Divorce Checklist for Connecticut

Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-44 requires that at least one spouse has been a resident of Connecticut for a minimum of 12 months before the court can grant a final dissolution decree. You may file your divorce complaint at any time after establishing residence in the state, but the judge will not finalize the divorce until the 12-month residency threshold is met by either spouse. Alternative qualifying conditions exist under § 46b-44: if one spouse was domiciled in Connecticut at the time of the marriage, moved away, and returned with the intent to remain permanently, or if the marriage breakdown occurred after either spouse moved to Connecticut. Military personnel who were Connecticut residents at the time of entry into service are deemed to have continuously resided in the state under § 27-103. Gather documentation proving your Connecticut domicile, including a valid Connecticut driver's license, utility bills, lease agreements, or mortgage statements showing your Connecticut address.

Before initiating your dissolution of marriage action in Connecticut Superior Court, collect all critical personal and financial records that the court will require throughout the proceedings. Under Connecticut Practice Book § 25-32, both parties must exchange mandatory disclosure documents, so having these records organized in advance will streamline the process significantly. You will need your certified marriage certificate from the town clerk where the marriage was recorded or from the Connecticut Department of Public Health if married in Connecticut. If you have minor children, gather birth certificates for each child, along with records of any existing custody or support orders. Compile identification documents including Social Security cards for yourself, your spouse, and all children. Having prenuptial or postnuptial agreements readily available is essential, as Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-36g governs their enforceability and either party must raise enforcement within 60 days of the return date.

Connecticut Practice Book § 25-32 mandates comprehensive financial disclosure in all dissolution actions. Both parties must exchange detailed financial documents, including federal and state income tax returns from the last three complete tax years, plus all W-2, 1099, and K-1 forms. You must produce 24 months of statements for every financial account held at any bank, brokerage, or financial institution. Collect 12 months of pay stubs or earnings records documenting current income. Additionally, gather documentation for all real property, retirement accounts, pension plans, business ownership interests, and life insurance policies. Connecticut follows equitable distribution under § 46b-81, meaning the court considers all property owned by either spouse regardless of title. Having complete records prepared before filing prevents delays in the mandatory 30-day financial affidavit deadline that begins running from the return date. Organize documents by category for easier completion of the Financial Affidavit form JD-FM-6.

Connecticut offers three distinct divorce tracks, and selecting the correct one before filing saves considerable time and expense. The nonadversarial track under Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-44a allows couples to obtain a divorce within 35 days without a court appearance if they meet strict eligibility criteria: the marriage lasted 9 years or fewer, no children were born to or adopted by the couple, neither spouse is pregnant, neither owns real property, combined assets total less than $80,000, neither has a defined benefit pension, no bankruptcy is pending, and no restraining orders exist between them. The traditional uncontested track applies when both spouses agree on all terms but do not qualify for nonadversarial filing — this requires the standard 90-day waiting period under § 46b-67. The contested track applies when spouses cannot agree on property division, custody, support, or other issues, requiring court intervention. Evaluate your circumstances honestly against these criteria to choose the appropriate path.

If domestic violence is a factor in your marriage, Connecticut law provides specific protections that must be addressed before filing for dissolution. Under Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-15, you may obtain a restraining order independently of the divorce action through the Superior Court. The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) operates a 24-hour statewide hotline at 1-888-774-2900 providing crisis intervention, safety planning, emergency shelter referrals, and legal advocacy. Connecticut's parenting education program providers are required under § 46b-69b to provide safety and security measures for domestic violence victims attending mandatory courses. If you have an existing protective order, notify the court when filing your dissolution complaint, as this affects automatic court orders under JD-FM-158 and may impact custody and visitation arrangements. Connecticut courts prioritize the safety of parties and children, and evidence of domestic violence is a statutory factor in custody determinations under § 46b-56.

