12 V.S.A. § ___ § 4914
Complaint and warrant
Operative Text
When a complaint is formally made in writing, to a district judge of such unlawful or forcible entry or detainer, he or she shall issue a warrant returnable within such county not less than six business days thereafter, which shall be directed to the sheriff, commanding such officer to apprehend the person against whom such complaint is made and bring him or her before the district judge having jurisdiction. (Amended 1973, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 33, eff. April 9, 1974; 2017, No. 11, § 20.)
Under 12 V.S.A. ch. 171 § 4914, when a written complaint alleging unlawful or forcible entry or detainer is filed with a district judge, the judge is required to issue a warrant directing the sheriff to locate and bring the named person before the court. The warrant must be made returnable no sooner than six business days after it is issued, and it must be directed to the sheriff within the relevant county. This provision establishes the formal procedural mechanism that initiates court involvement in unlawful-entry and detainer disputes in Vermont.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under 12 V.S.A. ch. 171 § 4914, a landlord pursuing an unlawful or forcible entry or detainer action must initiate the process by submitting a formal written complaint to a district judge. Once that complaint is filed, the court takes over the next step by issuing a warrant to the sheriff, with a return date set at least six business days out. Operators familiar with this process generally ensure their written complaints are complete and properly documented before submission, since the court's ability to act depends on the sufficiency of that filing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 12 V.S.A. ch. 171 § 4914, if a written complaint has been filed against a tenant alleging unlawful or forcible entry or detainer, the district judge is required to issue a warrant through the sheriff, and the tenant will have at least six business days before the return date. This built-in waiting period provides some time for a tenant to understand the nature of the proceeding and explore available options. Tenants who receive notice of such a warrant may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how this process may affect them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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