The goal of our handbook The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont is to help you begin to understand your rights and responsibilities under Vermont and Federal Law.
Written in plain and simple language, this handbook has been a source of information for Vermont women, their families, and professionals that serve them since 1977. This is the 7th edition and was updated in 2016.
This publication has been developed with legal assistance, but does not constitute legal opinion or advice. Legal advice should come from an attorney of your choice who can take into account all the factors relevant to your particular situation.
NOTES: Laws change. At the end of each chapter, readers will find a date indicating the last time the chapter was reviewed and updated. Throughout this publication are references and links to Vermont Commission on Women’s Resource Directory. The directory can help you locate the most local and appropriate resources related to the issue of concern. There are also links to other chapters in the handbook as well as links to look up and read the state and federal laws referred to at the close of each chapter. Reader tip: “12 V.S.A. § 5131. et. seq” means Title 12 of the Vermont statutes, section 5131 and following sections (section numbers are consecutive throughout the entire title).
Chapter 1: Adoption, Guardianship & Emancipated Minors
Chapter 2: Consumer Protection & Fair Credit
Chapter 6: Housing & Property Rights
Chapter 9: Name & Gender Marker Changes
Chapter 10: Public Accommodations
Chapter 11: Public Assistance & Government Benefits
Chapter 12: Reproductive Rights
Chapter 13: Violence Against Women & Children
Chapter 14: Wills, Probate Court, & Advanced Directives
Full Document: The Legal Rights of Women in Vermont (202 pages | 1.35 MB)
Chapter 1: Adoption, Guardianship & Emancipated Minors
Who Can Adopt
Who Can Be Adopted
Procedure for Adoption
Rights of People Who Have Been Adopted
Adoption of Stepchildren and Others
Guardianship of a Minor
Emancipation of a Minor
Chapter 2: Consumer Protection & Fair Credit
Consumer Fraud Prevention and Recovery
Telemarketing
Scams
Identity Theft
Contests and Prizes
Sports Fantasy Games
Gift Cards
Paid Fundraising
Home Heating Fuels
New Car Lemon Law
Home Improvement Fraud
Three-Day Right-to-Cancel
Discount Membership Programs
Rent-To-Own Items
Third-Party Telephone Billing
Illegal Lending
Addressing Consumer Fraud
Credit Transactions
Credit Discrimination
Debt Collection Practices
Credit Bureaus and Consumer Reporting Agencies
Chapter 3: Domestic Relations
Marriage
Civil Unions
Legal Separation
Divorce
Establishing Parentage
Child Support
Child Support Enforcement
Enforcement of a Court Order
Changing or Modifying Court Orders
Separation of Unmarried Couples and Couples Not Joined by Civil Union
Child Snatching
Chapter 4: Education
Discrimination, Harassment, Hazing and Bullying
No Child Left Behind Act
Students With Disabilities
Education of Pregnant and Parenting Students
Grants for Students Formerly in DCF Custody
Chapter 5: Employment Rights
Wages
Flexible Working Arrangements
Parental, Medical, Earned Sick Leave, and Other Types of Work Leave
Workplace Health and Hygiene
Drug Testing
Unemployment Compensation
Workers’ Compensation
Discrimination and Harassment
Sex or Gender Discrimination
Questions Employers May Ask
Pay Discrimination
Sexual Harassment
Pregnancy Discrimination
Nursing Mothers
Other Forms of Employment Discrimination
Disability
Reasonable Accommodation
Retaliation and Whistleblower Protection
Polygraph Protection
Labor Trafficking
Chapter 6: Housing & Property Rights
Women’s Rights When Renting Or Buying A Home
Rights and Responsibilities of Tenants and Landlords in Vermont
Mobile Home Park Residents’ Rights
Property Taxes
Property Rights in a Marriage/Civil Union
Property Rights of Unmarried Couples
Chapter 7: Immigration
Becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident
Removal (Deportation) Proceedings
Special Provisions for Battered Immigrants
Special Provisions for Victims of Human Trafficking
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
Immigration and Benefits
Chapter 8: Insurance
General Insurance Law
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Credit Insurance
Filing a Complaint
Health Insurance
Long-term Care Insurance
Health Insurance Consumer Help
Health Privacy
Chapter 9: Name & Gender Marker Changes
Chapter 10: Public Accommodations
Public Accommodations – Defined
Sex Discrimination
Breastfeeding
Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Marital Status Discrimination
Disability Discrimination
Addressing Discrimination
Chapter 11: Public Assistance & Government Benefits
Social Security
Supplementary Security Income (SSI)
Veterans Benefits
Reach Up
3SquaresVT (Formerly Food Stamps)
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Child Care Financial Assistance
Essential Person
General Assistance (GA)/Emergency Assistance (EA)
Emergency Housing
Fuel Assistance
Weatherization Assistance
Vermont Health Connect
Disability and Long-Term Care
Free and Low-Cost Medical/Dental Care
Medicare
HIV Insurance Assistance
Lifeline Telecommunications Service Credit Program
Micro Business Development Program (MBDP)
Individual Development Account (IDA)
Denials, Reductions or Terminations of Governmental Benefits
Chapter 12: Reproductive Rights
Birth Control
Abortion
Midwives
STDs
Chapter 13: Violence Against Women & Children
Domestic Violence
Sexual Violence
Stalking Offenses
Safety for Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence and Stalking
Sexting
Child Abuse
Sexual Crimes Against Children
Human Trafficking
Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
Kidnapping
Hate Crimes
Crime Victims Assistance, Notification and Compensation
Release of People Accused of a Violent Crime
Sex Offender Registry
Violent Career Criminals and Habitual Criminals
Civil Actions for Crimes Against Women and Children
Chapter 14: Wills, Probate Court, & Advanced Directives
Wills
Not Having a Will
Other Forms of Property Distribution
Probate Division of the Vermont Superior Court
Advance Directives for Health Care
Authority and Obligations of an Advanced Directive Agent
Changing, Suspending or Revoking Your Advance Directive