Connecticut Divorce Laws: Residency, Waiting Period, Custody and Support
Connecticut divorce rules: residency requirement, grounds, waiting period, filing fee, property division, alimony, custody, child support and uncontested divorce.
Quick answers for Connecticut
- Residency requirement
- A divorce or legal separation case can be filed as soon as either spouse has established residence in Connecticut. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-44
- Waiting period
- Connecticut has timing rules counted from the return date on the complaint: a default judgment against a spouse served in person or at home cannot enter until at least 30 days after the return date, and a contested divorce trial cannot start until at least 90 days after the return date. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 46b-67, 46b-44c
- Dividing property
- Connecticut uses equitable distribution. When entering a divorce, annulment or legal separation decree, the court may assign to either spouse all or part of the other spouse's estate, and can transfer or order the sale of real property. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-81
- Filing fee
- The Superior Court entry fee for a civil case, including a divorce, is $360. The court must waive court fees for a party it finds indigent; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-259, 52-259b
- When child support ends
- Parents must support a minor child (under 18). For decrees entered on or after July 1, 1994, support continues for an unmarried 18-year-old who is a full-time high school student and needs support, until the child finishes 12th grade or turns 19, whichever comes first. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-84(a)–(c)
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Filing for divorce
| Residency requirement | A divorce or legal separation case can be filed as soon as either spouse has established residence in Connecticut. But the court can enter the final decree only if one spouse has lived in Connecticut for at least the 12 months before filing or before the decree, or one spouse lived in Connecticut at the time of the marriage and returned intending to stay before filing, or the cause of the breakdown arose after either spouse moved to Connecticut. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-44 |
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| Grounds for divorce | Connecticut allows no-fault divorce when the marriage has broken down irretrievably, or when the spouses have lived apart due to incompatibility for at least 18 continuous months with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. Fault grounds also exist: adultery, fraudulent contract, willful desertion for one year with total neglect of duty, seven years' absence without being heard from, habitual intemperance, intolerable cruelty, life imprisonment or certain serious crimes, and five years' confinement for mental illness within the past six years. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-40(c) |
| Waiting period | Connecticut has timing rules counted from the return date on the complaint: a default judgment against a spouse served in person or at home cannot enter until at least 30 days after the return date, and a contested divorce trial cannot start until at least 90 days after the return date. If the spouses reach a full agreement, they can ask the court to enter judgment sooner. In a nonadversarial (joint petition) divorce, the decree can be entered no sooner than 30 days after filing. |
| Filing fee | The Superior Court entry fee for a civil case, including a divorce, is $360. The court must waive court fees for a party it finds indigent; a person is presumed indigent if they receive public assistance (such as state general assistance, temporary family assistance, SNAP or SSI) or have after-tax income of 125 percent of the federal poverty level or less. |
| Uncontested or simplified divorce | Yes. Spouses can file a notarized joint petition for nonadversarial dissolution if the marriage has broken down irretrievably, it has lasted no more than nine years, neither is pregnant, they have no children together, neither owns real property, their combined property (minus debts) is under $80,000, neither has a defined benefit pension, there is no pending bankruptcy or other family case, no restraining or protective order is in effect, and the residency rule is met. Both waive alimony, trial and appeal. The court sets a disposition date at least 30 days after filing and can grant the divorce without a hearing if any settlement agreement is fair and equitable. |
| Divorce forms | The Connecticut Judicial Branch groups its official divorce forms by case type (Filing for a Divorce, Responding to a Divorce, Nonadversarial Divorce) and publishes a "Divorce Options in Connecticut" guide (JDP-FM-274). To start a divorce, file the Summons Family Actions (JD-FM-3), Divorce Complaint (Dissolution of Marriage) (JD-FM-159) and Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158), plus Financial Affidavits (JD-FM-6) and, with minor children, the child support guidelines worksheet (CCSG-1) and Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164). Eligible couples (married 9 years or less, no children, no real property, and other conditions) can use the Joint Petition – Nonadversarial Divorce (JD-FM-242). Papers can be filed at the clerk's office or electronically by enrolling in the Judicial Branch's e-services. Guide: https://www.jud.ct.gov/Publications/FM274.pdf |
Property and alimony
