How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Vermont?

The shortest window is 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under 12 V.S.A. §512. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.

How long do you have on a property damage claim in Vermont?

3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under 12 V.S.A. §512.

How much can you claim in small claims court in Vermont?

An individual can claim up to $10,000. A business can claim up to $10,000. A public agency can claim up to $10,000. That comes from 12 V.S.A. §5531.

How long you have in Vermont

Every kind of claim has its own window, counted from the day the clock started. Miss it and the court usually cannot hear the claim.

How long you have in Vermont
Kind of claim	Window	Counted from	Rule
Security Deposit	6 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	12 V.S.A. §511
Unpaid Invoice	6 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	12 V.S.A. §511
Unpaid Loan	6 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	12 V.S.A. §511
Contractor Dispute	6 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	12 V.S.A. §511
Auto Repair	6 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	12 V.S.A. §511
Other	6 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	12 V.S.A. §511
Property Damage	3 years	the day the damage happened	12 V.S.A. §512
Sale of Goods	4 years	the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken	9A V.S.A. §2-725(1)

Worked example

If the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken was 2026-03-15, a window of 6 years runs out on 2032-03-15. That is the same arithmetic the check uses: calendar months, clamped to the end of the month, and no roll forward to the next court day.

More about Vermont

Common questions

How long do you have to bring a small claims claim in Vermont?: The shortest window is 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under 12 V.S.A. §512. Other kinds of claim run longer; the time-limit page lists each one.
How long do you have on a property damage claim in Vermont?: 3 years, counted from the day the damage happened, under 12 V.S.A. §512.
How long do you have on a sale of goods claim in Vermont?: 4 years, counted from the day the payment was missed or the agreement was broken, under 9A V.S.A. §2-725(1).
How much can you claim in small claims court in Vermont?: An individual can claim up to $10,000. A business can claim up to $10,000. A public agency can claim up to $10,000. That comes from 12 V.S.A. §5531.

Verify with your court

Numbers change, and a court can post its own variation. Open Vermont's small claims page and confirm anything you are about to rely on.

Open the court's small claims page

Verified on 2026-09-05, sources: Rules effective from 2024-01-01.

12 V.S.A. §511 · effective 2024-01-01 · A civil claim, including one based on a written or spoken agreement, must be filed within six years of when it accrued.
12 V.S.A. §512 · effective 2024-01-01 · A claim for damage to your property must be filed within three years.
9A V.S.A. §2-725(1) · effective 2024-01-01 · A claim about a sale of goods must be filed within four years of the breach.

FairSquare assembles documents and explains your court's rules. It is not a substitute for advice about your situation.