Connecticut Divorce Steps

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Connecticut Divorce Steps during cooling-off period

• The Plaintiff files a Complaint and Summons with the Superior Court that exists in the judicial district wherein one of the divorcing partner lives
• The Complaint comprises of the following data
  • The names of the divorcing partners
  • The basis on which the court's jurisdiction was chosen
  • The maiden name of the wife
  • If there are any minor children, their names and birth dates
  • The grounds of divorce
  • The relief that has been requested
  • If any partner has received public assistance
• A return date is a date that has been decided by Plaintiff's counsel. The significance of this date is as follows
  • The Plaintiff must file the complaint minimum 6 days prior to the return date
  • The Plaintiff must serve the Defendant minimum 12 days prior to the return date
• A cooling off period is duration from the initialization of the divorce action till the final action is reached. This state has a cooling off period of 90 days
• While the divorce is pending, the divorcing partners might approach the court to issue temporary orders regarding the following issues
  • Exclusive possession of the marital residence
  • A restraining order against abuse
  • Child support and custody
  • Alimony

It has been observed that in more than 90 percent of the dissolution cases in this state, there is no need of a trial. Most of the divorcing couples opt to draft the "Separation Agreement." The counsel of the parties drafts this agreement. Further, the divorcing parties acknowledge and execute it. This agreement addresses the following issues

• Counsel fees
• Real and personal property
• Child support
• Alimony
• Custody and visitation of children
• Waiver of rights in future property
• Other divorce related issues

Once this agreement has been drafted, a claim is made that it should be included in the uncontested divorce list. The next step is that a hearing is arranged. During this hearing, the court ascertains the following facts

• Whether jurisdiction is proper?
• Whether the grounds of divorce have been proved?
• Whether both the partners consider this agreement as fair and equitable within the background of their respective needs and resources?

It is a public policy to have a bias towards private resolution of conflict. As a consequence of this, the agreements of the partners are generally endorsed immediately.

Steps involved in Discovery

Every divorcing partner is expected to reveal all of his or her liabilities, assets, expenditures and income. The court takes the following traditional steps for this to happen

• Request for production of documents
• Depositions
• Interrogatories

If the case is very simple, then the discovery steps are restricted to just the following

• W - 2 forms
• Exchange of tax returns

If the divorcing partners are businessmen, proprietor's etc who might have hidden or manipulated their incomes, then the discovery steps include actuaries and accountants executing exorbitant and extensive procedures.

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