| Dividing property | Connecticut uses equitable distribution. When entering a divorce, annulment or legal separation decree, the court may assign to either spouse all or part of the other spouse's estate, and can transfer or order the sale of real property. It considers the length of the marriage, the causes of the breakdown, each spouse's age, health, station, occupation, income, earning capacity, skills, education, employability, estate, liabilities and needs, their opportunity to acquire future assets, and each spouse's contribution to acquiring, preserving or increasing the value of their estates. The statute does not separate marital from separate property; the court may assign any part of either spouse's estate. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-81 |
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| Alimony (spousal support) | The court may order either spouse to pay alimony, in addition to or instead of a property award. In deciding whether to award it and its amount and length, the court considers the length of the marriage, the causes of the breakdown, each spouse's age, health, station, occupation, income, earning capacity, skills, education, employability, estate and needs, the property award, and for a custodial parent, whether it is practical for them to work. If an order after trial lasts until death or remarriage, the court must explain the basis in detail. The statute does not set a formula. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-82 |
Children: custody and support
| Child custody | Custody is decided by the child's best interests. Factors the court may consider include the child's physical and emotional safety, temperament and developmental needs, the parents' ability to meet those needs, information from the child including the child's informed preferences, the parents' wishes, the child's relationships with family members, each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent, manipulation or coercion of the child, stability, health of all involved, cultural background, domestic violence, abuse or neglect, and completion of a parenting education program. Joint custody is presumed to be in the child's best interests when both parents agree to it. No fixed age is set for the child's preference. |
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| Emergency and temporary custody | A person seeking custody in a custody or divorce case may apply to the Superior Court for an emergency ex parte order of custody when they believe there is an immediate and present risk of physical danger or psychological harm to the child. The application must include a sworn affidavit describing the emergency, stating that the order is in the child's best interests, and explaining what was done to notify the other party (or why the court should act without notice). If the court finds such a risk, it may grant temporary custody or visitation and bar the other party from taking the child out of state, interfering with custody or the child's schooling, or other specific acts. If the order is issued ex parte, a hearing must be scheduled within 14 days, and the other party must be served at least five days before the hearing. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-56f |
| Parenting class or mediation | Yes. In divorce and other family cases involving a minor child, the court orders the parties to attend the Judicial Branch's parenting education program, unless the parties agree not to with court approval, the court finds it unnecessary, or they complete a comparable program. The program costs no more than $200 per person (indexed for inflation), no one may be excluded for inability to pay, and it lasts no more than 10 hours. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-69b |
| Grandparents' rights | Any person, including a grandparent, may petition for visitation with a minor child by alleging that a parent-like relationship exists and that denying visits would cause real and significant harm (meaning the child would be neglected or uncared for). The court grants visitation only if both are proven by clear and convincing evidence. For grandparents, the court may also consider a history of regular contact and a close and substantial relationship. The court considers the child's wishes if the child is old enough to form an intelligent opinion. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-59 |
Child support
| Child support | Connecticut's Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines are based on the income shares model: the child should receive the same share of parental income as if the parents lived together. The parents' combined net weekly income is applied to the guidelines schedule and the result is prorated by each parent's income. The current guidelines are effective August 1, 2026. No official state online calculator was confirmed; the Judicial Branch law library links a private calculator. |
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| How to apply for child support | Apply through the Department of Social Services (DSS) Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) field office for the city or town where you live. You can complete the Application for Services online and email it to that office, or ask for an appointment by email or phone; custodial and noncustodial parents use different application forms. There is no application fee, but OCSS deducts a $35 annual fee from payments to a custodial party who has never received Temporary Family Assistance, when at least $550 is paid out to that person in a state fiscal year (July 1–June 30). The Child Support Call Center is 1-800-228-KIDS (5437). |
| When child support ends | Parents must support a minor child (under 18). For decrees entered on or after July 1, 1994, support continues for an unmarried 18-year-old who is a full-time high school student and needs support, until the child finishes 12th grade or turns 19, whichever comes first. The court may also order support for a child with an intellectual, mental or physical disability who lives with and is principally dependent on a parent: until age 21 for decrees or initial orders entered from October 1, 1997 to before October 1, 2023, and until age 26 for those entered on or after October 1, 2023. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-84(a)–(c) |
