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Birth & Death Records

To obtain a certified copy of a Vermont birth or death certificate, you may go to any town clerk in the State of Vermont. You will need to fill out an Application for Certified Copy of Vermont Birth or Death Certificate.

Individuals may also visit the Vermont Department of Health website to submit a request.

*Please be aware that only certain relatives or legal representatives can get a copy of certified birth or death records.*

If you are mailing in the application, please make sure you include:

A completed application
A copy of your driver’s license
- (front and back), or alternative documents listed on the application
Payment
- $10 per certified copy
  (Check or money order made payable to the Town of Manchester)
Send all documentation to:
Manchester Town Clerk
P.O. Box 830
Manchester Center, Vermont 05255

If you are visiting the Clerk’s Office in person, please make sure you bring:

A completed application
Valid proof of identification
Fees (Cash, check or money order made payable to the Town of Manchester, or debit/credit card) Please note all debit/credit card transactions are subject to a minimal convenience fee.

For genealogical purposes please go to the Vermont Department of Health website. Genealogists looking for records prior to 1909 will need to come into the Clerk’s Office.

Visit Vermont Secretary of State Website for more information regarding Apostilles.

Apostille Application

Dog Licenses & Ordinance

Dog licenses are due on or before April 1st each year per 20 V.S.A. § 3581.

2024 RABIES CLINIC:

The Manchester Town Clerk's Office and Green Mountain Veterinary Hospital will host a rabies clinic at Manchester Town Hall (40 Jeff Williams Way) on Monday, February 26th from 4pm - 5pm.

Dog licensing will be available for Manchester residents only. We will be using the Manchester Community Food Cupboard's new space at Town Hall. Feel free to bring a non-perishable item to donate to the food shelf!

Click here to pay for dog licenses online!

When renewing a dog license online, make sure you include the following information:

Name: Owner's name and (Dog's name)

Dog Breed: Dog's breed and (rabies expiration date)

New Dog Licenses
To license a dog or wolf-hybrid for the first time in Manchester, please complete the New Dog Registration Form, and return it to the Town Clerk’s Office with applicable paperwork and fees.

Dog License Renewals
To renew a dog license in Manchester, please complete the Dog License Renewal Form, and return it to the Town Clerk’s Office with applicable paperwork and fees.

Please review the Town of Manchester Dog Licensing and Animal Control Ordinance for more information, or contact the Town Clerk’s Office.

License Fees: Effective July 30, 2016

DMV Registration Renewals

The Clerk’s Office can process registration renewals for the current month, and two previous months.

To renew a DMV registration at the Clerk’s Office, you will need:

Renewal form mailed by the DMV
Fees for the DMV; payment options include cash, checks (made payable to VT DMV), or debit/credit cards.
Fee for the town – $3 per registration renewal; payment options include cash, checks (payable to the Town of Manchester), or debit/credit cards.

***Please note: Debit/credit card users are assessed a minimal convenience fee**

If you do not have the renewal form you may be able to renew online by visiting Vermont DMV Express.

Need additional information? Looking for DMV forms?

DMV forms and additional information may be found on the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website.

Genealogy

The Clerk’s Office is passionate about preserving records for future generations.

Genealogy Research Online
Genealogists may visit the clerk’s office, or may also conduct a genealogy search online through the State of Vermont or visit the Vermont State Archives & Records Administration website.

Historical Land Records
If interested in reviewing historical land records, please contact the clerk’s office.

Green Mountain Passports

Green Mountain Passport Application

Green Mountain Passports are available in the Clerk’s Office for those who are a full-time resident of Vermont and 62 years of age or more, or a Veteran of the uniformed services. Manchester residents must complete the application and present it to the clerk’s office. To view or print the application, please click ‘Green Mountain Passport Application’ above.

What you will need to get your pass:

Valid Driver’s license, or military ID
Payment ($2.00)

Please visit the Vermont State Parks website for a list of parks that accepts the pass.

Hunting & Fishing Licenses

Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website

Purchasing a Hunting or Fishing License
Looking to purchase a last-minute gift you know a friend or loved one will use? Hunting and Fishing licenses are available to purchase in the clerk’s office, or you may purchase a license online.

Hunting and Fishing Regulations
Hunting and fishing regulation booklets may be obtained in the clerk’s office, or you may view the documents online.

