As amended through November 4, 2024
Rule 44.1 - Determination of Local and Foreign Law(a)Notice of State and Foreign Law. A party who intends to raise an issue concerning an administrative regulation of any agency of this state or a private law enacted by the legislature of this state, or concerning such a regulation, private law, or the general law of another state or of any territory or dependency of the United States or of a foreign country shall give notice by pleadings or other reasonable written notice. The court, in determining such law, may consider any relevant material or source, including testimony, whether or not submitted by a party or admissible under the Vermont Rules of Evidence. The court's determination shall be treated as a ruling on a question of law. (b)Notice and Proof of Municipal Ordinances and Regulations. A party who intends to raise an issue concerning an ordinance or administrative regulation of any political subdivision of this or another state of the United States, or of a political subdivision of any territory or dependency of the United States or of a foreign country, shall give notice thereof by pleadings or other reasonable written notice. That party shall thereafter produce at the hearing or trial evidence of the contents of such ordinance or regulation sufficient to support a finding that the contents are what the party claims them to be. The court shall determine the contents of the ordinance or regulation as a question of fact. The court shall determine the legal significance of such contents as a question of law in the manner provided in subdivision (a) of this rule. Amended Dec. 28, 1982, eff. 4/1/1983.