(Visual: A thin purple line stretches horizontally across the screen. Beneath it, text in purple appears that reads, "Getting a divorce in Vermont.")
Female Narrator: Getting a divorce in Vermont can be a complex and emotional time. This video will help you understand--
(Visual: The line and text drop low and two people rise from the purple line. They face one another. The person on the left wears a maroon T-shirt with black pants and has their hand placed on their hip. The person on the right wears an orange T-shirt with blue pants. Their arms are folded across their chest.)
Female Narrator: Who can start a divorce case in Vermont;
(Visual: An open notebook similar to a legal pad hangs between them. Three sets of two purple lines run horizontally across the page to represent text. At the end of each line is a box for a checkmark. A purple pen appears from behind the right side of the notepad.)
Female Narrator: What the steps are;
(Visual: The notepad shrinks and lifts to rest near the head of the person in maroon. A heavy-set person in a blue sweater over a white, collared shirt pops up from the line and stands with the person on the right, holding a brown briefcase.)
Female Narrator: And when to get more legal help with your divorce.
(Visual: The people and notepad disappear beneath the line. A computer window pops up in their place. Inside the computer window at the top, the URL vtlawhelp.org in purple. Beneath it, a purple list of steps appears - Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, Step 4, Step 5, Step 6. A red arrow moves down the list of steps, and highlights each step in a darker shade of purple as it descends.)
Female Narrator: Find more details and a second video in the Divorce Roadmap on our website at vtlawhelp.org.
(Visual: The computer screen slides out to the left. The thin purple line stretches horizontally across the screen from the right. Text that reads, "Step 1" appears above it and text that reads, "Know your rights and requirements" appears below.)
Female Narrator: Step 1: Know your rights and requirements.
(Visual: The line lowers and wipes the text. The person in the maroon shirt with their hand on their hip and the person in the orange T-shirt with their arms folded pop up on the left and right respectively. A green shape depicting Vermont pops up between them. A yellow destination marker lands in its middle.)
Female Narrator: You can start a divorce in Vermont if either you or your spouse has lived in Vermont for at least the past six months.
(Visual: Beneath the line, text in purple that reads, "Past six months". The text and destination marker disappear. The person in orange unfolds their arms and puts their hand on their hip.)
Female Narrator: If neither of you live in Vermont, you can only get a divorce here if you got married in Vermont--
(Visual: A circle with two linked wedding bands in shades of gold springs out of Vermont and rests above and to the right of the person in maroon.)
Female Narrator:--you both agree on how to deal with your joint property and debts--
(Visual: A second circle with a brown, one-story house with a window on each side of a beige door springs out of Vermont and stops above it.)
Female Narrator:--and you don’t have school-aged children together.
(Visual: A circle with a young person in a headband and another in a baseball cap springs out of Vermont and rests above and to the left of the person in orange. The circles and images inside move behind the state, and text in purple that reads, "Civil union dissolution" appears below the purple line.)
Female Narrator: If you had a civil union in Vermont and you want to end it, follow the same steps as for a divorce.
(Visual: The images slide out to the left. The thin purple line stretches horizontally across the screen. Above it, text appears and reads, "How long will it take?")
First, how long will it take? Before having a final divorce hearing--
(Visual: The person in the maroon shirt and the person in the orange T-shirt pop up together near the center of the line.)
Female Narrator:--you and your spouse must live "separate and apart" for at least six months.
(Visual: A red line with an arrows at either ends appears between them. The line extends horizontally in each direction from the center, pushing the people apart. A tear-away calendar that reads "6 Months" on its top page rises from the line.)
Female Narrator: That means living separate lives, even if you still live under the same roof.
(Visual: A brown house pops up under the red line. It retracts and the people move closer to the house, centered. The calendar and house sink into the line and the people move to the far ends of the purple line.)
Female Narrator: If you’re a Vermont resident--
(Visual: A Roman-style courthouse, white, with six columns, and a peaked roof, pops up from the center of the line. Above it and the people, a timeline. From left to right, "JAN," "FEB," “MAR,” “APR,” “MAY,” “JUN,” “JUL,” “AUG,” “SEP,” “OCT,” “NOV,” and “DEC” appear in rapid succession inside of a horizontal grid.)
Female Narrator:--the court will not hold a final divorce hearing until you or your spouse have lived here for a full year.