| Changing a child support order | A court may change a support order on a showing of a substantial change in either party's circumstances, or if the order substantially deviates from the child support guidelines (unless the court found when entering it that applying the guidelines would be inequitable or inappropriate). A deviation of 15% or more from the guidelines is presumed substantial; less than 15% is presumed not substantial. Either parent can ask for a review of the order through the local Judicial Branch Support Enforcement Services office. |
| If child support isn't paid | DSS and the Judicial Branch's Support Enforcement Services work together to enforce orders. Collection methods include income withholding, interception of federal and state tax refunds, credit bureau reporting, liens on real estate and personal property, seizure of financial assets, passport denial and interception of lottery winnings. Support Enforcement Services handles court-based enforcement, including contempt applications. |
| State child support agency | Connecticut child support services are provided by the Department of Social Services (DSS), Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), through local field offices. To apply, complete the Application for Services (custodial parents: F0699N; non-custodial parents: F699NCP) and email it to the DSS/OCSS office for your town, request an appointment by email or phone, or apply in person; parents with an existing order also submit a payment affidavit. There is no application fee, but a $35 annual fee is deducted for custodial parties who never received Temporary Family Assistance once at least $550 is disbursed in a state fiscal year. Families receiving TFA have a case opened automatically. Payments go to the State Disbursement Unit (Connecticut-CCSPC, P.O. Box 990031, Hartford, CT 06199-0031) or through the Connecticut Child Support Payment Resource Center (ct.smartchildsupport.com). Payments: https://portal.ct.gov/DSS/Child-Support/Child-Support---Non-Custodial-Parent/Payment |
| Official child support calculator | Connecticut child support is figured on the Connecticut Judicial Branch's Worksheet for the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines (form CCSG-1, Rev. 5-25), which works from each parent's net weekly income and the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations to a presumptive current support amount, under C.G.S. 46b-215a and Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies 46b-215a-6. Guidelines: https://www.jud.ct.gov/Publications/ChildSupport/CSguidelines.pdf; law library research guide: https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/childsupport.htm |
Separation, annulment, records and marriage
| Legal separation | Yes. A decree of legal separation is granted on the same grounds as a divorce, and the same residency rule applies. The court can divide property and order support in a legal separation. |
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| Annulment | An annulment is granted if the marriage is void or voidable under Connecticut law or the law of the state where the marriage took place. The statute does not list specific void or voidable grounds; the Judicial Branch law library has a separate research guide on annulment. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-40(b) |
| Common-law marriage | No. Connecticut does not recognize common-law marriages formed in Connecticut. The Judicial Branch law library guide quotes the Connecticut Supreme Court: although other jurisdictions may recognize common-law marriage, Connecticut definitely does not. The guide also covers recognition of out-of-state marriages under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-28a. |
| Changing your name after divorce | When entering a divorce decree, the court must restore a spouse's birth name or former name if that spouse asks. A spouse can also ask any time after the divorce by motion, and the court rules on it without a hearing. A joint petition for nonadversarial divorce can include the request. |
| Divorce records | The state Vital Records Office does not keep copies of divorce decrees. A copy of the decree (called the "Judgment File") or other documents filed in a divorce case can generally be obtained from the Judicial District Clerk's Office at the Superior Court location where the divorce was granted. The clerk will need the case name and docket number. Judgment Files have a flat fee; other documents are charged a per-page copy fee plus a certification fee if needed. DPH page: https://portal.ct.gov/dph/vital-records/divorce |
Marriage and name changes
| Getting a marriage license | Both people must apply in person at the vital records office (town registrar) of the town where the wedding will take place, complete the application, provide identification and swear that the information is true. No blood test is required. According to the Department of Public Health, the town cannot issue the license until at least 48 hours after the second person signs the application. The license is good for 65 days, and the wedding must take place within that time. The Department of Public Health lists a $50 fee for each license. After the ceremony, the officiant files the license with the town registrar, and it becomes the marriage certificate. Fee: https://portal.ct.gov/dph/knowledge-base/articles/faq/marriage-licenses-and-certificates . The 48-hour wait appears on the Department of Public Health page; the version of §§ 46b-24 and 46b-25 posted in the 2025 statutes does not yet show it. |
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| Minimum marriage age | Both people must be at least 18. Connecticut removed the former exception that allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with consent, effective July 1, 2023, so there is no exception for minors. |
