Quick answer: the deadline that shapes the whole schedule is the roughly 4-month creditor claim window. See the full Vermont probate timeline calculator for your specific estimate.
The core deadlines, in order
| Deadline | Vermont rule | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Small estate procedure eligible | $45,000 or less, personal property only | 14 V.S.A. § 1901 |
| Creditor claim bar | Generally 4 months to present claims | 14 V.S.A. Title 14 |
| Executor renunciation of will's fee clause | Written filing with the Probate Division, or court order | 14 V.S.A. § 1065 |
| Probate Division filing fee | $50–$3,250, fixed-dollar bands | 32 V.S.A. § 1434 |
| Estate tax return (Form E-1), if applicable | Due 9 months after death | 32 V.S.A. § 7442a |
The will's fee clause controls, unless someone acts
Worth understanding clearly: under 14 V.S.A. § 1065, if the will itself sets executor compensation, that provision is full satisfaction for the executor's services by default. This runs the opposite direction from most states, where a statutory reasonable-fee standard is the default and the will's clause is an optional alternative. In Vermont, the executor has to affirmatively renounce the will's provision, in writing, filed with the Probate Division — or get a court order — before the reasonable-fee standard applies instead.
A separate deadline for a separate tax
If the estate exceeds Vermont's own $5,000,000 estate tax exemption, Form E-1 is due 9 months after death — a deadline that runs independently of the probate case itself and applies at a flat 16% of the excess.
Facing probate in Vermont?
Talk to a Vermont attorneyA local probate attorney can review your estate — many offer a free consultation.