How To File for Divorce in Connecticut? Step by Step Process 2025

The divorce process presents emotional challenges and legal difficulties but becomes easier to handle with knowledge of legal procedures. In Connecticut, the annual divorce rate is equal to the national average, with thousands of residents going through the process every year. No matter what type of divorce you’re seeking, knowing how to file for divorce in Connecticut can help you have a more seamless process.

Confirm You Meet the Requirements

Connecticut residency requirements must be satisfied before you initiate filing. Connecticut law requires that either spouse must have lived in the state for a minimum of 12 months before filing the divorce or before it reaches finalization.

Eligibility applies if one spouse resided in Connecticut when married and then departed but returned with the intention to remain or if the marriage breakdown transpired in Connecticut. The Connecticut Judicial Branch states that these rules establish the court’s jurisdiction over your case.

Between 2022 and 2023, 9,698 divorces were processed in Connecticut. While this figure shows a decline compared to previous years, it still highlights the need to be informed of the filing requirements for a divorce.

Decide on Grounds for Divorce

Connecticut offers no-fault and fault-based grounds. The most common divorce ground in Connecticut is the no-fault “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage,” which does not require evidence of any marital misconduct. The fault-based grounds for divorce encompass adultery, fraud, willful desertion, habitual intemperance, intolerable cruelty, and imprisonment.

Collect the Necessary Forms

To begin your divorce process, you’ll need specific forms from the Connecticut Judicial Branch. The essential documents include:

• Divorce Complaint (JD-FM-159). This details your marriage, residency, and grounds for divorce.
• Summons (JD-FM-3). This notifies your spouse of the legal action.
• Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158). This form outlines restrictions that take effect upon filing.
• Affidavit concerning children (JD-FM-164). This form is required if you have minor children.

When processing uncontested divorces, file the Divorce Agreement (JD-FM-172) with the Dissolution of Marriage Report (JD-FM-181). The necessary forms can be accessed through the Connecticut Judicial Branch website and at Superior Court Clerk’s Offices located in Hartford, New Haven, or Fairfield. The Hartford Superior Court at 95 Washington Street handles numerous case filings on a daily basis.

Complete the Paperwork

Complete the forms with precise information about whether you are acting as the plaintiff or preparing for a joint filing. You must deliver your finished documents to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office located in the judicial district of your or your spouse’s residence, which could be Bridgeport, Stamford, or New London, based on where you live.

The clerk establishes the official beginning of your case by setting a “Return Date.” As of 2025, the filing fee stands at $360, but low-income filers may request a fee waiver using the Application for Waiver of Fees (JD-FM-75).

Serve Your Spouse

Upon receiving the clerk’s signature, you are required to deliver the paperwork to your spouse. State Marshals available through Connecticut State Marshals can help serve your spouse with the papers, or your spouse can accept the documents and sign a Certification of Waiver of Service (JD-FM-249) in uncontested cases. Courts require the submission of proof of service documentation.

Within 30 days of the Return Date, each spouse needs to deliver a Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6), which covers their income, assets, and liabilities. Transparent disclosures allow equitable decisions regarding property division and support obligations. The state of Connecticut uses an “equitable distribution” approach, which allows courts to weigh marriage duration and earning potential, among other factors, instead of dividing assets equally.

Prepare for Resolutions

Many divorces can settle out of court. For uncontested cases, draft a Divorce Agreement covering property, custody, child support (guided by Connecticut’s Child Support Guidelines), and alimony. Mediation can help resolve disputes out of court. The Resolution Plan Date (RPD) in Connecticut’s “Pathways” process, often held at courthouses like 1061 Main Street in Bridgeport, helps assess settlement potential right away.

Uncontested divorces require scheduling a hearing once the 90-day waiting period ends unless the period can be reduced to 35 days with certain conditions, such as having no children and a marriage lasting less than nine years. A judge reviews your agreement and issues a Divorce Decree when approved during your court appearance. Multiple hearings or a court trial become necessary for contested cases.

FAQs

How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce in CT?

The cost of filing for divorce in Connecticut includes court fees that vary based on case type and court location. Serving papers, mediation costs, and legal representation expenses can add to the overall costs. When fees become unaffordable, you have the option to request a fee waiver from the court to lessen your financial burden.

What Is the First Step in Filing for Divorce in CT?

The first step in initiating divorce proceedings in Connecticut is to fulfill the state’s residency requirements. You must finish the required paperwork, which includes the divorce complaint and summons, and submit these documents to the Superior Court. You must deliver the legal documents to your spouse to start the official divorce process.

What Should You Do Before Telling Your Spouse You Want a Divorce?

Before telling your spouse you want a divorce, you should thoroughly prepare yourself. Collect essential paperwork, including financial statements, property records, and custody agreements. Seeking advice from a divorce attorney for legal guidance and planning the conversation with care can make the process smoother and decrease conflict. An attorney from our firm can assist you.

What Is the Fastest Way to Get a Divorce in CT?

In Connecticut, spouses can achieve the quickest divorce by filing for an uncontested divorce, where they agree on all essential matters, including property division, child custody, and alimony. The court can finalize a divorce without delays and with relative speed when both parties work together to submit their paperwork on time.

Contact Reich & Truax, PLLC Today

Filing for divorce in Connecticut is a process. Knowing this process can help eliminate confusion, and Reich & Truax, PLLC can assist you in this legal landscape. Contact us today to get started.