Online Divorce in Connecticut

Divorce Online in Connecticut

Even a divorce based on mutual consent involves a lot of paperwork, and even a single mistake in legal forms may cause case delays. Online divorce services were designed to solve such problems and allow self-representing litigants to prepare for the filing process without a hassle.
Connecticut Online Divorce is an affordable and straightforward paperwork preparation service focused on uncontested divorce cases. You can complete all the divorce papers relevant to your particular circumstances online for just $139, saving money on attorney fees.
All the court forms provided by Connecticut Online Divorce are 100% legit and any couple seeking an uncontested divorce in Connecticut can take advantage of this website, regardless of whether the spouses have minor children or marital property.
The primary benefits of this online divorce tool are:
- No need to waste time on meetings with a lawyer or court visits. All you have to do is provide information about your marriage and divorce online.
- A straightforward online questionnaire you can complete at your own pace, making unlimited changes.
- Work with your files whenever and wherever is comfortable for you, using your PC or smartphone.
- Fast paperwork preparation. Ready-to-sign divorce forms are available in your account within two business days after completing the questionnaire.
- Comprehensive states-specific filing instructions help avoid hassles when submitting your completed documents to the Court Clerk.
- Connecticut Online Divorce ensures one of the cheapest ways to prepare all the necessary uncontested divorce forms. The cost is just $139 for the divorce package, separate from court fees.
Compare Your Options for Filing for Divorce in Connecticut
Divorce With a Lawyer
Litigated divorce where each spouse has their own attorney representing their interests before the court:
- Contested divorces are the most expensive, with lawyers charging per hour (from $200 to $750 in Connecticut)
- Litigation often results in a long-drawn-out divorce process
- The need to find dates and times that work both for you and your lawyer
- Going through a divorce trial can be very stressful and painful for all the parties involved
The premier uncontested divorce tool
Quick, cheap, and straightforward option for a peaceful divorce:
- A fully guided online divorce process is available for all couples filing for an uncontested divorce
- Preparing all divorce papers online, without leaving home
- Ready-to-file divorce forms within two business days
- One fee to access all the documents and filing instructions
- Low-cost solution to solving the paperwork hassles
DIY divorce
Pro Se divorce without legal representatives or other professional support:
- Being unsure of your legal rights can cause mistakes in divorce forms and other complications
- Paperwork takes a long time for a person without formal legal training
- The high risk of an unfair divorce settlement
- A DIY divorce can turn out to be expensive in the longer term
What Forms Do I Need to File for Divorce in Connecticut?

If the spouses are eligible to apply for a nonadversarial divorce, a simplified dissolution procedure provided by Connecticut Family Law, they must complete the following forms:
- Joint Petition - Nonadversarial Divorce (JD-FM-242)
- Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6-Long or JD-FM-6-Short)
- Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-260)
- Appearance (JD-CL-12)
- Certification of Notice In Family Cases (Public Assistance) (JD-FM-175)
- Agreement – Nonadversarial Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage) JD-FM-243
For regular divorces, Connecticut Superior Court provides the following primary forms:
- Summons Family Actions (JD-FM-3)
- Divorce Complaint/Cross Complaint (JD-FM-159)
- Motion for Orders Before Judgment in Family Cases (JD-FM-176)
- Case Management Agreement/Order (JD-FM-163)
- Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6-Long or JD-FM-6-Short)
- Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172)
- Advisement of Rights (JD-FM-71)
How to Fill Out Connecticut Divorce Papers

To complete the divorce forms the spouse initiating the case (the plaintiff) or both spouses if filing for divorce jointly, must take the following steps:
1. First, consider the different types of divorce available in Connecticut and choose the type of filing that best fits their circumstances. In the state of Connecticut, there are generally two types of divorce: contested and uncontested. However, if the spouses seeking an uncontested divorce were married less than eight years, do not have minor children, real estate, more than $35,000 of assets, and neither party has a defined benefit pension plan, they can apply for a non-adversarial divorce. This simplified procedure allows finalizing a divorce within 35 days without attending court hearings.
2. The relevant court-approved divorce forms package can be obtained from the Superior Court Clerk's Office or on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website.
3. Thoroughly review the blanks from the chosen package and pick the forms that address the case circumstances. For example, besides the type of divorce, the necessary documents can vary depending on the county where the lawsuit is filed, whether the spouses have children, whether either party is seeking alimony, etc.
4. Look through each form and determine which information is required or what matters are still to be negotiated with the spouse if parties want to draw up a Settlement Agreement and file for an uncontested divorce.
5. Not all divorce forms must be filed at once. Moreover, some of them must be filed by the defendant, not the plaintiff. So, papers should be sorted in chronological sequence and then completed.
6. Proofread all the filled-out divorce forms, make the necessary copies, and check if notarization is required.
File for Divorce Online in Connecticut Without a Lawyer

Although the spouses are advised to hire attorneys to advocate their interests before the court in contested divorce proceedings, most simple uncontested divorces can be handled without legal representatives.
So, if the parties are ready to negotiate and reach an agreement about the final terms of their separation out of court, they can arrange a so-called DIY divorce, i.e., divorce without a lawyer.
The plaintiff (or both spouses together if they qualify for a non-adversarial divorce) can either complete all the required divorce forms independently or use Connecticut Online Divorce to make things easier. This website helps prepare your unique divorce papers in only two business days for $139.
However, once the divorce forms are ready to be filed, the further steps of the dissolution procedure are the couple's responsibility if they want to file their own divorce.
So, to begin a divorce action, the party initiating the case (or both spouses, if filing a joint application) must file the initial divorce forms with the Superior Court Clerk’s Office in the county where either spouse resides.
Besides, the court charges mandatory filing fees to file the case. In Connecticut, the filing fee is about $350, but parties can contact your local Court Clerk's office to know the exact amount.
Do-It-Yourself Divorce in Connecticut