(Visual: The destination marker appears on top of "OCT," which highlights in the same color as the marker. Each of the abbreviated month names highlight in order, ending at "DEC," and starting again at the front of the timeline to extend across, stopping at "OCT".)
Female Narrator: If you and your spouse have children together--
(Visual: The destination marker appears on top of "APR," and text that reads, "Case started" appears below it.)
Female Narrator:--the court will wait six months between when you start the case--
(Visual: "APR" highlights in a lime green color. Each of the abbreviated month names highlight in order, ending at "SEP." Beneath "SEP" in purple text, "Final Hearing.")
Female Narrator:--and the final hearing.
(Visual: The timeline rises up and away. Beneath the purple line, text appears that reads, "Contested Divorce.”)
Female Narrator: A “contested divorce,” where you and your spouse disagree on some issues--
(Visual: Text that reads "You and your spouse disagree on some issues," rolls out above the courthouse, with the word "disagree" bolded. The text vanishes.)
Female Narrator:--usually takes longer than a “stipulated divorce”--
(Visual: Beneath the purple line, text appears that reads, "Stipulated Divorce.” More text that reads "You both agree on how to handle your children, money, and property," rolls out above the courthouse, with the word "agree" bolded. The text vanishes and the courthouse disappears beneath the purple line.)
Female Narrator:--where you both agree on how to handle your children, money, and property.
(Visual: Text that reads, "Contested Divorce" appears between and above the people. Three yellow circles with gold-colored dollar signs in them materialize one at a time from left to right under the text.)
Female Narrator: A contested divorce is also more expensive than a stipulated divorce.
(Visual: Text that reads, "Stipulated Divorce" appears beneath the circles, and a single yellow circle with a dollar sign in it appears under the text.)
Female Narrator: Which brings us to our next topic: How much does it cost?
(Visual: The images slide out to the left. The thin, purple line stretches horizontally across the screen. Above it, in purple lettering, "How much does it cost?" The text drops into the purple line, which lowers slightly. The courthouse pops up from it.)
Female Narrator: When you file for divorce, you will pay he court a filing fee.
(Visual: Three dollars fold up from the line, and coins jump into a tall stack beside them, with a single coin to the right of the stack.)
Female Narrator: You may also need to pay to serve, or deliver, papers to your spouse.
(Visual: A disembodied hand holding a manilla envelop marked by a white label with the word "Divorce" printed on it sweeps in on the right. It and the courthouse lower beneath the line. A computer screen depicting a banking website appears. It is headed by the word "Bank Account" in purple lettering inside a yellow bar that runs the length of the screen. Below it, the words, "Available Funds." Beneath the phrase, a green oblong bar. Red runs over the green from the right, and leaves a small tip of green on the far left side of the bar.)
Female Narrator: If you can’t afford to pay, you can apply for a fee waiver. Find out about fees in our Divorce Roadmap.
(Visual: The images slide out to the left. The thin purple line stretches horizontally across the screen. Above it, text appears that reads, "Do you need a lawyer?")
Female Narrator: You may also wonder, Do you need a lawyer?
(Visual: The line lowers and wipes the text away. The heavy-set person with the briefcase pops up from the line on the right side. To their left, a person in a pink jacket over a black top, with grey pants, and a briefcase. They each put the hand that holds their briefcases to their hip, facing each other.)
Female Narrator: Many people get a divorce in Vermont without a lawyer.
(Visual: The person in pink relaxes their arm and lets the briefcase hang.)
Female Narrator: But some cases are more complicated: for example, if you or your children have experienced domestic violence--
(Visual: Two disembodied arms appear in a circle beside the person in pink; the hand of the right arm tightly grips the wrist of the left.)
Female Narrator:--or if you own certain kinds of property.
(Visual: A second circle appears beside the first. Inside the circle, a brown, detached building with a sign that reads, "Store" affixed to the flat roof. There is a window on either side of the centered, glass double doors.)
Female Narrator: Contact Legal Services Vermont for quick legal advice--
(Visual: The images sink into the line. The words "Legal Services Vermont" appear beneath it. A computer window and smartphone pop up from the purple line. The computer screen features the URL vtlawhelp.org in an oblong search bar, and the phone has the number 1-800-889-2047 typed in above the number pad.)
