Divorce in Connecticut

How to file for divorce in Connecticut

1. Check residency. 12 months of Connecticut residency required before the divorce is finalized, though not necessarily before filing.
2. Prepare and file the Divorce Complaint (Form JD-FM-159) with Summons (Form JD-FM-3), or a Joint Petition (Form JD-FM-242) for the non-adversarial track with the Superior Court, Family Division in your county. The filing fee is typically $360, and you can ask for a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an acceptance of service, and file proof of service.
4. Exchange financial disclosures. Both spouses must file a sworn Financial Affidavit (Form JD-FM-6, Short or Long form) within 30 days of the Return Date.
5. Settle the issues in a written agreement, and a parenting plan if you have children.
6. Wait out the waiting period. 90 days from the court-assigned Return Date, about 4 weeks after filing; waivable by the court in fully agreed cases. Then ask the court for your final judgment.

Residency and grounds

Residency: 12 months of Connecticut residency required before the divorce is finalized, though not necessarily before filing.

Grounds: No-fault and fault. Most people still file on no-fault grounds, which is simpler and usually cheaper.

Separation: None required for a standard dissolution.

How property is divided

Connecticut uses equitable distribution. Marital property and debts are divided fairly, which often lands near equal but not always. Courts weigh things like the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning capacity, and contributions as a homemaker. Read how property is divided.

Custody and child support

Parenting terms: Connecticut uses the terms legal custody and physical custody. Every decision is made in the child's best interests.

Parenting class: Required statewide when minor children are involved; both parents must complete a Parenting Education Program, about $125 per person.

Child support: Connecticut uses the income shares model, which combines both parents' incomes, estimates what parents at that income usually spend on children, and divides that amount by each parent's share of income. Try the child support calculator.

Spousal support

Courts have broad discretion over alimony, with no formula, no minimum marriage length, and no statutory cap on duration.

Estimate a range with the spousal support calculator, then have a lawyer check it if the numbers are large.

Faster and simpler options

Non-Adversarial Divorce: Available when married less than 10 years, with no minor children, no real property, and combined net assets under $80,000; it can finalize in as few as 35 days.

Legal separation: available in Connecticut, for couples who want support and parenting orders without ending the marriage.

How long it takes

The minimum is set by the waiting period: 90 days from the court-assigned Return Date, about 4 weeks after filing; waivable by the court in fully agreed cases. A typical timeline is 4 to 6 months uncontested; 14 to 24 months contested. Agreement is what moves the date most; contested cases add months of disclosures, discovery and hearings.

Worth knowing in Connecticut

• The statewide filing fee is a flat $360, plus roughly $50 to $100 for a state marshal to serve papers.
• Connecticut still allows fault grounds such as adultery, desertion, and cruelty alongside the no-fault ground of irretrievable breakdown.
• A Non-Adversarial Divorce is Connecticut's fast-track option for shorter marriages with limited assets.

Official resources

Official forms and instructions come from Connecticut's courts. Sources we reviewed:

• jud.ct.gov

Last reviewed September 2026. Laws and fees change; confirm with your court before you file.