Connecticut Divorce Information
and FAQ
A complaint for dissolution of marriage may be filed at any time after
either spouse has established residency with the State of Connecticut. A
decree of dissolution of marriage will not be issued by the court however,
until:
1. At least one of the parties to the marriage has been a resident of
the state for one year prior to the filing of the complaint of the date of
the decree, or;
2. One of the parties was domiciled in the state at the time of
marriage and returned to the state with the intention of remaining
indefinitely prior to the filing of the complaint, or;
3. The cause of the divorce arose after either party moved to the
state. CGSA 46b-45
Grounds for divorce A decree of dissolution of marriage shall be
granted upon a finding that:
1. The marriage has broken down irretrievably; 2. The parties have
lived apart due to incompatibility for eighteen months with no reasonable
prospect of reconciliation; 3. Adultery; 4. Fraudulent contract; 5.
Willful desertion for one year with total neglect of duty; 6. Seven years
absence with no contact; 7. Habitual intemperance; 8. Intolerable cruelty;
9. Sentence to life imprisonment or conviction of infamous crime involving
violation of conjugal duty punishable by more than one year in prison; 10.
Legal confinement in mental institution for five years within the six
years prior to filing. CGSA 46b-40
Waiting period There is a ninety day waiting period from the date of
return on the complaint for dissolution before the court will hear and
grant a dissolution of marriage. CGSA 46b-67 Name of court and title of
action/parties An action for dissolution of marriage in the State of
Connecticut is filed in the Superior Court. The title of the action
initiating dissolution of marriage proceeding is called a Complaint for
Dissolution of Marriage, while the title of the action granting the
dissolution of marriage is referred ot as the Decree of Dissolution of
Marriage. The party filing the action for dissolution of marriage is
called the Plaintiff, while the other party is referred to as the
Defendant. CGSA 46b-42
Simplified divorce proceeding The court may grant a request for
dissolution of marriage if: 1. The parties execute a written stipulation
that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, or;
2. The parties appear in court and stipulate that the marriage has
broken down irretrievalby and the parties have submitted an agreement
covering all issues regarding the custody, care, education, visitation and
support of any minor children and all issues relating to alimony and
division of property. CGSA 46b-51
Legal separation A decree of legal separation will be granted in the
State of Connecticut for the same grounds as a decree of dissolution of
marriage. CGSA 46b-40
Conciliation/mediation On or after the return day of a complaint for
dissolution of marriage and prior to the expiration of the ninety day
waiting period prior to issuance of a decree of dissolution, either party
may request conciliation for the purpose of exploring reconciliation or
resolving conflicts which might continue after the granting of a decree of
dissolution. Conciliation requires two mandatory consultation sessions
with a professional regarding the issues of reconciliation or conflict
resolution. Mediation may also be ordered by the court to resolve such
things as property, financial, child custody and visitation issues. CGSA
46b-53, 46b-53a
Alimony Alimony may be awarded to either spouse in the State of
Connecticut after consideration of the following factors: 1. The length of
the marriage; 2. The cause of the dissolution, annulment or separation; 3.
The age, health, and station of each party; 4. The occupation, amount and
source of income of each party; 5. The vocational skills and employability
of each party; 6. The estate and needs of each of the parties; 7. The
desirability of a custodial parent obtaining employment. CGSA 46b-82
Distribution of property Connecticut is an equitable distribution
state, which means that after setting aside to each spouse that spouse's
separate property, the court shall divide the marital property between the
parties as it deems equitable and just, after consideration of the
following factors:
1. The length of the marriage; 2. The cause of the dissolution,
annulment or separation; 3. The age, health and station of each party; 4.
The occupation, amount and source of income of each party; 5. The
vocational skills and employability of each party; 6. The estate,
liabilities and needs of each of the parties; 7. The opportunity of each
party for future acquisition of capital, assets and income; 8. The
contribution of each party to the acquisition, preservation or
appreciation of each party's estate. CGSA 46b-81
Child Custody The court will consider the best interests of the child
in determining issues relating to custody of minor children. There is a
presumption that joint custody is in the child's best interests. If the
child is of sufficient age and is capable of forming intelligent
preferences, the court shall consider the child's wishes as to custodial
arrangements. The court may also take into account the causes of the
dissolution if such causes are relevant. The non-custodial parent shall
not be denied access to the academic, medical or other records of the
child, unless otherwise ordered by the court. CGSA 46b-56 Child support
Either parent may be ordered to pay child support after consideration of
the following factors:
1. The age, health, station, occupation, earning capacity, amount and
sources of income, estate vocational skills and employability of each of
the parents, and;
2. The age health, station, occupation, educational status and
expectation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills,
employability, estate and needs of the child.
Connecticut has enacted child support guidelines which establish the
presumptively correct amount of child support to be paid. Any deviation
from the guidelines must be accompanied by a written finding that the
application of the guidelines would be inequitable or inappropriate in the
particular case. CGSA 46b-84, 46b-215b
Name change The court, upon request, may change the name of either
spouse to that spouse's former or maiden name. CGSA 46b-63 Grandparent
visitation The court may grant visitation of a child to any person, upon a
finding that such visitation would be in the child's best interests. CGSA
46b-59
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