The tenant must get a copy of their written answer to the landlord by the deadline. They can do that by email (if the other party agreed to service by email), or mail, or hand delivery.
The Vermont Judiciary does not have an eviction answer form.
A tenant can use the general civil Answer (form 100-00051) as a general template for what an answer looks like.
The VTLawHelp website has an answer form, and instructions for completing their form.
The tenant must also file a Certificate of Service (form 600-00264) telling the court how they got a copy of their answer to the landlord.
Counterclaim
A counterclaim is a lawsuit filed by the tenant against the landlord within the original case.
The VTLawHelp website has information about possible counterclaims in an eviction case on their Court Process: Steps in an Eviction Case web page under What Goes in the Tenant’s Answer / The Answer could include counterclaims.
There is a filing fee for a counterclaim. The Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs web page has information about the process to ask to waive the filing fee, and the form to make the request.
The tenant must get a copy of their counterclaim to the landlord. They can do that by email (if the other party agreed to service by email), or mail, or hand delivery. The tenant must also file a Certificate of Service (form 600-00264) telling the court how they did that.
The Vermont Judiciary does not have an eviction counterclaim form. The VTLawHelp website has a counterclaim form.
Responding to a Counterclaim