Guides
Settling your divorce: the dissolution agreement
General information about Connecticut court procedure, not legal advice.
Most divorces end in an agreement, not a trial. In Connecticut, the agreement is a written document both spouses sign, and it does not become binding because you signed it: a judge reviews it and, if the court finds it fair and equitable, incorporates it into the divorce decree, where it becomes a court order. This guide covers what the agreement is, what the court's review looks for, and the paths to finishing once you have one.
What the agreement is
The written final agreement resolves the case's issues: alimony, real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, life insurance, medical insurance, furniture and household goods, other property of value, debts, name changes, any other terms you agree on, and, for parents, college costs. The court's form is the Dissolution Agreement (form JD-FM-172). You may also hear the document called a separation agreement; in a Connecticut divorce, the terms refer to the same thing, the written final agreement the court reviews.
What your agreement says about alimony controls what a court can later do with it; our guide on changing or ending alimony covers that from the other end, starting with why the order's words matter.
The court's review is real
Connecticut law directs the court to review the final agreement and determine whether it is fair and equitable before incorporating it into the decree. The judge does not rubber-stamp. The sworn financial affidavits both spouses file are the backdrop for that review, which is one reason they must be accurate and current. Where there are children, the support terms are also reviewed against the child support guidelines; an agreed amount still gets checked.
What travels with it
- Financial Affidavits (form JD-FM-6), one from each spouse, sworn. See our guide on the financial affidavit.
- For parents: the Custody Agreement and Parenting Plan (form JD-FM-284), the Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines Worksheet (form CCSG-1), the Advisement of Rights Re: Income Withholding (form JD-FM-71), and the Affidavit Concerning Children (form JD-FM-164).
The breakdown finding
Before entering the decree, the court must find the marriage has broken down irretrievably. The spouses themselves, not their attorneys, can execute a written stipulation to that effect, or both can state it in court. When no restraining or protective order is in effect or pending between you, that finding can also rest on a sworn affidavit instead of live testimony.
Finishing without a hearing
With a signed agreement and no restraining or protective order between you, both spouses can sign a Request for Approval of Final Agreement Without Court Appearance (form JD-FM-282), each file a sworn affidavit, and ask the court to review the agreement and enter the divorce without anyone coming to court. If you would rather finish quickly with a short hearing, a Caseflow Request (form JD-FM-292) asks the court to schedule an uncontested hearing.
Until the decree, nothing has changed
A signed agreement is not yet a court order. The automatic orders continue to bind both spouses until the decree enters, and the existing arrangements control. If the court has concerns about the agreement, it can ask questions or decline to approve terms, which is another reason the agreement should say what you actually mean, in numbers and dates rather than understandings.
Where to get help
Connecticut's Court Service Centers offer free help for self-represented parties. The clerk's office can answer questions about procedure but cannot give legal advice. Legal aid organizations serve people who qualify. If you want legal advice, talk to a licensed Connecticut attorney.
ProSay is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ProSay is a self-help document preparation service.