| Legal name change | An adult can ask either the Superior Court for the judicial district where he or she lives or the Probate Court to change his or her name; both courts have authority. A person required to register as a sexual offender or deadly-weapon offender must notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection before filing and include a sworn statement that the change is not meant to avoid the consequences of a conviction; the court may deny the request if it finds that purpose. Superior Court statute: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_895.htm |
Adoption, guardianship and paternity
| Adoption requirements | Adoptions are handled by the Probate Court. A child can be given in adoption by a statutory parent (for example, the Department of Children and Families or a child-placing agency after parental rights are terminated) to any adult, with the consent of a child who is 12 or older; a parent may also agree to adoption by a spouse or by one other person who shares parental responsibility, and a guardian may agree to adoption by a relative. The application and written adoption agreement are filed in the Probate Court for the district where the adoptive parent lives. A Probate Court will not accept an application to adopt an unrelated minor unless the child was placed by the Department or a licensed child-placing agency (or the Adoption Review Board waived this), except for stepparent and shared-parenting adoptions. The court asks the Department or an agency for an investigation and written report, due within 60 days, before the hearing. Current text of § 45a-727 (2026 supplement): https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_803.htm |
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| Stepparent adoption | A parent may agree in writing that his or her spouse will adopt the child, subject to Probate Court approval, if the parent is a surviving parent, an unmarried mother whose child's putative father has had his rights terminated, a single adoptive parent who later married, or the sole guardian of the child after any other parent's rights have been terminated. In practice, this means the other parent's rights must already be ended (for example, by death or a termination case). The court may waive notice to the Department of Children and Families and must waive the investigation and report unless good cause is shown. The court may approve the adoption if it is in the child's best interest; a child over 12 gets notice of the hearing. |
| Guardianship of a child | Guardianship of a minor is handled by the Probate Court in the district where the child lives, is domiciled or is located. If a child has no parent or guardian, an adult relative, a person with physical custody of the child, or the child's lawyer may petition to appoint a guardian. To give guardianship to someone else while a parent is living, the same persons may petition to remove the parent as guardian; the court must find by clear and convincing evidence that the parent consents, abandoned the child, denied the child necessary care, or that the child was abused, among other grounds. A sole parent or guardian may also ask the court to appoint co-guardians. |
| Guardianship of an adult | Connecticut uses conservatorship for adults, handled by the Probate Court. The court may appoint a conservator of the person or of the estate only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is unable to care for himself or herself (or to manage his or her affairs) even with appropriate assistance, that needs cannot be met adequately without a conservator, and that a conservator is the least restrictive means of intervention available. The court must weigh factors including the person's abilities and preferences, and it must confirm the person was told of the right to a lawyer and is represented or has waived that right. Several conservatorship sections were amended in 2025; see the 2026 supplement: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_802h.htm |
| Establishing paternity | Under the Connecticut Parentage Act, the person who gave birth and an alleged genetic parent (or a presumed or intended parent) may sign an acknowledgment of parentage, witnessed or notarized, after receiving oral and written notice of their rights. Once filed with the Department of Public Health, which charges no filing fee, it has the same effect as a court judgment of parentage. A signer may rescind by filing a witnessed or notarized rescission with the Department of Public Health before the earlier of 60 days after the acknowledgment takes effect or the first court hearing about the child to which the signer is a party. After that, it can be challenged only for fraud, duress or material mistake of fact. Parentage can also be decided in court; the Superior Court, Probate Court or a family support magistrate must order genetic testing on a party's sworn request. |
| Emancipation of a minor | A minor who is at least 16 and lives in Connecticut, or the minor's parent or guardian, may file a verified petition in the Superior Court for juvenile matters or the Probate Court where the minor or parents live. In Probate Court, the hearing is set within 30 days, the court requests an investigation by the Department of Children and Families (unless waived) and appoints a lawyer for the minor. The court may declare the minor emancipated if the minor has married, is on active military duty, willingly lives apart from the parents and manages his or her own finances, or for good cause it is in the best interest of the minor (or the minor's child or parents). Effects include the right to consent to medical care, sign contracts, sue and be sued, keep earnings, set up a residence, buy and sell property and enroll in school without parental consent; parents no longer owe support. |
Where to get help in Connecticut
Divorce & Family Law FAQ
How long do you have to live in Connecticut to file for divorce?
