Do i need to have an unlocked iphone to get service from Verizon?

My parents are divorced and my dad was paying my phone, i was on his two year contract, halfway completed. He recently unactivated it and now wants my mom to pay for it. My mom does not want a contract. If i take the phone to verizon, will they help me set up another plan or not? Also would i need to unlock the phone before i take it?

If the phone is under contract? Verizon may not be willing to do anything! Generally there's a charge for breaking the contract. You could go online and see if you can pay $20 to ReleaseMyCode and get it unlocked then use a prepaid CDMA service. But this can be viewed as illegal.

As long as you're over 18, it's a Verizon phone, and it's deactivated they will help you set it up on any plan you choose.