Generally, the Connecticut divorce process involves the following steps:
1. Complete the initial divorce forms
In a regular uncontested divorce, they include the Divorce Complaint, Summons, Notice of Automatic Court Orders, and Motion for Orders Before Judgment (Pendente Lite) if the plaintiff wants to request any temporary orders.
In a non-adversarial divorce, the spouses need to fill out the Joint Petition, Financial Affidavit, Notice of Automatic Court Orders, and an Appearance.
2. File for divorce
The plaintiff (or both spouses together) must file the above divorce papers with the Superior Court Clerk’s Office in the county where either spouse currently lives. Besides, the court fees must be paid.
3. Serve the divorce papers
The spouses filing a Joint Petition for a non-adversarial divorce skip this step, but in a regular uncontested divorce, the plaintiff must deliver the copies of divorce papers to the other spouse by a State Marshal. Once copies of the Complaint and Summons have been delivered to the defendant, the original forms must be returned to the Clerk's Office. Besides, the Marshall must complete a Return of Service form as proof of service.
4. Waiting period
Once the defendant was served with copies of the Divorce Complaint and Summons, they must respond by filing an Appearance form with Superior Court Clerk. Then, at least twenty days after the divorce papers were delivered, the waiting period begins.
Connecticut typically requires a 90-days waiting period before a final divorce decree can be entered.
However, a simplified non-adversarial divorce does not imply a waiting period and can be finalized in 35 days without appearing before a judge.
5. Finalize a divorce
The spouses who have settled all their disputes out of court must attend only one brief hearing. At an uncontested divorce hearing, the judge reviews all the submitted divorce forms and grants the divorce as long as everything is completed correctly and the spouses' Settlement Agreement is fair.

- All Required Connecticut State Forms.
- Connecticut-Specific Court Filing Instructions.
- Unlimited Revisions for as long as your account is active.
Getting a Divorce With Children in Connecticut

If the spouses have minor children, they can agree on the terms of custody and other child-related issues independently, and the court is likely to approve their agreement as long as it meets the child's best interests.
However, if the parents fail to reach an agreement, the court makes the decision at its discretion. The judges shall consider multiple relevant factors, including each parent's willingness and ability to meet the child's needs, cooperate with the other parent and encourage their relationship with the child.
Whether decided by the parents or the judge, child custody includes legal (each parent's decision-making authority) and physical custody (the child's primary residence). Both legal and physical custody may be sole or joint, depending on what would be better for the child in a particular case.
Besides, the divorcing parents of minors are required to take a court-approved parenting class within sixty days after filing for divorce and complete some additional divorce forms, including:
- Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158)
- Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164)
- Child Support Guideline Worksheet (CCSG -1)
- Parenting Education Program – List of Approved Programs (JDP-FM-151)
- Parenting Education Program Order, Certificate and Results (JD-FM-149)
As for child support, Connecticut Child Support Guidelines are based on the Income Shares Model. An exact amount of child support is determined on a case-by-case basis, considering both parents' combined net weekly income and the number of children.
Residency Requirements in CT
To apply for divorce in Connecticut, a couple must meet one of the state residency requirements:
- at least one of the spouses has resided within the state for at least 12 months before filing for divorce or preceding the date of the final judgment;
- either spouse was domiciled in Connecticut at the time of the marriage and moved back permanently before filing for divorce;
- or, the ground for divorce occurred after either spouse moved into Connecticut.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce in Connecticut
Generally, there are a lot of factors that can impact the length of divorce. The most crucial factor is the level of agreement between the spouses, i.e., whether a divorce is contested or uncontested, and how many court hearings, meetings with lawyers or mediation and counseling sessions would be needed.
On average, an uncontested no-fault divorce in Connecticut takes about four months from the date of filing all the required divorce papers. The length of a contested divorce is harder to predict, and it can take much longer, a year or even more.
However, if the spouses qualify for a simplified divorce procedure, they can get divorced within 35 days, waiving the waiting period and final hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to file for an uncontested divorce in Connecticut?
If the parties are ready to resolve their disputes out of court, they can have an uncontested divorce. They must reach an agreement about child custody, property division, alimony, and other essential matters and file their Settlement Agreement with the court.
How much does a divorce cost in Connecticut?
Divorce in Connecticut costs around $525. It includes a $350 filing fee, a service of process fee of $50, and a parenting class fee of $125 in case you have minor children.
How to get a free divorce in Connecticut?
Getting a free divorce in Connecticut is possible if you don’t hire a lawyer and prepare for divorce yourself. If you also want to avoid paying the filing fees and know that you qualify, you can file an Application For a Waiver Of Fees (JD-FM-75).
How to get divorce papers in Connecticut?
You can get divorce papers in Connecticut in several ways. First, you can obtain blank forms from the self-help section of the Connecticut Judicial Branch website and fill them out. The second option is to generate divorce papers using online divorce services.
Where do I go to file for an uncontested divorce in Connecticut?
To start an uncontested divorce in Connecticut, you must go to the Connecticut Superior Court (Family Division) in the judicial district where you or your spouse lives. You can find the locations of the Family Courts on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website.
What are the grounds for divorce in Connecticut?
The grounds for divorce in Connecticut are of two types: fault-based and no-fault. Fault-based grounds are adultery, willful desertion for one year, fraudulent contract, cruel treatment, imprisonment, etc. No-fault grounds include irretrievable breakdown and separation for 18 months.
How is property divided in a Connecticut Divorce?
The property in a Connecticut divorce is divided using the equitable distribution property laws. They treat all property spouses gain during and sometimes before marriage as joint (marital) property. Its division is based on what the judge considers fair and equitable after considering several statutory factors.