A divorce or legal separation case can be filed as soon as either spouse has established residence in Connecticut. But the court can enter the final decree only if one spouse has lived in Connecticut for at least the 12 months before filing or before the decree, or one spouse lived in Connecticut at the time of the marriage and returned intending to stay before filing, or the cause of the breakdown arose after either spouse moved to Connecticut.
Is Connecticut a no-fault divorce state?
Connecticut allows no-fault divorce when the marriage has broken down irretrievably, or when the spouses have lived apart due to incompatibility for at least 18 continuous months with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. Fault grounds also exist: adultery, fraudulent contract, willful desertion for one year with total neglect of duty, seven years' absence without being heard from, habitual intemperance, intolerable cruelty, life imprisonment or certain serious crimes, and five years' confinement for mental illness within the past six years.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Connecticut?
Connecticut has timing rules counted from the return date on the complaint: a default judgment against a spouse served in person or at home cannot enter until at least 30 days after the return date, and a contested divorce trial cannot start until at least 90 days after the return date. If the spouses reach a full agreement, they can ask the court to enter judgment sooner. In a nonadversarial (joint petition) divorce, the decree can be entered no sooner than 30 days after filing.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Connecticut?
The Superior Court entry fee for a civil case, including a divorce, is $360. The court must waive court fees for a party it finds indigent; a person is presumed indigent if they receive public assistance (such as state general assistance, temporary family assistance, SNAP or SSI) or have after-tax income of 125 percent of the federal poverty level or less.
How do you get an uncontested divorce in Connecticut?
Yes. Spouses can file a notarized joint petition for nonadversarial dissolution if the marriage has broken down irretrievably, it has lasted no more than nine years, neither is pregnant, they have no children together, neither owns real property, their combined property (minus debts) is under $80,000, neither has a defined benefit pension, there is no pending bankruptcy or other family case, no restraining or protective order is in effect, and the residency rule is met. Both waive alimony, trial and appeal. The court sets a disposition date at least 30 days after filing and can grant the divorce without a hearing if any settlement agreement is fair and equitable.
Is Connecticut a community property state?
Connecticut uses equitable distribution. When entering a divorce, annulment or legal separation decree, the court may assign to either spouse all or part of the other spouse's estate, and can transfer or order the sale of real property. It considers the length of the marriage, the causes of the breakdown, each spouse's age, health, station, occupation, income, earning capacity, skills, education, employability, estate, liabilities and needs, their opportunity to acquire future assets, and each spouse's contribution to acquiring, preserving or increasing the value of their estates.
How is alimony decided in Connecticut?
The court may order either spouse to pay alimony, in addition to or instead of a property award. In deciding whether to award it and its amount and length, the court considers the length of the marriage, the causes of the breakdown, each spouse's age, health, station, occupation, income, earning capacity, skills, education, employability, estate and needs, the property award, and for a custodial parent, whether it is practical for them to work. If an order after trial lasts until death or remarriage, the court must explain the basis in detail. The statute does not set a formula.
