If you have questions about divorce, legal separation, alimony entitlement, or alimony in Connecticut, please feel free to call the experienced divorce attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. in Westport today at 203-221-3100 or email Joseph C. Maya, Esq. at JMaya@Mayalaw.com.
You must wait at least 90 days after your divorce action starts (Return Date) to get a judgment of divorce. The Return Date is on the Summons and the waiting period generally ends on the Case Management Date in the Notice of Automatic Court Orders.
During the waiting period, you should try to reach an agreement with your spouse on the financial issues and issues about your children. A private mediator or a family relations counselor from the Judicial Branch’s CSSD Family Services Office may be able to help you reach an agreement. If you reach an agreement use the Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172) form.
During the waiting period, you should also fill out and file a Case Management Agreement/Order (JD-FM-163). If you and your spouse agree on the issues, or if your spouse has not filed an Appearance, your case is called “uncontested.” You may choose a date for an uncontested divorce hearing and write it on the Case Management Agreement form, Section II. To choose a date for your hearing, check with the court clerk or the family caseflow coordinator. In some court locations, you may get a final divorce hearing on your case management date, if your case is uncontested.
If you are the plaintiff, you will get a docket number for your case in the mail, about 2 weeks after filing the Complaint. Both the plaintiff and the defendant must use the docket number on all legal papers filed with the court. If you decide you do not want a divorce and you are the plaintiff, you may stop the case by filing a Withdrawal (JD-CV-41) at the clerk’s office. However, if your spouse has filed a Cross Complaint, the case will continue unless your spouse also files a Withdrawal form.
At the end of the waiting period, your case may be scheduled for a final divorce hearing. The schedule depends on how much you and your spouse agree on the issues. If you and your spouse agree on all the issues, your case is “uncontested” and the divorce hearing may be scheduled immediately. If you and your spouse have disagreements about money, property division, custody of your children or visitation, your case is not covered by this guide because it is more complicated than an uncontested case and would involve more court rules and procedures. You must tell the court, using the Case Management Agreement, about the status of your case (for example, uncontested) and when you will be ready for the final divorce hearing.
For a free consultation, please do not hesitate to call the experienced family law and divorce attorneys at Maya Murphy, P.C. in Westport, CT at 203-221-3100. We may also be reached for inquiries by email at JMaya@mayalaw.com.
