Yes, divorce records are public in Connecticut. Court files are presumed open under the state's Freedom of Information Act and First Amendment access principles, so anyone can view case summaries through the Judicial Branch online lookup. Financial affidavits are automatically sealed under Practice Book § 25-59A(h). Certified copies of a Divorce Decree cost $25.
Connecticut treats a dissolution of marriage as a public civil proceeding. Once a document is filed with the Superior Court, it becomes a public record unless a judge grants a motion to seal. This guide explains what is public, what stays private, how to search divorce records, and how to seal them—with verified 2026 fees, statutes, and Practice Book rules.
Key Facts: Connecticut Divorce Records at a Glance
| Item | Connecticut Detail |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $360 as of March 2026 (verify with clerk) |
| Certified Decree Copy | $25 per Judgment File |
| Waiting Period | 90 days from Return Date (C.G.S. § 46b-67) |
| Residency Requirement | 12 months (C.G.S. § 46b-44) |
| Grounds | No-fault (irretrievable breakdown) + fault grounds |
| Property Division Type | Equitable distribution (C.G.S. § 46b-81) |
| Records Presumption | Public, per FOIA + First Amendment |
| Auto-Sealed | Financial affidavits (PB § 25-59A(h)) |
| Online Retention | Case summaries kept ~10 years |
Are Divorce Records Public in Connecticut?
Yes, divorce records are public in Connecticut. Connecticut law creates an automatic presumption that the public and press may access divorce documents and court hearings, rooted in the state Freedom of Information Act and the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Once any pleading is filed with the Superior Court, it becomes a public record unless a judge grants a motion to seal.
This presumption of openness is strong and long-standing. The State of Connecticut has recognized a public interest in civil and criminal trials for over a century, and that interest extends to family matters. When someone asks whether divorce records are public in Connecticut, the accurate answer is that the default rule is public access, and privacy is the exception that must be affirmatively requested and justified. Written settlement agreements that are filed with the court or incorporated into a judgment also become public records. The narrow exceptions—automatically sealed financial affidavits, restraining-order details, and materials a judge specifically seals for good cause—are addressed in the sections below. For the vast majority of divorce cases, basic case information sits in the public record and is searchable by name.
What Information Appears in Public Connecticut Divorce Filings?
Public Connecticut divorce filings show the case number, the full names of both parties, the filing date, the Return Date, hearing dates, motions filed, and the final judgment status. The online Civil/Family Case Look-up displays summary information only; the actual divorce file documents are not viewable in the portal and must be requested from the Judicial District Clerk's Office.
Understanding the split between summary data and full documents matters for anyone doing a divorce records search. The Connecticut Judicial Branch maintains case summaries online for up to 10 years, and these summaries reveal that a divorce occurred, who was involved, which court handled it, and how it was resolved. The detailed pleadings—complaints, agreements, memoranda of decision, and the Judgment File itself—live in the physical court file at the Judicial District Clerk's Office where the case was heard. Public divorce filings therefore expose the fact and outcome of a dissolution to anyone who searches, while the granular financial and personal details require an in-person or mail request and, in some cases, proof of a qualifying relationship. This two-tier structure balances the public's right of access against the privacy interests of divorcing spouses.
How to Search Divorce Records in Connecticut Online
To search divorce records in Connecticut online, use the Judicial Branch Case Look-up at jud.ct.gov, select "Civil/Family Case Look-up," and enter both parties' full names or the case number. Results display case status, hearing dates, and basic information at no charge. Summaries remain available for approximately 10 years; older records require contacting the Judicial District Clerk's Office directly.
The free online divorce records search follows a predictable sequence. First, go to the Connecticut Judicial Branch Case Look-up page. Second, choose the Civil/Family Case Look-up option to reach family court cases. Third, enter the complete names of both spouses, or the docket number if you have it. Fourth, browse the returned results to locate the specific dissolution. Fifth, click the case link to view status, upcoming hearing dates, and summary details. This process costs nothing and requires no login. Because the portal shows only summaries, a public divorce filings search online confirms that a case exists but will not deliver copies of pleadings. For genealogical or historical research, the Connecticut State Library holds pre-1968 divorce records by county, and its LibGuides catalog helps locate older files that predate the digital system.
How to Get Certified Copies of a Connecticut Divorce Decree
Certified copies of a Connecticut Divorce Decree cost $25 per Judgment File and must be requested from the Superior Court or Judicial District Clerk's Office where the divorce was granted. In-person requests are typically processed quickly; mailed requests can take up to eight weeks. The Connecticut Department of Public Health does not maintain divorce records or issue certified copies.
Many people incorrectly assume the state Vital Records Office issues divorce certificates the way it issues birth and death certificates. In Connecticut, that is not the case. Divorce becomes final when a Superior Court judge delivers the judgment and issues the Judgment File, commonly called the Divorce Decree, and the Judicial District Clerk's Office maintains that record. To obtain a certified copy, an applicant visits the correct clerk's office, completes a request form, and presents a valid government-issued photo ID. Only authorized persons may request copies of a Divorce Decree, and applicants may need to demonstrate their relationship to the divorced parties. The $25 certified-copy fee is separate from the divorce filing fee and applies per Judgment File requested. Budget extra time for mailed requests, which can run up to eight weeks during busy periods.
What Divorce Records Are NOT Public in Connecticut?