How is child custody decided in Connecticut?
Custody is decided by the child's best interests. Factors the court may consider include the child's physical and emotional safety, temperament and developmental needs, the parents' ability to meet those needs, information from the child including the child's informed preferences, the parents' wishes, the child's relationships with family members, each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent, manipulation or coercion of the child, stability, health of all involved, cultural background, domestic violence, abuse or neglect, and completion of a parenting education program. Joint custody is presumed to be in the child's best interests when both parents agree to it.
How is child support calculated in Connecticut?
Connecticut's Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines are based on the income shares model: the child should receive the same share of parental income as if the parents lived together. The parents' combined net weekly income is applied to the guidelines schedule and the result is prorated by each parent's income. The current guidelines are effective August 1, 2026.
Do you have to take a parenting class to divorce in Connecticut?
Yes. In divorce and other family cases involving a minor child, the court orders the parties to attend the Judicial Branch's parenting education program, unless the parties agree not to with court approval, the court finds it unnecessary, or they complete a comparable program. The program costs no more than $200 per person (indexed for inflation), no one may be excluded for inability to pay, and it lasts no more than 10 hours.
Can you get a legal separation in Connecticut?
Yes. A decree of legal separation is granted on the same grounds as a divorce, and the same residency rule applies. The court can divide property and order support in a legal separation.
What are the grounds for annulment in Connecticut?
An annulment is granted if the marriage is void or voidable under Connecticut law or the law of the state where the marriage took place.
Does Connecticut recognize common-law marriage?
No. Connecticut does not recognize common-law marriages formed in Connecticut. The Judicial Branch law library guide quotes the Connecticut Supreme Court: although other jurisdictions may recognize common-law marriage, Connecticut definitely does not. The guide also covers recognition of out-of-state marriages under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-28a.
Do grandparents have visitation rights in Connecticut?
Any person, including a grandparent, may petition for visitation with a minor child by alleging that a parent-like relationship exists and that denying visits would cause real and significant harm (meaning the child would be neglected or uncared for). The court grants visitation only if both are proven by clear and convincing evidence. For grandparents, the court may also consider a history of regular contact and a close and substantial relationship. The court considers the child's wishes if the child is old enough to form an intelligent opinion.
How do you change your name back after a divorce in Connecticut?
When entering a divorce decree, the court must restore a spouse's birth name or former name if that spouse asks. A spouse can also ask any time after the divorce by motion, and the court rules on it without a hearing. A joint petition for nonadversarial divorce can include the request.
At what age does child support end in Connecticut?
Parents must support a minor child (under 18). For decrees entered on or after July 1, 1994, support continues for an unmarried 18-year-old who is a full-time high school student and needs support, until the child finishes 12th grade or turns 19, whichever comes first. The court may also order support for a child with an intellectual, mental or physical disability who lives with and is principally dependent on a parent: until age 21 for decrees or initial orders entered from October 1, 1997 to before October 1, 2023, and until age 26 for those entered on or after October 1, 2023.
How do I file for child support in Connecticut?
Apply through the Department of Social Services (DSS) Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) field office for the city or town where you live. You can complete the Application for Services online and email it to that office, or ask for an appointment by email or phone; custodial and noncustodial parents use different application forms. There is no application fee, but OCSS deducts a $35 annual fee from payments to a custodial party who has never received Temporary Family Assistance, when at least $550 is paid out to that person in a state fiscal year (July 1–June 30). The Child Support Call Center is 1-800-228-KIDS (5437).
What happens if you don't pay child support in Connecticut?
DSS and the Judicial Branch's Support Enforcement Services work together to enforce orders. Collection methods include income withholding, interception of federal and state tax refunds, credit bureau reporting, liens on real estate and personal property, seizure of financial assets, passport denial and interception of lottery winnings. Support Enforcement Services handles court-based enforcement, including contempt applications.
How do you modify child support in Connecticut?