The Divorce Complaint form JD-FM-159 is the primary document that initiates your dissolution of marriage action under Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-40 and § 46b-45. Complete all sections of the complaint, including identifying information for both spouses, the date and place of marriage, the grounds for divorce (most commonly 'irretrievable breakdown of the marriage'), and the specific relief you are requesting such as property division, alimony, child custody, and child support. You must also complete the Summons — Family Actions form JD-FM-3, which formally notifies your spouse of the legal action and identifies the return date. The return date must be a Tuesday, typically selected approximately 4 weeks from the anticipated service date to allow adequate time for proper service. Additionally, complete the Notice of Automatic Court Orders form JD-FM-158, which details the statutory restrictions that take effect upon service, prohibiting either spouse from transferring assets, changing insurance, or incurring unreasonable debts.

When minor children are involved in your Connecticut dissolution action, several additional forms become mandatory under the Connecticut Practice Book and statutory requirements. Complete the Affidavit Concerning Children form JD-FM-164, which provides the court with essential information about each child's current living arrangements, custody history, and any existing court orders in any jurisdiction. This affidavit is required by the federal Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) as codified in Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-115 through § 46b-115jj. You must also prepare the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines Worksheet form CCSG-1, which calculates the presumptive child support obligation based on both parents' net incomes under § 46b-84 and § 46b-215a. Additionally, prepare the Advisement of Rights form JD-FM-71. The court will issue a Parenting Education Program Order form JD-FM-149 requiring both parents to complete a court-approved parenting course within 60 days of the return date under § 46b-69b.

File your completed Divorce Complaint (JD-FM-159), Summons (JD-FM-3), Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158), and all additional required forms with the clerk of the Superior Court in the judicial district where either spouse resides. The filing fee is $360, payable by cash, check, or money order at the clerk's office. Connecticut permits electronic filing through the e-Services portal at https://eservices.jud.ct.gov/ for most family case types including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and annulment. When filing, you must include a blank Appearance form JD-CL-12 for your spouse to complete. The clerk's office must receive your original documents, including the Return of Service from the state marshal, at least 6 days before the return date you selected. If you cannot afford the $360 filing fee, submit the Application for Waiver of Fees form JD-FM-75, which covers filing fees, service costs, and other court-related expenses based on demonstrated financial hardship.

Connecticut law requires proper service of process to provide your spouse with legal notice of the divorce action. A Connecticut state marshal or constable must serve the Summons (JD-FM-3), Divorce Complaint (JD-FM-159), Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158), blank Appearance form (JD-CL-12), and the Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164) if children are involved. Service must be completed at least 12 days before the return date specified in the summons. Service may be made 'in hand' — delivering the papers directly to your spouse — or by 'abode service,' leaving the papers at your spouse's usual place of residence. If your spouse lives outside Connecticut, you may request an Order of Notice from the court to allow service by certified mail under Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-46. Alternatively, your spouse may voluntarily waive service by completing the Certification of Waiver of Service of Process form JD-FM-249 and filing it with an Appearance. The state marshal will complete a Return of Service documenting when and how service was made.

After service is completed, the respondent spouse should file an Appearance form JD-CL-12 with the Superior Court clerk, ideally within 2 days of the return date. Filing an Appearance notifies the court that the respondent is participating in the case and provides contact information for all future notices. If the respondent fails to file an Appearance, temporary orders concerning children, the marital home, child support, alimony, and other matters may be entered in their absence under Connecticut Practice Book § 25-23. Furthermore, after 90 days, the plaintiff may request entry of a divorce judgment by default against a spouse who never filed an Appearance. The return date is the pivotal date in Connecticut divorce proceedings — it starts the 90-day mandatory waiting period under § 46b-67, triggers the 30-day deadline for financial affidavit exchange, and begins the 60-day window for completing the mandatory parenting education program. Both parties should mark these deadlines immediately upon learning the return date.

