The Vermont Emancipation Petition and Instructions are a set of documents used in the state of Vermont to legally free enslaved persons. These documents are typically used when an enslaved person has been granted permission to purchase their freedom from their owner. The documents include a petition to the court, a list of witnesses, and instructions for the emancipator on how to proceed. There are two types of Vermont Emancipation Petition and Instructions available: one for adults, and one for minors. The adult version requires the petitioner to provide proof of identity and financial ability to purchase their freedom, as well as provide a list of witnesses to testify as to the petitioner's character and intentions. The minor version also requires a list of witnesses, but does not require any evidence of identity or financial ability. Both versions require that the petitioner submit the documents to the court for approval in order to be legally emancipated.