A court may change a support order on a showing of a substantial change in either party's circumstances, or if the order substantially deviates from the child support guidelines (unless the court found when entering it that applying the guidelines would be inequitable or inappropriate). A deviation of 15% or more from the guidelines is presumed substantial; less than 15% is presumed not substantial. Either parent can ask for a review of the order through the local Judicial Branch Support Enforcement Services office.
How do you get emergency custody in Connecticut?
A person seeking custody in a custody or divorce case may apply to the Superior Court for an emergency ex parte order of custody when they believe there is an immediate and present risk of physical danger or psychological harm to the child. The application must include a sworn affidavit describing the emergency, stating that the order is in the child's best interests, and explaining what was done to notify the other party (or why the court should act without notice). If the court finds such a risk, it may grant temporary custody or visitation and bar the other party from taking the child out of state, interfering with custody or the child's schooling, or other specific acts. If the order is issued ex parte, a hearing must be scheduled within 14 days, and the other party must be served at least five days before the hearing.
Are divorce records public in Connecticut, and how do I get a copy?
The state Vital Records Office does not keep copies of divorce decrees. A copy of the decree (called the "Judgment File") or other documents filed in a divorce case can generally be obtained from the Judicial District Clerk's Office at the Superior Court location where the divorce was granted. The clerk will need the case name and docket number. Judgment Files have a flat fee; other documents are charged a per-page copy fee plus a certification fee if needed.
How do you get a marriage license in Connecticut?
Both people must apply in person at the vital records office (town registrar) of the town where the wedding will take place, complete the application, provide identification and swear that the information is true. No blood test is required. According to the Department of Public Health, the town cannot issue the license until at least 48 hours after the second person signs the application. The license is good for 65 days, and the wedding must take place within that time. The Department of Public Health lists a $50 fee for each license. After the ceremony, the officiant files the license with the town registrar, and it becomes the marriage certificate.
What is the legal age to get married in Connecticut?
Both people must be at least 18. Connecticut removed the former exception that allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with consent, effective July 1, 2023, so there is no exception for minors.
What are the requirements to adopt a child in Connecticut?
Adoptions are handled by the Probate Court. A child can be given in adoption by a statutory parent (for example, the Department of Children and Families or a child-placing agency after parental rights are terminated) to any adult, with the consent of a child who is 12 or older; a parent may also agree to adoption by a spouse or by one other person who shares parental responsibility, and a guardian may agree to adoption by a relative. The application and written adoption agreement are filed in the Probate Court for the district where the adoptive parent lives. A Probate Court will not accept an application to adopt an unrelated minor unless the child was placed by the Department or a licensed child-placing agency (or the Adoption Review Board waived this), except for stepparent and shared-parenting adoptions. The court asks the Department or an agency for an investigation and written report, due within 60 days, before the hearing.
How does stepparent adoption work in Connecticut?
A parent may agree in writing that his or her spouse will adopt the child, subject to Probate Court approval, if the parent is a surviving parent, an unmarried mother whose child's putative father has had his rights terminated, a single adoptive parent who later married, or the sole guardian of the child after any other parent's rights have been terminated. In practice, this means the other parent's rights must already be ended (for example, by death or a termination case). The court may waive notice to the Department of Children and Families and must waive the investigation and report unless good cause is shown. The court may approve the adoption if it is in the child's best interest; a child over 12 gets notice of the hearing.
How do you get guardianship of a child in Connecticut?
Guardianship of a minor is handled by the Probate Court in the district where the child lives, is domiciled or is located. If a child has no parent or guardian, an adult relative, a person with physical custody of the child, or the child's lawyer may petition to appoint a guardian. To give guardianship to someone else while a parent is living, the same persons may petition to remove the parent as guardian; the court must find by clear and convincing evidence that the parent consents, abandoned the child, denied the child necessary care, or that the child was abused, among other grounds. A sole parent or guardian may also ask the court to appoint co-guardians.
How do you get guardianship of an adult in Connecticut?
