| This division handles the service and
execution of court documents and processes. The civil division ensures
that all processes are served in a timely manner.
Examples of Duties:
1. Receives legal process documents and instructions for service
to litigants.
2. Locates witnesses, makes positive identification of person being
served and serves: court orders, writes, subpoenas, affidavits,
summonses, nor notice of hearings.
The civil division served a total of 1,855 papers in 2005. This
figure does not include the domestic orders served by the patrol
division.
The civil division is staffed by 3 part time deputy sheriff/civil
process servers and a secretary. The position of Deputy Sheriff/Process
Server is distinguished from Deputy Sheriff in that this is a civilian
class that does not perform the variety of law enforcement duties.
Sheriff Robert W. Norris oversees this division.
Civil Process Fees:
Fees charged by the Sheriff’s Office for different types of
civil process functions are established by the Court Administrators
Office.
Deposits:
In order to expedite service and keep the cost of service to a
minimum, some information will be helpful to this Office. We need
to know the exact location of the Defendant. A Post Office Box
Number of RFD address is not sufficient. If you can provide any
of the information below, it will be most helpful.
Our Office has a sliding deposit requirement for service (see
below). The actual cost for service is $30.00 for each person served.
The mileage rate (at this time) is $.485 per mile. Any overpayment
will be returned to you. If you have provided a deposit, only 2
attempts will be made to serve your papers to keep the deposit
costs down. If we have exhausted the deposit, you will be billed
for the additional amount owed to the Office. Payment is expected
within 30 days of the date of billing. Returns of Service, for
filing at court, will not be returned to you until payment is received.
If you do not provide enough of a deposit, you will be contacted
for the balance and papers will not be served until payment is
received. Any refund under $1.00 will not be refunded and any billing
that is under $1.00 will not be billed.
Deposit Requirements
(based on single defendant –
add $30.00 for each additional
defendant)
| Bakersfield: $85.00 | Berkshire: $70.00 | Enosburg: $70.00 | Fairfield: $60.00 |
| Fairfax: $60.00 | Fletcher: $66.00 | Franklin: $72.00 | Georgia: $60.00 |
| Highgate: $60.00 | Montgomery: $89.00 | Richford: $89.00 | Sheldon: $60.00 |
| Swanton: $60.00 | St. Albans: $60.00 | | | >
Common Services:
Summons & Complaint
If a plaintiff desires the Sheriff’s Office to serve a summons
and complaint in a Civil Court action, the plaintiff should provide
the Sheriff’s Office with the original summons and a copy
of the summons and complaint for each defendant in the action.
The Deputy Sheriff/Process Server will serve the copy and return
the original summons, along with a Return of Service to the plaintiff.
The Civil Division will also file the original with the Court.
Subpoena
Subpoenas can be obtained through the courts where the action
was filed.
An original and a copy for service must be given to the Sheriff’s
Office. Following service, the original subpoena will be returned
to the Court by the Sheriff’s Office and the plaintiff will
receive a copy. A subpoena can be served upon the named person or
left with someone of “suitable age and discretion” who
resides at the same address.
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