Connecticut's Residency Requirements

Either the spouse must have been a Connecticut resident for 1 year or more before filing for divorce.

Connecticut's Grounds for Divorce

Connecticut residents may file for divorce under fault or no-fault grounds.

Connecticut's no-fault grounds include:

• irretrievable breakdown of the marriage
• incompatibility with voluntary separation of 18 months or longer without reconciliation

Connecticut's fault grounds include:

• adultery
• cruel and inhuman treatment
• life imprisonment
• willful desertion and nonsupport for one year or more

Connecticut's Child Custody Guidelines

Divorcing parents are allowed to collaborate on a child custody arrangement. If the parents cannot reach a decision, a Connecticut court will make a ruling.

Connecticut courts consider factors such as:

• each parent's employability
• each parent's earning capacity
• the age and health of the child

Connecticut's Child Support Guidelines

If the parents cannot agree on the amount of child support and the paying parent, child support will be decided by state-specific calculations and guidelines.

Connecticut courts consider factors such as:

• each parent's employability
• each parent's earning capacity
• the age and health of the child

Connecticut's Spousal Support Guidelines

Spousal support can be paid in one lump sum, in installments, or periodically. The spouses may determine the spousal support amount and payment schedule, or the courts may award spousal support.

Connecticut courts will consider factors such as:

• duration of the marriage
• the cause of the divorce, including marital fault
• each spouse's ability to support themselves
• the distribution of the marital property

Connecticut's Property Division Guidelines

Connecticut has adopted equitable distribution guidelines, which means all property (including gifts and inheritances) will be divided as fairly and equally as possible. Spouses may collaborate on the property distribution, but if they are unable to agree the courts will make a ruling.

Connecticut courts will consider factors such as:

• each spouse's contribution to the property, including acquisition and upkeep of property
• each spouse's marketable skills, employability, and income
• the cause of the divorce, including marital fault

Connecticut's Venue Guidelines

The petitioner may file the divorce forms in their Connecticut county of residence, or in the respondent's Connecticut county of residence.

If either spouse no longer is a Connecticut resident, the divorce forms may be filed in the Connecticut county the grounds for divorce occurred in.