Divorce in Connecticut — the plain-English overview

Connecticut calls divorce dissolution of marriage, runs cases through the Superior Court's family division, and uses an unusual return date system that anchors much of the case-management calendar. The state is also one of a small group of all-property equitable-distribution jurisdictions — meaning courts can reach pre-marital and inherited assets to reach a fair result. None of this replaces talking to a Connecticut family-law attorney about your specifics, but knowing the basics helps you read your own paperwork.

Where you file

Connecticut dissolutions are filed in the Superior Court (Family Division) of the judicial district where either spouse lives. Residency is set by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-44: one spouse must have been a Connecticut resident for 12 months before the decree (the requirement can also be met if one spouse was domiciled in CT at the time of the marriage and returned with the intention of permanent residence, or if the cause for the dissolution arose after either spouse moved to CT).

Connecticut has 13 judicial districts and additional GA (Geographical Area) court locations. Hartford, New Haven, Stamford, Bridgeport, and Waterbury handle the largest family-court volumes.

How long it takes

Connecticut's case-management clock runs from the return date — a specific date set by the plaintiff when filing the summons, typically a few weeks out. The court cannot enter a dissolution decree earlier than 90 days after the return date (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-67).

Connecticut allows no-fault grounds (irretrievable breakdown of the marriage) and several fault grounds (adultery, intolerable cruelty, willful desertion, and others). Most modern Connecticut divorces use irretrievable breakdown.

Property — what state law assumes

Connecticut is an all-property equitable distribution state. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-81, the court may assign to either spouse all or any part of the estate of the other — including property that would be considered "separate" in most other states (pre-marital property, inheritances, gifts). The statute lists factors including the length of the marriage, the causes for the dissolution, age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities and needs, opportunity for future acquisition, and contribution as a homemaker.

This "all-property" approach is shared with Massachusetts and a few other states; most equitable-distribution states have a much more rigid separation between marital and non-marital property.

Custody — the starting framework

Connecticut has no statutory presumption in favor of joint or sole custody. The court decides based on the best interest of the child, weighing the 17 factors at Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-56, including the temperament and developmental needs of the child, the capacity of each parent to understand and meet those needs, any relevant and material information from the child's case file, the wishes of the child if of sufficient age, the past and current interaction with parents and siblings, the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate the child's relationship with the other parent, manipulative or coercive behavior, the parents' ability to be actively involved, the child's adjustment to home, school, and community, the stability of the residence, mental and physical health of all parties, cultural background, the effect on the child of an abusive family member, and whether the child or sibling has been a victim of abuse.

Connecticut courts often appoint a guardian ad litem or an attorney for the minor child in contested custody cases. The Family Services unit of the Superior Court provides court-ordered evaluations, mediation, and other services.

Filing fees and fee waivers

The Superior Court filing fee for a Connecticut dissolution complaint is approximately $360. Service of process by a state marshal adds another $50–$100.

If you can't afford the fee, Connecticut lets you file a Fee Waiver Application under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-259b on Form JD-FM-75. The application asks about your income, household size, and expenses; if granted, the court waives the filing fee and certain other court-imposed costs.

What this page can't tell you

Connecticut's 13 judicial districts run dissolution practice with some local variation:

• Local rules on case-management dates and resolution plan dates under the Family Standing Order.
• Whether your district routes contested matters through Special Masters (panels of experienced family-law attorneys) before trial.
• The specific parent-education program your district approves (statewide curriculum, but several providers).
• How quickly your court can hear pendente lite (temporary) motions.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch (jud.ct.gov) hosts statewide forms and the family-court self-help resources. Your judicial district's Family Caseflow Coordinator handles scheduling and is the authoritative source for local rules. For anything strategic — especially around all-property division, alimony, or contested custody — talk to a Connecticut family-law attorney.

Statutes referenced

• Residency — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-44
• 90-day waiting period from return date — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-67
• Equitable distribution (all-property) — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-81
• Custody — best-interest factors — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-56
• Fee waiver — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-259b

These are the controlling statutes for the facts on this page. State law changes; the linked text always reflects current law.