\/a>, a judge may only grant relief<\/a> after proper notice and a hearing. However, there are certain cases where emergency relief<\/a> can be granted before the hearing.<\/p>\r\n

At this hearing, the plaintiff must prove the abuse to the court. The judge may grant a protective order if it is necessary to protect the plaintiff and, if applicable, the plaintiff’s children. The court must also believe that either there is a danger of future abuse by the defendant, or the defendant has been convicted for one of the following crimes:<\/p>\r\n