What is an abandonment affidavit for adoption in Vermont?

An abandonment affidavit in Vermont is a written statement, made under oath, that lays out the facts about a biological parent's absence from your child's life. It is used when a stepparent adoption goes forward without that parent's agreement. Vermont's abandonment period is 6 months, under 15A V.S.A. § 3-504, so the affidavit centers on what happened during that time.

What it usually covers:

• The date of the last known contact between the other parent and your child
• What the absence looked like, such as no visits, calls, letters or messages
• How long it has lasted, measured against the 6-month period in 15A V.S.A. § 3-504
• Whether the parent has provided any financial support
• Any efforts you or your spouse made to keep the parent involved or to reach out

Whether a particular fact carries legal weight, such as support payments, is a question for the Probate Court or an attorney. The affidavit's job is to give an accurate, dated account.

Who prepares and signs it:

Usually the child's parent, your spouse, who knows the history best, gives the account. You may also be able to add your own supporting statement about what you have seen. The Probate Court clerk in your county can confirm exactly how the court wants the affidavit signed and sworn, and what else it expects to accompany it.

Why detail matters:

The affidavit is where you put the history in writing for the Probate Court. Specific dates, concrete examples and plain, truthful wording are far more useful than general statements like "he's never around." If you are unsure about a date, say so honestly rather than guessing.

When your situation needs extra care:

Some situations depend heavily on the facts. These include a parent who has stayed in touch occasionally, a parent who objects, and a parent whose whereabouts you do not know. For any of these, ask the Probate Court clerk in your county how to proceed, or speak with a Vermont attorney about your specific case. Vermont's data also shows that termination of the other parent's rights is not a separate court case in a stepparent adoption, so the abandonment facts are presented as part of the adoption itself.

How it fits into the larger process:

The affidavit is one part of a full filing in the Probate Court. A stepparent adoption in Vermont typically takes about 3-6 months from start to finish. The affidavit is not a standalone form. It has to match the rest of your paperwork, including the dates and names in your petition.

How we help:

StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, including the details of the other parent's absence, and we prepare the complete court document package for your Vermont county, affidavit included. You then file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child, plus $99 for each additional child, and your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions. We back every package with a 100% court acceptance guarantee, and we have helped 87 Vermont families, and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.