Connecticut Divorce Laws and Resources
The following information is a resource on divorce and family law in the State of Connecticut. You can find divorce professionals, forms, support, and state laws. In addition to the resources listed below, you can find more help and information in our divorce article section.
ProfessionalsDivorce LawyersMediators Private Investigators Background Checks Divorce SupportSupport GroupsDomestic ViolenceShelters and Hotlines |
Divorce PapersDivorce & Separation FormsOnline Divorce Divorce Form Preparation Family Law ResourcesDivorce LawsCT Child Support Guidelines CT Child Support Calculator CT Child Support Enforcement |
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DIVORCE LAWYERS AND FIRMS
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DIVORCE FORM PREPARATION
Have All of Your Documents Completed For You! This easy to use, accurate, and up-to-date on-line divorce service is a perfect "do it yourself (without a lawyer)" solution for any uncontested divorce (with or without children) that will be filed in the state of Connecticut. You can get "Real Person" customer support by phone & e-mail, plus access to 40 downloadable books (valued at over $750). Start your Connecticut divorce form preparation today.
MEDIATORS
The Vista Companies
Mediation, Collaborative Divorce
William Donaldson, CFP(R), CDFA
153 South Main Street
Newtown, Connecticut 06470
Telephone: 203-426-6214 ext.206
Fax:
203-426-6614
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS
There are currently no private investigators for this state
BACKGROUND CHECKS
Conduct Background Checks and Investigations - Obtain vital statistics, marriage and divorce records, credit record checks, criminal and court records, sex offender searches, driving and vehicle records, property records, general public records, business registration and property resources. Find out the truth about anyone!
DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUPS
Divorce Care can help you locate a divorce support group in your area. There are thousands of DivorceCare support groups throughout the USA and Canada, and many groups meeting internationally as well.
Partners in Prevention provides consulting and psychological services to
domestic abuse survivors before, during and post divorce. Additionally, we serve
as consulting experts in both civil and criminal domestic violence cases. We
also offer continuing medical and nursing education in domestic abuse assessment
and clinical management to healthcare professionals. You can contact us at:
13918 E. Mississippi Ave
Aurora, CO 80012
Phone: 720-222-1058
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES
Coalition Against Domestic Violence - Connecticut ChapterConnecticut Shelter Services
Domestic Violence Crisis and Support Services in Connecticut
In Connecticut, there is a statewide network of domestic violence programs that can be reached by calling the statewide domestic violence hotline at 1-888-774-2900. The programs provide shelter for victims of domestic violence, as well as counseling and other supportive services.
DIVORCE LAW
Legal Aspects of Divorce in CT (pdf)Divorce Statutes
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE: A decree dissolving a marriage or granting a legal separation may be entered if: (1) One of the parties to the marriage has been a resident of this state for at least the twelve months next preceding the date of the filing of the complaint or next preceding the date of the decree; or (2) one of the parties was domiciled in this state at the time of the marriage and returned to this state with the intention of permanently remaining before the filing of the complaint; or (3) the cause for the dissolution of the marriage arose after either party moved into this state. The Superior Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of all complaints seeking a decree of annulment, dissolution of a marriage or legal separation. [Based on Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-42 , 46b-44]
LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE: A decree of dissolution of a marriage
or a decree of legal separation shall be granted upon a finding that one of the
following causes has occurred:
(1) The marriage has broken down irretrievably;
(2) the parties have lived apart by reason of incompatibility for a
continuous period of at least the eighteen months immediately prior to
the service of the complaint and that there is no reasonable prospect
that they will be reconciled;
(3) adultery;
(4) fraudulent contract;
(5) willful desertion for one year with total neglect of duty;
(6) seven years’ absence, during all of which period the absent
party has not been heard from;
(7) habitual intemperance;
(8) intolerable cruelty;
(9) sentence to imprisonment for life or the commission of any
infamous crime involving a violation of conjugal duty and punishable
by imprisonment for a period in excess of one year;
(10) legal confinement in a hospital or hospitals or other similar
institution or institutions, because of mental illness, for at least
an accumulated period totaling five years within the period of six
years next preceding the date of the complaint.
[Based on Connecticut General
Statutes § 46b-40(c)] » Return
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LEGAL SEPARATION: Residency requirements and grounds for a legal
separation are the same as for a decree of dissolution of marriage. If no
declaration resuming the marital relationship has been filed, then at any time
after the entry of a decree of legal separation, either party may petition the
superior court for the judicial district in which the decree was entered for a
decree dissolving the marriage and the court shall enter the decree in the
presence of the party seeking the dissolution. [Based on Connecticut General
Statutes § 46b-40(c), 46b-42 , 46b-44, 46-b65]
SIMPLIFIED OR SPECIAL DIVORCE PROCEDURES: Stipulation of parties and finding of irretrievable breakdown. (a) In any action for dissolution of marriage or legal separation the court shall make a finding that a marriage breakdown has occurred where (1) the parties, and not their attorneys, execute a written stipulation that their marriage has broken down irretrievably, or (2) both parties are physically present in court and stipulate that their marriage has broken down irretrievably and have submitted an agreement concerning the custody, care, education, visitation, maintenance or support of their children, if any, and concerning alimony and the disposition of property. The testimony of either party in support of that conclusion shall be sufficient. [Based on Connecticut General Statutes Annotated; Title 46b-51].
MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS: On or after the return day of a complaint seeking the dissolution of a marriage or a legal separation and prior to the expiration of the ninety-day period specified in section 46b-67 either spouse or the counsel for any minor children of the marriage may submit a request for conciliation to the clerk of the court. A program of mediation services for persons filing for dissolution of marriage may be established in such judicial districts of the Superior Court as the Chief Court Administrator may designate. Mediation services shall address property, financial, child custody and visitation issues.
The court shall order participation in a parenting education program whenever a minor child is involved in such action unless (1) the parties agree, subject to the approval of the court, not to participate in such program, (2) the court, on motion, determines that participation is not deemed necessary, or (3) the parties select and participate in a comparable parenting education program. [Based on Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-53, 46b-53a, 46b-69b] » Return to top
PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION: Connecticut is an equitable distribution state. The Superior Court may assign to either the husband or wife all or any part of the estate of the other. The court may pass title to real property to either party or to a third person or may order the sale of such real property, without any act by either the husband or the wife, when in the judgment of the court it is the proper mode to carry the decree into effect.
In fixing the nature and value of the property, if any, to be assigned, the court, after hearing the witnesses, if any, of each party, shall consider the length of the marriage, the causes for the annulment, dissolution of the marriage or legal separation, the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities and needs of each of the parties and the opportunity of each for future acquisition of capital assets and income. The court shall also consider the contribution of each of the parties in the acquisition, preservation or appreciation in value of their respective estates. [Based on Connecticut General Statutes Annotated; Title 46b- 81].
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ALIMONY/MAINTENANCE/SPOUSAL SUPPORT: The Superior Court may order
either of the parties to pay alimony to the other, in addition to or in lieu of
the property distribution. In determining whether alimony shall be
awarded, and the duration and amount of the award, the court shall hear the
witnesses, if any, of each party, shall consider the length of the marriage, the
causes for the annulment, dissolution of the marriage or legal separation, the
age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational
skills, employability, estate and needs of each of the parties and the award, if
any, which the court may make pursuant property distribution, and, in the case
of a parent to whom the custody of minor children has been awarded, the
desirability of such parent's securing employment. [Based on Connecticut General Statutes Annotated;
Title 46b-82]
SPOUSE'S NAME: At the time of entering a decree dissolving a marriage, the court, upon request of either spouse, shall restore the birth name or former name of such spouse. [Based on Connecticut General Statutes Annotated; Title 46b- 63].
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CHILD CUSTODY: In making or modifying any order with respect to
custody or visitation, the court shall (1) be guided by the best interests of
the child, giving consideration to the wishes of the child if the child is of
sufficient age and capable of forming an intelligent preference, provided in
making the initial order the court may take into consideration the causes for
dissolution of the marriage or legal separation if such causes are relevant in a
determination of the best interests of the child, and (2) consider whether the
party satisfactorily completed participation in a parenting education program
established pursuant to section 46b-69b.
[Connecticut General Statutes Annotated; Title 46b, Chapters
56, 56a, 56b, and 84].
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CHILD SUPPORT: Upon or subsequent to the annulment or dissolution
of any marriage or the entry of a decree of legal separation or divorce, the
parents of a minor child of the marriage, shall maintain the child according to
their respective abilities, if the child is in need of maintenance. If
there is an unmarried child of the marriage who has attained the age of
eighteen, is a full-time high school student and resides with a parent, the
parents shall maintain the child according to their respective abilities if the
child is in need of maintenance until such time as such child completes the
twelfth grade or attains the age of nineteen, whichever first occurs. The
court may make appropriate orders of support of any child with mental
retardation, who resides with a parent and is principally dependent upon such
parent for maintenance until such child attains the age of
twenty-one.
In determining whether a child is in need of maintenance and, if in need, the respective abilities of the parents to provide such maintenance and the amount thereof, the court shall consider the age, health, station, occupation, earning capacity, amount and sources of income, estate, vocational skills and employability of each of the parents, and the age, health, station, occupation, educational status and expectation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate and needs of the child. View Child Support Guidelines. [Based on Connecticut General Statutes Annotated; Title 46b-84].
PREMARITAL AGREEMENT: A premarital agreement shall be in writing
and signed by both parties. It shall be enforceable without consideration.
Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to:
(1) The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the
property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or
located;
(2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon,
lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in,
mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control
property;
(3) The disposition of property upon separation, marital
dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other
event;
(4) The modification or elimination of spousal support;
(5) The making of a will, trust or other arrangement to carry out
the provisions of the agreement;
(6) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit
from a life insurance policy;
(7) The right of either party as a participant or participant's
spouse under a retirement plan;
(8) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement;
and
(9) Any other matter, including their personal rights and
obligations.
The right of a child to support may not be adversely affected by a premarital
agreement. Any provision relating to the care, custody and visitation or other
provisions affecting a child shall be subject to judicial review and
modification. [Based on Connecticut General Statutes Annotated; Title
46b-36]
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