How to File for Divorce in Connecticut

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.