Financial affidavits are automatically sealed in Connecticut under Practice Book § 25-59A(h) and are disclosable only to the judicial authority, court personnel, the parties, their attorneys, and any guardians ad litem for minor children. Records containing restraining-order information are also withheld from public access. All other filed divorce documents remain public unless a judge specifically orders them sealed.
The automatic sealing of financial affidavits is the single most important privacy protection in a Connecticut divorce. These sworn statements of income, expenses, assets, and liabilities are sealed by rule the moment they are filed—no motion is required. When e-filing, the system automatically applies the seal and displays a confirmation that the document is sealed pursuant to Practice Book § 25-59A(h). The filer must select the correct document type and must not attach a financial affidavit to another filing, or the automatic seal may fail. Beyond financial affidavits, divorce records that include protective-order or restraining-order details are not accessible to the public in order to protect victim safety. Everything else in a divorce file carries the strong presumption of public access, meaning a party who wants additional privacy must file a separate motion to seal and satisfy a demanding legal standard.
How to Seal Divorce Records in Connecticut
To seal divorce records in Connecticut beyond the auto-sealed financial affidavit, a party must file a written motion under Practice Book § 25-59A(c) and convince the judge that the interest in sealing outweighs the public's First Amendment right of access. A mutual agreement between spouses is not sufficient—the court must make a specific finding of good cause after a hearing.
Sealing non-financial divorce documents is difficult by design. Under Practice Book § 25-59A, the judicial authority may not seal or limit disclosure of files, affidavits, or documents unless a party shows that the reason to seal outweighs the public's constitutional right of access. Courts commonly consider sealing to protect children under 18, victims of domestic violence and abuse, proprietary or confidential business information, or to prevent the spread of false information. The party seeking to seal divorce records—or the spouse, or the judge acting on the court's own motion—must file the motion in writing; relying on the judge to raise it independently is a mistake. Crucially, a private agreement to seal is not enough. The court holds a hearing, weighs the competing interests, and issues findings. Because settlement-conference materials and negotiations fall outside the presumption of openness under § 25-59A(g), those specific records enjoy greater protection, but a settlement filed with the court or incorporated into the judgment becomes public.
Public vs. Sealed: Connecticut Divorce Records Comparison
The table below compares what is publicly accessible against what is protected in a typical Connecticut dissolution. Financial affidavits are the clearest example of automatic privacy, while most other documents default to public access unless a court orders otherwise.
| Record Type | Public Access | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Case summary (names, dates, status) | Public online (~10 yrs) | Judicial Branch Case Look-up |
| Complaint / dissolution petition | Public | PB § 25-59A presumption |
| Divorce Decree / Judgment File | Public; $25 certified copy | Clerk's Office |
| Filed settlement agreement | Public if in judgment | PB § 25-59A(g) |
| Financial affidavit | Sealed automatically | PB § 25-59A(h) |
| Restraining-order details | Not public | Victim-safety protection |
| Settlement-negotiation materials | Not public | PB § 25-59A(g) |
| Records sealed by court order | Not public | PB § 25-59A(c) good-cause finding |
Connecticut Divorce Records Privacy Compared to Filing Basics
Divorce records privacy in Connecticut operates within the broader dissolution framework: a $360 filing fee (as of March 2026), a 90-day waiting period from the Return Date under C.G.S. § 46b-67, and a 12-month residency requirement under C.G.S. § 46b-44. These procedural facts appear in the public record, while the underlying financial disclosures stay sealed.
Context helps explain why certain records are public and others are not. Connecticut requires that at least one spouse reside in the state for 12 months before a decree is entered, and the statute provides three qualifying pathways, including where the cause for dissolution arose after a party moved to Connecticut. The mandatory 90-day waiting period runs from the court-assigned Return Date, not the filing date. Couples married nine years or less with no minor children and full agreement may use the expedited non-adversarial track under C.G.S. § 46b-44a, which still produces a public judgment. Property is divided by equitable distribution under C.G.S. § 46b-81, and the terms of that division—reflected in the filed judgment—become part of the public record even though the financial affidavits that informed it remain sealed. Fee waivers via Form JD-FM-75 are available for filers who demonstrate financial hardship.
Practical Tips for Protecting Your Privacy in a Connecticut Divorce
Protecting privacy in a Connecticut divorce starts with correct filing mechanics: file financial affidavits as standalone documents so the automatic seal under Practice Book § 25-59A(h) applies, and never attach them to other pleadings. For anything beyond financial affidavits, plan early to file a motion to seal, because the good-cause standard is demanding and mutual agreement alone will not seal a record.
Several concrete steps reduce unwanted exposure. First, when e-filing a financial affidavit, verify the confirmation message stating the document is sealed under PB § 25-59A(h); if it does not appear, the seal likely failed. Second, avoid placing sensitive account numbers, Social Security numbers, or minor children's identifying details in publicly filed pleadings—redact where the rules allow. Third, if confidential business information, a child's welfare, or a domestic-violence concern is at stake, work with counsel to prepare a motion to seal supported by specific facts rather than generalities. Fourth, remember that a case summary showing your name and the existence of a divorce will typically remain in the public online index for about 10 years regardless of sealing motions directed at documents. Understanding these limits lets you set realistic privacy expectations and focus protective efforts where the law actually permits sealing.