Connecticut Family Laws

At least one party must have been a resident of Connecticut for at least 12 months before the divorce judgment is entered, or must have been domiciled in the state at the time of the marriage and returned with the intention of remaining permanently, or the cause of the dissolution must have occurred in Connecticut.

The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage action is $360. Fee waiver (Application for Waiver of Fees) is available for those who cannot afford court costs.

Connecticut does not impose a statutory waiting period between filing and judgment, but courts typically schedule hearings several weeks to months after filing. Uncontested divorces may be resolved relatively quickly.

Connecticut is an "all-property" equitable distribution state. Courts may assign all or any part of the estate of either spouse, considering 12 statutory factors: length of marriage, causes for dissolution, age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, earning capacity, vocational skills, education, employability, estate, needs, and contribution of each party (including homemaking). A 50/50 split is not required — the court determines what is fair.

Custody is determined by the best interests of the child. Statutory factors include physical and emotional safety, temperament and developmental needs, parental capacity, the child's informed preferences, wishes of parents, past parent-child interaction, and willingness to facilitate the other parent's relationship. There is a presumption that custody with a parent is in the child's best interest (§ 46b-56b). Parents must file a proposed parenting plan (§ 46b-56a).

Connecticut uses the income shares model, estimating what both parents would spend on the child if the family were intact, then dividing proportionally by income. Guidelines apply when combined net weekly income is $4,000 or less; above that, awards are case-by-case. The guidelines are reviewed and updated every 4 years by the Commission for Child Support Guidelines.

Connecticut has no fixed alimony formula or duration limits. Courts consider length of marriage, causes for dissolution, age, health, station, occupation, income, earning capacity, vocational skills, employability, estate, needs, and desirability of the custodial parent securing employment. Three main types: rehabilitative (most common, finite period), permanent/lifetime (rare, typically 25+ year marriages), and pendente lite (temporary, during proceedings). Modification is available upon showing of substantial change in circumstances (§ 46b-86).

Any family or household member who is a victim of domestic violence may apply to Superior Court for a restraining order. Courts may issue ex parte orders for immediate protection. "Violent crime" includes physical harm, threatened violence, stalking, pattern of threatening, and cruelty to animals. Separate criminal protective orders may be issued at arraignment under § 46b-38c (Family Violence Prevention and Response Act).