| 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 received
a total of 2,250 papers for service in 2007.
The civil division
is staffed by 2 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 $50.00 for each person
served. The mileage rate (at this time) is $.585 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 $50.00 for each additional
defendant)
| Bakersfield: $110.00 |
Berkshire: $95.00 |
Enosburg: $95.00 |
Fairfield: $85.00 |
| Fairfax: $85.00 |
Fletcher: $90.00 |
Franklin: $100.00 |
Georgia: $85.00 |
| Highgate: $85.00 |
Montgomery: $115.00 |
Richford: $115.00 |
Sheldon: $85.00 |
| Swanton: $85.00 |
St. Albans: $85.00 |
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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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