Best Co-Parenting in Vermont — 11 resources

About Co-Parenting for Women

Co-parenting programs help separated and divorced mothers share custody constructively and document communication. Most states require court-ordered parent education (often called 'children first' or 'co-parenting' classes) before finalizing a divorce or custody order involving minor children — typically 4–6 hours, online or in person, costing 5–$75. Court-based mediation programs are often free or sliding-scale and certified through state mediation councils. Digital tools like OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses provide court-admissible message logs, shared calendars, and expense tracking that family judges increasingly require in high-conflict cases. This directory includes state-required classes, mediators, and co-parenting apps.

Co-Parenting in Vermont

Vermont's Family Division of the Superior Court handles all family matters statewide. The Office of Child Support Services operates under DCF. Burlington, South Burlington, Rutland, and Essex are the largest towns. Vermont Legal Aid, Legal Services Vermont, and the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence provide civil legal aid and a statewide Family Law helpline for women.

11 Resources

1. Vermont Court Mediation Program — Free

The Vermont Judiciary contracts certified mediators to help separating parents negotiate parenting plans before contested hearings. In low-income cases the fee can be waived through the court's IFP form. Call 802-828-3278 Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm to ask whether mediation is required in your county.

802-828-3278 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website

2. UVM Extension — Parenting Programs — Free

UVM Extension delivers the Building Strong Families curriculum and supports the Parents Apart Forever Children divorce-education classes that Vermont family courts often order. Sliding-scale fees; some sessions remote. Call 802-656-2990 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm.

802-656-2990 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

3. Parent Child Center Network of VT — Free

Fifteen Parent Child Centers across Vermont offer free supervised visitation, parent education, home visits, and Concrete Supports (diapers, formula, transport). Coordinated through 802-828-3278. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Designed for young moms and families navigating custody safely.

802-828-3278 · Statewide Locations · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

4. Our Family Wizard — Free

OurFamilyWizard logs every message, expense, and calendar change in a tamper-proof record that Vermont family-court judges routinely accept as evidence. The ToneMeter feature flags hostile language before send. Monthly subscription; fee waivers for survivors via the application form.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. TalkingParents — Free

TalkingParents offers free unlimited secure messaging plus an unalterable PDF record available on demand — the free tier covers most Vermont custody disputes without paying. Phone-call recording and accountable payments are paid add-ons.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. AppClose — Free

AppClose is the fully-free co-parenting app — shared calendar, secure messaging, accountable expense splitting, and parenting-plan storage with no subscription gate. Adequate for amicable Vermont co-parents who don't need court-grade reporting.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. 2houses — Free

2houses adds a journal section where parents log medical visits, school events, and milestones — handy for Vermont moms with a co-parent who lives out of state and rarely sees the children in person.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. Coparenter — Free

Coparenter pairs the app with on-demand licensed mediators who can defuse a disagreement by text in minutes. Useful for Vermont parents in remote counties without immediate access to a court-affiliated mediator.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

9. Up to Parents — Free

UpToParents.org is a free 30-minute online course many Vermont judges accept in lieu of an in-person divorce education class. Print the completion certificate for the court file.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

10. Cozi Family Organizer — Free

Cozi is the free family calendar app that color-codes each parent and child — useful for Vermont moms juggling joint custody schedules, school pickup, and activities across two households.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

11. Custody X Change — Free

Custody X Change generates parenting-time calendars and totals overnights for the year — exactly the data Vermont courts want when calculating child support under the income-shares model. One-time purchase.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many co-parenting resources are in Vermont?
Women's Corner tracks 11 co-parenting resources for women in Vermont.
Are co-parenting resources in Vermont free?
11 of the 11 listed co-parenting resources in Vermont are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Vermont have co-parenting resources?
Resources serve multiple cities and counties in Vermont.
What are some examples of co-parenting resources in Vermont?
Featured entries include Vermont Court Mediation Program, UVM Extension — Parenting Programs, Parent Child Center Network of VT, Our Family Wizard, TalkingParents.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
3 of 11 Vermont co-parenting listings include phone numbers.
Is a parenting class required for divorce?
In most states, yes — a 4–6 hour court-approved co-parenting class (5–$75, often online) is required before any divorce or custody order involving minor children is finalized. Check your state court's approved provider list. The class is gender-neutral and focuses on protecting kids from conflict.
What's mediation and do I have to do it?
Mediation is a confidential negotiation with a neutral third party to agree on a parenting plan. Most states require at least one mediation session before contested custody hearings. It's faster, cheaper, and less traumatic than litigation. If there's domestic violence history, you can request to opt out or have separate-room mediation.
Which co-parenting app should I use?
OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses are accepted as evidence in court in most US jurisdictions. They provide tamper-proof message logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and a tone-monitoring feature. If your ex is abusive or harassing, these apps create a documented record judges will read.
How do I co-parent with someone who was abusive?
Use parallel parenting instead of cooperative co-parenting — minimize contact, use a court-monitored app for all communication, exchange the child at a neutral location or police station, and stick strictly to the written parenting plan. Document everything. Many states allow supervised exchanges through Safe Exchange programs at no cost.