Female Narrator:--or to be referred to the Vermont Lawyer Referral Service.
(Visual: The computer screen and phone slide out to the left. The thin purple line stretches horizontally across the screen from the right. Text that reads, "Step 2" appears above it and text that reads, "Get organized and talk to your spouse” appears below it.)
Female Narrator: Step 2: Get organized and talk to your spouse.
(Visual: The line lowers and wipes the text. A scroll unfurls and its bottom runs out of sight beneath the purple line. The purple pen bounces up from beneath the line.)
Female Narrator: Before you start working on the divorce paperwork, get organized.
(Visual: The paper and pen drop beneath the line and documents on clipboards appear from the left to right, in turn, along the line, headed by the word "Finances," "Expenses," and "Property," respectively.)
Female Narrator: Gather information about your finances, expenses, and property. You’ll need this information for meetings and court forms.
(Visual: The documents stack in the middle of the line and lower beneath it. A computer window pops up in their place. It is headed by the URL vtlawhelp.org in purple and features the vertical list of six steps. A red arrow moves down the list of steps, and highlights each step in a darker shade of purple as it descends.)
Female Narrator: Our Divorce Roadmap lists what information you need to gather.
(Visual: The image slides out to the left. The thin purple line stretches horizontally across the screen. The person in the maroon shirt and the person in the orange T-shirt pop up from it. They face each other and both have their arms folded.)
Female Narrator: Getting a divorce in Vermont is easier, faster, and cheaper if you and your spouse agree on what will happen with your children, money, and property.
(Visual: The people unfold their arms. Above them, the young people, dollar bills fanned out with coins beneath them, and the brown house appear in circles in an inverted triangle formation above and between them.)
Female Narrator: If it’s safe and possible, talk to your spouse and try to come to an agreement about these things.
(Visual: The person in maroon gestures as though speaking; the person in orange nods with a hand on their chin as though listening.)
Female Narrator: It may make the divorce less stressful, and you’ll have more say over what happens.
(Visual: The person in orange gestures as though speaking; the person in maroon nods with a hand on their chin as though listening.)
Female Narrator: When you both agree on how to handle your children, money, and property--
(Visual: The words "Stipulated Divorce" appear beneath the purple line.)
Female Narrator:--it’s called a “stipulated divorce”. Without an agreement, it’s called a “contested divorce”.
(Visual: The text vanishes. Both people fold their arms again, and the words "Contested Divorce" appear beneath the purple line. A brown gavel appears between them and knocks twice on its soundboard.)
Female Narrator: The judge will divide your property based on what they think is fair.
(Visual: The purple line, text, gavel and circles with the imagery disappear. The people stand opposite one another, arms still folded.
Female Narrator: Even if you can only reach an agreement with your spouse about some issues, try to talk about: Money;
(Visual: A circle with the fanned bills and coins appears between the people, near their heads.)
Female Narrator: Bills;
(Visual: A circle with a paper headed with the word "Bills" appears beneath the first circle to the left.)
Female Narrator: Where you and your children will live;
(Visual: A circle with the brown house completes a triangular formation between the people.)
Female Narrator: And decisions about your children’s care.
(Visual: A circle with the young people appears below the rest, making a diamond-shaped formation of circles. The circles vanish and the computer window drops down in their place between the people. It is headed by the URL vtlawhelp.org in purple and features the vertical list of six steps. A red arrow moves down the list of steps, and highlights each step in a darker shade of purple as it descends.)
Female Narrator: Our Divorce Roadmap has a list of issues to talk about. Learn the next steps to take in a second video in the Divorce Roadmap on vtlawhelp.org. Keep this in mind:
(Visual: The computer screen vanishes. A red shield with a white exclamation point in it appears and sits between the people. Text that reads, "If it’s not safe, don’t do it," rolls out beneath it.)
Female Narrator: If it’s not safe for you to meet with or speak to your spouse, don’t do it. If you need support because of abuse or potential abuse--
(Visual: The images slide off to the left. A new purple line stretches horizontally from the right and rests at the center.The logo for Legal Services Vermont and text "Working Together for Justice" appear atop the line, and its contact info below it.)
Female Narrator:--get help by contacting an advocate or Legal Services Vermont.
TEXT: Legal Services Vermont
Working together for justice
1-800-889-2047
vtlawhelp.org
Music ends
End of transcript.