Both parties must complete and exchange sworn Financial Affidavits within 30 days of the return date, as required by Connecticut Practice Book § 25-30. Use form JD-FM-6 Short if your income and assets are each under $75,000; use form JD-FM-6 Long if either exceeds $75,000. The Financial Affidavit must detail all income from every source, weekly living expenses, total assets including real property, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, and retirement funds, and all liabilities including mortgages, credit cards, and loans. The affidavit must be signed under oath and dated within the last 30 days to be valid. Connecticut treats a fraudulent Financial Affidavit as perjury under § 53a-156, and the court may reopen the case within 4 months of the dissolution decree if hidden assets are discovered. Additionally, parties must comply with Mandatory Disclosure and Production requirements under Practice Book § 25-32, exchanging tax returns, pay stubs, and 24 months of financial statements within 30 days of a written request.

Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-69b mandates that both parents in a dissolution action involving minor children complete a court-approved parenting education program within 60 days of the return date. The program educates parents on the developmental stages of children, the impact of parental separation on children, conflict management and dispute resolution, visitation guidelines, stress reduction techniques, and cooperative parenting strategies. The program does not exceed 10 hours total and costs no more than $200 per person, payable directly to the service provider. No parent may be excluded from the program due to inability to pay — providers must accommodate indigent participants under their Judicial Department contracts. Upon completion, the service provider issues a certification that must be filed with the court using the Parenting Education Program form JD-FM-149. Domestic violence victims are entitled to safety and security measures during the program under § 46b-69b. Each parent is only required to complete the program once, even if involved in subsequent family court actions.

The court schedules a Resolution Plan Date (RPD) approximately 30 to 45 days after the return date. This is your first court date and a critical step in the Connecticut divorce timeline. At the RPD, both parties meet with a Family Relations Counselor from the court's Family Services division, who assesses the needs of the case and helps develop a plan for resolving outstanding issues. The counselor may recommend referral to mediation through the court's Alternative Dispute Resolution program, evaluate whether custody or visitation disputes require a custody study, and identify any immediate needs for temporary orders. Connecticut's family courts utilize these early intervention conferences to encourage settlement and reduce litigation under the procedures established by Practice Book § 25-50 through § 25-62. Both spouses should bring their completed Financial Affidavits, any proposed parenting plans, and a list of contested issues to this conference. The court may enter case management orders and schedule subsequent court dates based on the RPD outcome.

After the Resolution Plan Date, both parties engage in the formal discovery process and settlement negotiations. Under Connecticut Practice Book § 25-32, Mandatory Disclosure and Production requires exchange of tax returns from the last 3 years, all W-2 and 1099 forms, 12 months of pay stubs, and 24 months of bank and financial institution statements within 30 days of a written request. Beyond mandatory disclosure, parties may use additional discovery tools including interrogatories (written questions that must be answered under oath within 30 days under Practice Book § 13-2), requests for production of documents, depositions, and requests for admissions. The court schedules a Case Date 30 to 60 days after the Resolution Plan Date to monitor progress. Settlement negotiations may occur directly between parties, through attorneys, or through court-referred mediation via the court's Alternative Dispute Resolution program. If the parties reach full agreement, they prepare a Separation Agreement (Dissolution Agreement form JD-FM-172) covering property division, alimony, child custody, child support, and all other terms.

Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-67 imposes a mandatory 90-day waiting period from the return date before the court may enter a dissolution decree. For uncontested divorces where both parties have reached a complete settlement agreement, a brief hearing is scheduled after the 90-day period expires. At this hearing, the plaintiff testifies under oath that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, confirms residency requirements are met, and presents the signed Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172) for judicial approval. Both parties must submit current Financial Affidavits (JD-FM-6) signed and dated within the last 30 days, and the Dissolution of Marriage Report (JD-FM-181) required by the Connecticut Bureau of Vital Statistics. The court reviews the agreement to ensure it is fair and equitable under § 46b-66 and, if children are involved, that it serves the best interests of the children under § 46b-56. For contested divorces, the court schedules a trial where both parties present evidence and the judge decides all disputed issues.