Connecticut divorce at a glance
Official source: Connecticut court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Connecticut: step by step
Connecticut offers a fast nonadversarial track for simple agreed cases alongside the standard no-fault process. Here is the path to a dissolution.
- Confirm you can file in Connecticut
Generally one spouse must have lived in Connecticut for 12 months by the time the divorce is final. Connecticut is no-fault (irretrievable breakdown) and has a faster nonadversarial track for simple, agreed cases.Source: C.G.S. § 46b-44 - Prepare your forms
Prepare the Summons and Complaint (Dissolution of Marriage) — or, for a simple agreed case, the nonadversarial divorce forms.Source: CT Judicial Branch family forms - File with the Superior Court
File with the Superior Court and pay the $360 entry fee, or file JD-FM-75 to waive fees.Source: JD-FM-75 (fee waiver) - Serve your spouse and set the return date
On the standard track, a marshal serves your spouse and you file with a "return date." (The nonadversarial track skips much of this.)Source: C.G.S. § 46b-45 - File a financial affidavit and support worksheet
Both spouses file a financial affidavit; if you have children, complete the child-support worksheet (JD-FM-220).Source: CT Child Support Guidelines (JD-FM-220) - Finalize
The standard track has about a 90-day waiting period (waivable by joint motion); the nonadversarial track can finish in about 35 days. The court enters the dissolution.Source: C.G.S. § 46b-67
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Connecticut?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. Check the linked court resources for the self-represented filing paths and forms available where you will file. Local requirements and the issues in your case determine which documents you need.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat helps you organize your case information and find official court resources. Available generated drafts depend on your state and case path; review the court’s complete checklist before filing.
Child support resources for Connecticut
Connecticut child support calculator → An itemized estimate from Connecticut’s official guideline, figures effective 2026-08-01. The court’s worksheet controls.
Use the current official worksheet and instructions for your case. Income definitions, parenting arrangements, deductions, other obligations and additional expenses can affect the result. A simple percentage of the higher earner’s income does not establish an obligation.
Official court forms and guidance →
How long does a Connecticut divorce take?
The standard track has about a 90-day waiting period after the "return date" (waivable by joint motion); the nonadversarial track can finish in about 35 days. (C.G.S. § 46b-67) After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Connecticut divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. None. Connecticut is a single statewide Judicial Branch; judicial districts use identical forms.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Prepare Connecticut divorce drafts
The ordinary agreed-divorce interview prepares an original JD-FM-159 complaint with or without children, JD-FM-3 summons, both pages of JD-FM-158 automatic orders and a complete blank JD-CL-12 appearance. Actual requested relief, assistance history, child identities and source-required birth dates remain explicit. A separate purpose prepares only the actual defendant’s voluntary JD-FM-249 waiver after their independent review of the current papers. Issuance, signing, delivery, filing and court events remain unfinished. A separate private interview prepares one affiant’s JD-FM-164 children’s affidavit and official JD-FM-164A addenda, preserving each child’s residence and caregiver history, related cases and claims. These answers are not saved. An existing location-protection order requires explicit review; new or uncertain safety concerns require the court’s process before export. Separate private interviews prepare the ordinary plaintiff’s or defendant’s JD-FM-6-SHORT or JD-FM-6-LONG affidavit, or a nonadversarial petitioner’s LONG affidavit. Source selection follows actual annual gross income and net assets, with specific review at the threshold. Each includes reviewed weekly calculations, all original pages and complete continuations where supported. Financial answers are cleared on exit or download. Signatures, the oath, required records, party copies and separate financial filing still need completion. Settlement and final court papers remain separate dependencies.
Prepare a new nonadversarial joint petition (JD-FM-242) with the complete automatic-orders notice (JD-FM-260), or a separate proposed agreement (JD-FM-243). This narrow route checks actual marriage, residence, property and family facts and each petitioner’s own reviewed waivers and disclosures. Other agreed cases use the ordinary divorce process. Saved answers preserve unknown or unsupported facts for further preparation. Downloads include editable and printable unsigned copies, with complete agreement and assistance continuations when needed. A separate purpose prepares one petitioner’s self-represented Appearance (JD-CL-12), using their actual mailing address and electronic-delivery choice. The other petitioner needs their own appearance. Another purpose prepares Certification of Notice (JD-FM-175) only from completed mailings or hand deliveries of the actual filing papers, with separate forms for recipients and dates. No mailing is performed by LawCat. A separate private interview prepares one petitioner’s JD-FM-6-SHORT financial affidavit with reviewed weekly calculations, full source pages and needed continuations. Each person’s annual gross income and net assets must both be below $75,000. These private answers are not saved; retain the download securely. The printed Plaintiff/Defendant boxes remain blank for this nonadversarial path, with the actual Petitioner A/B identified separately; follow the filing clerk’s directions for those boxes before signing. Both parties still need independent sworn affidavits, exchange and separate financial filing. Higher income or assets require the long form. Actual execution, filing and court approval remain separate requirements. These selected drafts are not a complete divorce packet.
Organize your case →Why LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat’s document preparation is free, with no subscription and no card on file.
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Connecticut divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Connecticut?
No lawyer is required: Connecticut courts accept divorce filings from self-represented (pro se) people, and the official court resources linked on this page explain the forms and steps. Many people talk to a lawyer when custody, support or property is disputed. LawCat prepares selected Connecticut form drafts free of charge; it does not give legal advice.
How long do I have to live in Connecticut to file for divorce?
Generally one spouse must have lived in Connecticut for 12 months before the divorce is final. Confirm the current rule with the official Connecticut court source before filing.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Connecticut?
The court filing fee is about $360 court entry fee, plus roughly $40–$75 for a marshal to serve. File JD-FM-75 (Application for Waiver of Fees). LawCat’s available drafts have no document-preparation charge; court costs, service and other expenses are separate.