Connecticut uses conservatorship for adults, handled by the Probate Court. The court may appoint a conservator of the person or of the estate only if it finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is unable to care for himself or herself (or to manage his or her affairs) even with appropriate assistance, that needs cannot be met adequately without a conservator, and that a conservator is the least restrictive means of intervention available. The court must weigh factors including the person's abilities and preferences, and it must confirm the person was told of the right to a lawyer and is represented or has waived that right.
How do you establish paternity in Connecticut?
Under the Connecticut Parentage Act, the person who gave birth and an alleged genetic parent (or a presumed or intended parent) may sign an acknowledgment of parentage, witnessed or notarized, after receiving oral and written notice of their rights. Once filed with the Department of Public Health, which charges no filing fee, it has the same effect as a court judgment of parentage. A signer may rescind by filing a witnessed or notarized rescission with the Department of Public Health before the earlier of 60 days after the acknowledgment takes effect or the first court hearing about the child to which the signer is a party. After that, it can be challenged only for fraud, duress or material mistake of fact. Parentage can also be decided in court; the Superior Court, Probate Court or a family support magistrate must order genetic testing on a party's sworn request.
How do you legally change your name in Connecticut?
An adult can ask either the Superior Court for the judicial district where he or she lives or the Probate Court to change his or her name; both courts have authority. A person required to register as a sexual offender or deadly-weapon offender must notify the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection before filing and include a sworn statement that the change is not meant to avoid the consequences of a conviction; the court may deny the request if it finds that purpose.
How does a minor get emancipated in Connecticut?
A minor who is at least 16 and lives in Connecticut, or the minor's parent or guardian, may file a verified petition in the Superior Court for juvenile matters or the Probate Court where the minor or parents live. In Probate Court, the hearing is set within 30 days, the court requests an investigation by the Department of Children and Families (unless waived) and appoints a lawyer for the minor. The court may declare the minor emancipated if the minor has married, is on active military duty, willingly lives apart from the parents and manages his or her own finances, or for good cause it is in the best interest of the minor (or the minor's child or parents). Effects include the right to consent to medical care, sign contracts, sue and be sued, keep earnings, set up a residence, buy and sell property and enroll in school without parental consent; parents no longer owe support.
Where can I get divorce papers and forms in Connecticut?
The Connecticut Judicial Branch groups its official divorce forms by case type (Filing for a Divorce, Responding to a Divorce, Nonadversarial Divorce) and publishes a "Divorce Options in Connecticut" guide (JDP-FM-274). To start a divorce, file the Summons Family Actions (JD-FM-3), Divorce Complaint (Dissolution of Marriage) (JD-FM-159) and Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158), plus Financial Affidavits (JD-FM-6) and, with minor children, the child support guidelines worksheet (CCSG-1) and Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164). Eligible couples (married 9 years or less, no children, no real property, and other conditions) can use the Joint Petition – Nonadversarial Divorce (JD-FM-242). Papers can be filed at the clerk's office or electronically by enrolling in the Judicial Branch's e-services.
Who handles child support in Connecticut, and how do I contact them?
Connecticut child support services are provided by the Department of Social Services (DSS), Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), through local field offices. To apply, complete the Application for Services (custodial parents: F0699N; non-custodial parents: F699NCP) and email it to the DSS/OCSS office for your town, request an appointment by email or phone, or apply in person; parents with an existing order also submit a payment affidavit. There is no application fee, but a $35 annual fee is deducted for custodial parties who never received Temporary Family Assistance once at least $550 is disbursed in a state fiscal year. Families receiving TFA have a case opened automatically. Payments go to the State Disbursement Unit (Connecticut-CCSPC, P.O. Box 990031, Hartford, CT 06199-0031) or through the Connecticut Child Support Payment Resource Center (ct.smartchildsupport.com).
Is there an official child support calculator in Connecticut?
Connecticut child support is figured on the Connecticut Judicial Branch's Worksheet for the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines (form CCSG-1, Rev. 5-25), which works from each parent's net weekly income and the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations to a presumptive current support amount, under C.G.S. 46b-215a and Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies 46b-215a-6.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.