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Stage 1 - Start Your Divorce Proceedings
Residency Requirements
To obtain an uncontested divorce in Connecticut, you or your spouse must have been resident here for at least one year prior to the date of filing the divorce, or prior to the date of the final decree.
Alternatively, you or your spouse must have been resident in this state at the time of marriage and returned with the intention of permanently remaining in the state before filing for divorce, or the cause for the divorce occurred after either party moved into Connecticut.
Grounds for Divorce
There are two grounds for a 'no-fault' divorce in Connecticut. These are:
- The 'irretrievable breakdown of marriage.'
- 'Incompatible and voluntary separation for 18 months with no reasonable hope for reconciliation.'
Assets
You and your spouse will also need to agree the terms of your Marital Settlement Agreement with regards to division of property, assets, liabilities, child support and child custody. This agreement will also disclose tax returns. Remember, your Marital Settlement is completed by us free of charge as part of the Quickie Divorce Personal service.
Our highly experienced team of legal professionals are dedicated to providing you with all the necessary documentation and guidance required to complete your uncontested divorce application quickly, easily, and with the lowest possible amount of stress.
Satisfied that your circumstances fit the above criteria? Submit your details using our simple online questionnaire and your divorce will progress to stage 2...
Stage 2 - Serving Your Forms
In order to start your divorce proceedings, you will need to prepare the following forms:
- A Summons Family Actions
- A Divorce Complaint
- A Notice of Automatic Court Orders
In order to file these forms, you need to pick a 'Return Date' and write it on each form. This date must be a Tuesday and should be at least 4 weeks after the date you file the papers with the court. You and your spouse do not have to appear in court on this return date though.
Once you have filed these simple forms with the Court Clerk at your local court, he/she will sign the Summons and write a Case Management date on the Notice of Automatic Court Orders form. This date is at least 90 days after the return date and will be used to set a date for your final hearing. The Court Clerk will then return all the original forms to you.
Remember to make two additional copies of all the forms, ready to serve one copy to your spouse.
Stage 3 - Serving Your Forms
In legal proceedings, you are known as the Plaintiff and your spouse is known as the Defendant.
To serve your papers to the defendant, you will need to pay the State Marshal a small fee to complete the service. The state marshal must serve the forms at least 12 days before the return date.
If your spouse lives in a different state but you know his/her address, you will need to complete a Motion for Order of Notice in Family Cases and an Order of Notice in Family Cases. The court will review the papers and sign the latter. The state marshal will then send the divorce papers by certified mail.
Once the forms have been served, the state marshal will complete a Return of Service form to prove the defendant was definitely served. Find out from the marshal whether he/she will be filing the original papers with the Return of Service for you, or whether they will be returned to you before filing.
All the papers must be filed with the court at least six days before the return date.
The defendant must then file an Appearance form along with a response to the complaint on or before the second day after the stated return date.
If you or your spouse receives public assistance from the state, you will also need to serve your divorce papers to the Attorney General's Office, then complete a Certification of Public Assistance and file it with the court. If you or your spouse receives public assistance from the town, you will need to send a copy of the divorce papers to your town hall.
Stage 4 - Filing the Remaining Forms
In Connecticut, there is a mandatory 90 day waiting period from the return date before your divorce can be finalized.
During this time, you and your spouse must complete and file a Case Management Agreement. This must be done on or before the Case Management Date on the Notice of Automatic Court Orders form.
Because your divorce hearing will be uncontested, you can choose a date for the hearing and write it on the Case Management Agreement. To select a date, ask your Court Clerk for advice. In some courts it is possible to have your final hearing on your Case Management Date.
You will get a docket number for your case in the mail 2 weeks after filing the Complaint package, and your spouse receives the docket number after he/she files the Appearance form. Use the docket number on all the legal papers you file with the court.
You and your spouse will also each need to complete and exchange Financial Affidavit forms within 30 days of the return date. These forms need to be signed in the presence of a Notary Public. You can often locate a Notary at a bank, or payroll, insurance and real estate offices.
If you and your spouse have minor children born to you, you will also need to attend a Parenting Education Program within 60 days of the return date. Your Court Clerk can give you more information about what classes run locally and what form you will need to complete.
Don't forget, all you have to do is submit your details online, and then we will complete all the forms for you. All our divorce documentation is written and approved by our team of professional attorneys who have a wealth of experience in this field.
Stage 5 - Finalizing Your Divorce
At this final stage of your divorce, you must prepare and sign the following forms ready to take to your final hearing:
- An updated Financial Affidavit ( to be done by both you and your spouse 5-30 days before the hearing)
- A Child Support Guidelines Worksheet
- An Advisement of Rights
- An Affidavit Concerning Military Service
You will need to send a copy of all the above forms to your spouse.
Also prepare a Dissolution of Marriage Report to take to the hearing, as well as your signed Marital Settlement Agreement.
Both parties must attend the final hearing, and if the judge approves the Complaint package the divorce will be granted. Not all Connecticut courts prepare a written report of the divorce for you, in which case you will need to complete and file a Divorce Judgment form within 60 days of the divorce hearing. Give the form to the court for the judge to sign, and you can then purchase a certified copy.
Although this process may seem complicated, remember that we complete your whole divorce application for you. Simply provide us with all your relevant details and we'll do the rest.