License Fees

Gift Certificates
Gift Certificates may be purchased and redeemed in the clerk’s office if the gift certificate was purchased from our office, or you may purchase and/or redeem online gift certificates..

Land Posting

Manchester landowners who wish to post land may do so by visiting the clerk’s office during regular business hours.

To post property, you will need:

Payment – $5 payable to the Town of Manchester
** Please note that payments made with a credit card are subject to a minimal convenience fee **

When posting land, you will need to know the following:

which actions you are trying to limit or prevent
are you allowing those with your permission to hunt, shoot, trap, or fish, or do you want to prevent all of those?
approximate number of acres (or length of stream)
location of the property within the town
reason for posting land

Safety Zone Signs
Safety zone signs may be obtained in the clerk’s office, or visit the Fish and Wildlife ‘What Posting Means’ page for additional information.

Land posting in the State of Vermont is governed by 10 V.S.A. § 5201.

Land Records

View the Town of Manchester land record index from November 2004 forward. Take Note: Images are currently unavailable online.
Pay for Land Record Copies Online!
Learn more about the land record software company used in the clerk’s office

Coming Soon: Beginning in mid-June 2022, COTT Systems will be scanning index cards from 1874 to 2004. Index cards are scheduled to be available for online searching in December 2022. Additional images will be scanned in mid-June 2022 and are scheduled to be available on public terminals in the clerk’s office in December 2022. The clerk’s office will continue working toward online images of land records.

Liquor Licenses

Liquor licenses must be submitted to the clerk of municipality where the business will be located, and will be reviewed by the Selectboard at a publicly warned meeting.

Please note this process may take in upwards of one month for local approval. Once the Selectboard approves, or denies the liquor license application(s) and/or permit(s), the document(s) will be sent to the Department of Liquor and Lottery for the state to review. Please keep in mind the state’s review process may take 4-6 weeks to complete. For additional information regarding liquor licenses, you may contact the clerk’s office or visit the Division of Liquor Control’s website.

View the links below:

Marriage Licenses

We look forward to welcoming couples and their families and friends to our beautiful, picturesque town in the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Vermont couples and out-of-state couples may obtain a marriage license in any town or city in the state of Vermont as of July 1, 2022.

Obtaining a marriage license:

Fill out the Marriage License Application
Email the Marriage License Application to the clerk’s office. Please include the temporary officiant authorization (if applicable) and a preferred date and time to obtain your marriage license in person. Please note: We do require both parties to be present at the time we issue your marriage license.
Arrive at the clerk’s office for your scheduled appointment with the applicable fees.

What you will need:

Payment: $90 payable to the Town of Manchester (cost includes 1 copy of your certified marriage license, mailed to you after the ceremony)

Acceptable forms of payment: Cash, check and credit card (please note payments made with a credit card are subject to a minimal convenience fee)

Divorce decree (This is only needed if you have been divorced within the past two (2) calendar years)
The authorization your officiant received (if applicable)

Officiant information:
If your officiant is NOT from Vermont, he/she must obtain an authorization to perform the ceremony.

Officiants who have an affiliation ( Priest, Rabbi, Minister, etc.) may go through Bennington Probate Court
Officiants who do not have an affiliation (Friend, Relative, etc.) may go through the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office website

To view a list of questions and answers to help you plan your Vermont wedding, please click Getting Married in Vermont

Notary Services

Notary services are available to Manchester residents by appointment in the clerk's office.

Please bring any and all witnesses necessary with you to the office, as we cannot guarantee there will be witnesses available.

If you reside in another municipality, please visit your town clerk to see if notary services are offered to residents.
All persons signing the document(s) and witnessing the document(s) being signed must bring a valid photo ID to the appointment.

Tax Abatement

Tax Appeals

Property owners are required to file a written appeal with the Town Assessor within 14 days of the publication of the preliminary Grand List, also known as the Abstract. If property owners are unsatisfied with the Assessor’s determination, they may appeal to the Board of Civil Authority within 14 days of the Assessor’s decision.

Please complete the Tax Appeal Request Form and submit your written request to the clerk of the board by email at a.sheldon@manchester-vt.gov, or mail to: Manchester Board of Civil Authority P.O. Box 830 Manchester Center, Vermont 05255. For more information about the board, contact the clerk’s office at (802) 362 1313, option 1 or by email at a.sheldon@manchester-vt.gov.

Property Tax Assessment Appeal Hearing Process