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. In Connecticut you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
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 prepares your Connecticut pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Connecticut
Income-shares model using Worksheet JD-FM-220. (CT Child Support Guidelines)
Because Connecticut uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
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.
Connecticut document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Connecticut. In the meantime, the official Connecticut court forms are linked below.
Official Connecticut forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Connecticut divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Connecticut divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Connecticut to file for divorce?
Check Connecticut’s residency requirement with the official court source before filing.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Connecticut?
$360 court entry fee + marshal service ~$40-75. Fee waiver: JD-FM-75 (Application for Waiver of Fees). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.