What are Vermont Property Records?
Vermont property records collectively mean all legal documents containing information about real property or a plot of land. Property records include
- A property deed (deeds specify who has current legal ownership of a property)
- Book, files, and records related to the operation, construction, maintenance, or repair of the Assets (including contracts, plans and specifications, operational manuals, and operational files
- Title policies, files, ownership maps or surveys, deeds, leases, assignments, and other documents relating to the title to the Assets or the title to any contracts assigned to Lessee according to the Related Agreements; provided,
- Contracts, lease files, title opinions, production records, well files, maps, surveys, electric logs, geological data, and all other land files, third-party contracts, documents, and descriptions of the seller related to the property.
But, property records do not include documents related to marketing, financial, and tax (except property tax) records and any litigation and other legal department records subject to work product, attorney-client, or other privileges.
Are Vermont Property Records Public?
Yes. According to Vermont's Public Records Laws, records generated or stored by state agencies are public records. In Vermont, property records are managed by each municipality's town or city assessor's office, so the documents become public once received by the assessor's office. Hence, Vermont property records from any county are public and can be searched, inspected, and assessed from that county assessor's office online or in person. Persons can also send requests to the assessor's office and have copies sent to them.
Property records are available for public viewing through government agencies or third-party aggregate websites. Accessing property records through third-party sites is typically straightforward, and the records are not geographically limited. However, because the sites are not government-affiliated and run independently, the information contained in the records may vary. Searching parties should include the following information to obtain complete property records:
- The property’s exact location.
- The property owner’s details.
What Information is Included in Vermont Property Records?
A typical Vermont property record would include deeds, mortgages, and tax and assessment records.
Deeds: These are legal documents used to sell or transfer ownership of a piece of property. The most common types of deeds are general warranty deeds, special warranty, grant, and quitclaim deeds.
- General Warranty Deed: A general warranty deed guarantees that the seller (grantor) has an explicit right to the property, which they pass on to the buyer (or grantee). Via recording a warranty deed, the seller provides assurance to the buyer in case of any unexpected happenings.
- Special Warranty Deeds mean that the seller (or grantor) only warrants against any defects that occurred when they were in physical possession of the property but claims liability against any damages that existed before they took ownership of the property. Special warranty deeds do not offer buyers as much protection as a general deed.
- Grant Deed: A grant deed, or limited warranty deed, is most often used to transfer ownership of a property when the grantee is acquiring the property title in a tax or foreclosure sale.
- Quitclaim deeds are a type of deed that does not include any protection for the buyer.
Mortgage: Through the mortgage records on a property, buyers can identify all mortgage liens, lenders, and borrowers in a property's history.
Other information that may be included in a property record is platting (boundary maps), liens or judgment information, tax records, insurance policies, permits and licenses, inspection reports, rental registration forms, insurance documents, tax returns, and other supporting documents, etc. Plat Maps: A plat map is a diagram that shows the division of a property within a neighborhood, city, or county. Plat maps are helpful to establish what a person may legally do on a property they purchased or rented.
- A Basic Sketch of The Property, property leases, mortgage information, liens, licenses, judgments, restrictive covenants, etc.
Tax Assessment Records: In Vermont, each municipality determines its own local property tax rates by assessing the property's value. The assessed value is determined by local assessors, who are called listers in Vermont.
But more specifically, the information included in Vermont property records might vary from city to city and would mostly depend on who is searching for the records. For instance, standard documents that will be revealed in property records search for Milton county include Warranty Deeds, mortgage deeds, Quit Claim Deeds, liens, Mobile Home Bills of Sale & the accompanying Vermont Property Transfer, Tax Returns, Vermont Water/Wastewater and Stormwater Permits, Power of Attorney (POA) Deeds, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Forms and Survey Maps or plats.
Where to Search Vermont Public Property Records
In Vermont, all land records are recorded and preserved at the local level, primarily in the office of the clerk of the town where the property is situated. Individuals conducting land records research must contact town clerks directly with a land record request. A Municipal Directory with town clerk contact information is available online from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.
For instance, the city of Burlington allows interested persons to extensively search land records online through their website using different criteria, including maps and liens. One may also search the state archives.
How to Do a Property Records Search in Vermont
To do property records search in Vermont, the searcher must first acquire basic information about the property, including the street name, county, and any other information they can get. They can then go to the County Clerk's office with the information that they have and request records on that property. Depending on the county involved, an inspection of public property records may come at no charge. However, users who want copies of the documents must pay a certain copying fee. For instance, in Milton, land records are available by appointment in the Town Clerk's Office from Mondays to Fridays. Working hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Requesters may call (802) 893-4111 to make an appointment. Copies of recorded documents are $1.00 per page.
Interested persons may also find Vermont property records by searching the state archives. The Vermont State Archives and Records Administration allows users to research records in the state archives by same-day walk-in services or by booking an appointment prior. Requesters can also mail their requests to:
Vermont State Archives & Records Administration
1078 Route 2, Middlesex
Montpelier, VT 05633-7701
Most offices do not look up recording information over the phone or perform title research.
A searcher may also consult third-party websites.
How to Find the Owner of a Vermont Property Using Public Records
By inspecting the land records of a piece of property, persons can identify a property's history in Vermont, the property's previous owners (and their form of ownership, whether rent, lease, sale, inheritance, etc.), and in some cases, the past uses of that property. Therefore, persons can identify real property owners via public records information. For instance, the deeds of a property can identify a landowner, including the buyer and seller's names. Similarly, tax return records also reveal who owns the property.
How to Find Vermont Property Tax Records
All towns in Vermont administer properties at a local rather than the state level. Hence, every city in each Vermont county has its own office for real property information (ownership, valuation, etc.) Per The Department of Taxes' Agency of Administration in Vermont, Vermont property owners pay their property taxes directly to the tax assessor's office in the town where the property is located. Hence, persons who want to find Vermont property tax records should inquire from the city's tax assessor's office.
Their availability varies depending on the county. For instance, The Milton Assessor's office has office hours from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday. In contrast, Southburlington's tax assessor office receives customers from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.
What to Do When You Can't Find Property Records in Vermont
Suppose a person cannot find property records in Vermont's public domain or through official sources. Tin that case, they should seek help from other non-state sources. Also, suppose a person discovers their deed to a piece of property was not recorded. In that case, they should ensure that their property deeds are appropriately recorded or file a claim.
