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How to start a divorce in Connecticut

General information about Connecticut court procedure, not legal advice.

Starting a divorce in Connecticut means filing a small set of forms, having them delivered to your spouse, and meeting a few deadlines that run from a date called the Return Date. This guide covers who can file, the three ways to start, the forms, and what happens after you file.

Who can file in Connecticut

You can file as soon as either spouse lives in Connecticut. To finish the divorce, at least one of these must be true:

  • One spouse has lived in Connecticut for 12 months before the filing or will have before the divorce is final
  • One spouse lived here at the time of the marriage, moved away, and returned intending to stay
  • The marriage broke down after one spouse moved here

Members of the armed forces who were Connecticut residents when they entered service count as continuous residents.

The ground

Most Connecticut divorces proceed on one ground: the marriage has broken down irretrievably, meaning it is over with no reasonable prospect of getting back together. Neither spouse has to prove the other did something wrong.

Three ways to start

1. The nonadversarial joint petition. The fastest path, for couples who qualify. Both spouses file together on one petition (form JD-FM-242), and the divorce can be granted in about 35 days without either spouse seeing a judge. It is limited to couples who meet every condition on a statutory list, which includes a shorter marriage, no minor children, no real property, total property under a set limit, no pending bankruptcy, and no restraining or protective orders between the spouses. ProSay's questions check each condition and tell you whether this path is open.

2. Divorce with an agreement. You file the standard case, and you and your spouse file a signed Dissolution Agreement with sworn financial affidavits. If there is no restraining or protective order between you, you can ask the court to approve the agreement and enter the divorce without a hearing (form JD-FM-282).

3. The standard divorce. You file, your spouse is served, and anything you do not agree on is worked out through the case, with court events along the way. Filing this way does not make the case hostile; many standard divorces end in an agreement.

The forms that start a standard case

  • Summons, Family Actions (form JD-FM-3). The cover form that opens the case.
  • Divorce Complaint (form JD-FM-159). What you are asking the court for.
  • Notice of Automatic Court Orders (form JD-FM-158). Must be served with the Complaint.
  • Appearance (form JD-CL-12). Yours to file, plus a blank one goes to your spouse with the papers.
  • Affidavit Concerning Children (form JD-FM-164), if you have children, with their residence history for the past five years.
  • Certification of Notice (form JD-FM-175), if either spouse has received public assistance; a copy of the papers goes to the Attorney General or the town.

Court orders apply to you the moment you sign

The automatic orders take effect against you when you sign the Complaint, and against your spouse when the papers are served. Until the case ends, they restrict selling property, changing insurance, taking on unusual debt, and permanently relocating children out of state, among other things. Read form JD-FM-158 before you sign; you are agreeing to live under it for the length of the case.

Filing and serving

  1. Complete the forms and bring them to the clerk's office in the judicial district where you or your spouse lives. Pick a Return Date that is a Tuesday; the clerk can help you choose a workable one.
  2. The court charges a filing fee. If paying it would be a hardship, the Application for Waiver of Fees (form JD-FM-75) asks the court to waive it, and the fee waiver can also cover the marshal's charge for service.
  3. Have the papers served. The standard method is a state marshal, who charges a fee. If your spouse will cooperate, they can instead sign a Certification of Waiver of Service (form JD-FM-249) and file an Appearance, and no marshal is needed. If your spouse lives out of state, is incarcerated, or cannot be located, service works differently; ProSay's questions cover those paths.
  4. Make sure the served papers, with the marshal's return of service, get back to the court before the Return Date.

The Return Date starts three clocks

The Return Date is not a hearing. Nothing happens in court that day. It is the date your deadlines run from:

  • 30 days: both spouses must complete, exchange, and file sworn Financial Affidavits (form JD-FM-6).
  • 60 days: if there are minor children, both parents must complete the parenting education program.
  • Your spouse's Appearance is due within 30 days after the Return Date.

What happens next

The divorce cannot be final before a waiting period that runs from the Return Date. The court mails notice of your case dates to the address on your Appearance. If you file an agreement, the court reviews it, in some cases without a hearing. If not, the case moves through court events toward a hearing or trial. If you need orders while the case is pending, about the children, support, or the home, those are requested by motion; our guide on responding to motions covers the other party’s side of them, and ProSay prepares them.

Filing online

Once your case exists, you can handle later filings through the Judicial Branch's E-Services system at eservices.jud.ct.gov. Enroll to create a User ID and password, activate your account through the emailed link, then request electronic access to your case. Choose your User ID carefully; it cannot be changed and appears on every document you file. For starting the case itself, the clerk's office is the reliable route.

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.