Legal Blog

For those who are looking to purchase or sell their home, it can be difficult to discern  the exact cost of closing on such a deal.  Although the purchase price agreed to in the Vermont real estate transaction puts the parties to the deal in the ballpark of the actual overall cost, this ballpark can…

Attorney Fox obtained a “not guilty” verdict on behalf of his client on a DUI-First offense trial in Vermont Superior Court this week.  The State introduced evidence that the Defendant had refused the evidentiary test and had performed poorly on the field sobriety tests. Attorney Fox argued that you “could drive a truck through the…

A favorite tool for law enforcement in detecting drivers operating under the influence of alcohol, DUI checkpoints have long been effective in law enforcement netting arrests on busy holiday weekends such as Memorial Day and the 4th of July.  However, drivers would be remiss to believe that these checkpoints are present only to detect potential…

No one wants to be involved in a trip to the ditch, a slide into a pole, or a love tap into a stone wall. Hey, its Vermont, it happens. Although trying to exit what appears to be a moderate inconvenience quickly and quietly may appear to be a reasonable response to such a situation.…

After 18 months of rehabbing the old Masonic Lodge in downtown Chester, the law office of Chadwick Spensley & Fox is pleased to announce that the general practice branch is officially open for business. “It’s been a labor of love,” said Senior Partner, Evan Chadwick.  “The support we have gotten from the town has been…

One of the many issues that may arise in probating an estate is determining whether old estate planning documents, that may have slipped the mind of the decedent when they created new documents should still govern how an estate is distributed at the time of death. It is not uncommon for old Vermont trusts to…

Citing a record number of discrimination complaints in 2024, the Vermont Human Rights Commission has requested an additional $900,000 in funds to combat their heavy caseload. Enacted in 1987 by statute, the Human Rights Commission was formed to protect indivudals from discrimination, resolve disputes between parties involving discrimination and to serve as an educator of…

Do you need a will? The age old question for those analyzing their Vermont estate planning to determine just how complicated they need to make their estate plan is best answered by asking another question; What happens if I die without a will? Analyzing this question may just compel you to take the steps necessary…

Many Vermont homeowners who closed on their properties in the last 2 years have endured some of the highest interest rates in the past 20 years, when they exceeded 7.5% in late 2023. With rates now declining below 7%, many homeowners are debating whether it is time to refinance their mortgage in the hopes of…

It is well known throughout the State of Vermont that real estate taxes are going up. A combined educational and, in many towns, a municipal tax hike, will likely see taxes rise over 10% in the next tax year. Add to this the soaring values of real estate in Vermont and many homeowners may be…