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Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 33 Sec. 6935

  • Abuse: means :

  • Adult: means any individual who is 18 years of age or older. See
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Exploitation: means :

  • following: when used by way of reference to a section of the law shall mean the next preceding or following section. See
  • Interested person: means a representative of the vulnerable adult; Adult Protective Services staff; the Commissioner of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living; or the Commissioner's designee. See
  • Neglect: means purposeful, knowing, or reckless failure or omission by a caregiver that has resulted in, or could be expected to result in, physical or psychological harm, including a failure or omission to:

  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Vulnerable adult: means any person 18 years of age or older who:

§ 6935. Findings and order

(a) If the court finds that the defendant has abused, neglected, or exploited the vulnerable adult, the court shall make such order as it deems necessary to protect the vulnerable adult. The plaintiff shall have the burden of proving abuse, neglect, or exploitation by a preponderance of the evidence. Relief shall be granted for a fixed period of time, at the expiration of which the court may extend any order, upon motion of the plaintiff, for such additional time as it deems necessary to protect the vulnerable adult from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The court may modify its order at any subsequent time upon motion by either party and a showing of a substantial change in circumstances. If the motion for extension or modification of the order is made by an interested person, notice shall be provided to the vulnerable adult, and the court shall determine whether the vulnerable adult is capable of expressing his or her wishes with respect to the motion and, if so, whether the vulnerable adult wishes to request an extension or modification. If the court determines the vulnerable adult is capable of expressing his or her wishes and does not wish to pursue the motion, the court shall dismiss the motion.

(b) Every order under this subchapter shall contain the name of the court, the names of the parties, the date of the petition, and the date and time of the order, and shall be signed by the judge.

(c) Form complaints and form orders shall be provided by the Court Administrator and shall be maintained by the clerks of the courts.

(d) Every order issued under this subchapter shall bear the following language: “VIOLATION OF THIS ORDER IS A CRIME SUBJECT TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT OR A FINE, OR BOTH, AND MAY ALSO BE PROSECUTED AS CRIMINAL CONTEMPT PUNISHABLE BY FINE OR IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH.” (Added 1991, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 2001, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 12, eff. June 13, 2002.)