CONNECTICUT DIVORCE PAPERS WITH EXPLANATIONS

The documents listed below are the primary documents for a Connecticut uncontested divorce. You will notice that some of the documents apply to children. If you do not have minor children, these Connecticut uncontested divorce documents are typically not required.

• Summons: A Summons gives legal notice of a lawsuit to the party being sued. Upon being served with the Summons, the defendant responds to the Complaint filed by the plaintiff, or faces a default judgment being rendered against him or her for the relief sought.
• Divorce Complaint (Dissolution of Marriage): The Complaint asks the court to end the marriage and states the grounds. It lists the children of the marriage and it may ask for property and debt distribution, alimony, custody and visitation.
• Notice of Automatic Court Orders: These automatic orders go into effect after the divorce action begins. The orders limit the freedom of the parties in a number of areas; for example, they restrict the parties from removing a child from the state or concealing marital property.
• Marital Settlement Agreement: The MSA is a contract voluntarily entered into between a husband and a wife establishing the terms and conditions of their divorce and resolving such matters as property division, debts, child custody, child support, visitation, debt, alimony, insurance, tax, and settlement of any property issues. Signed by both parties, the MSA is approved by a judge and incorporated into the final Decree.
• Schedule for Visitation/Parenting Time of Minor Children: This schedule shows the visitation and parenting routine for the noncustodial parent.
• First Order of Notice (for Defendants living outside the state): The court orders that the party file the Motion for Order of Notice giving notice to the party to be notified by having a State Marshal or other proper officer mail a true and attested copy of the Summons and Complaint plus Notice of Automatic Orders.
• Appearance: This form is a response to the Summons and enters an appearance of the defendant.
• Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage) Answer: In this form, the defendant agrees or disagrees with the allegations made in the Complaint.
• Advisement of Rights: A party has the right to give the court any evidence to show why it should not order that money be taken out of his or her income. Not all income can be withheld. The only money that may be withheld for support is the money left after paying required federal, state and local income taxes, employment taxes, normal retirement contributions, union dues and initiation fees and group life and health insurance premiums. And only some of the leftover money can be taken out. Having other dependents (or not) and being past due on support payments can affect the amount withheld.
• Financial Affidavit (Plaintiff): This notarized affidavit profiles the finances of the plaintiff - his or her income and assets, debts and liabilities.
• Financial Affidavit (Defendant): This notarized affidavit profiles the finances of the defendant - his or her income and assets, debts and liabilities.
• Case Management Agreement: The Case Management Agreement form notifies the court about the status of the case and scheduling plans. The parties can set up the case management date with the court clerk after 90 days since the return date has passed. The case management date is often also the earliest date by which spouses can proceed with an uncontested final hearing and obtain their divorce.
• Affidavit Concerning Children: Form JD-FM-164. If there are minor children of the marriage, the court requires completion of this form that provides information about the children.
• Affidavit Concerning Children (addendum for more than two children): This form is required when there are more than two children involved in the divorce action.
• Order to Maintain Health Insurance for Minor Child(ren): This order is required of the noncustodial parent who is paying the health insurance of the children.
• Parent Education program - Order, Certificate and Results (Plaintiff): The court may order the plaintiff to take a parent education class, and upon completion he or she is given a certificate that is presented to the court.
• Parent Education program - Order, Certificate and Results (Defendant): The court may order the defendant to take a parent education class, and upon completion he or she is given a certificate that is presented to the court.
• Order to Withhold Income for Child Support: This form is the order for the party who wishes to have support payments (alimony, child support, etc.), deducted directly from the other spouse's paycheck.
• Support Guidelines and Worksheet: The support guidelines spell out the procedure for computing child support; the worksheet is a way support is calculated.
• Child Support Schedule: This chart shows the amount of child support based on the net weekly income of the payor and the number of children.
• Dissolution of Marriage Report: The Dissolution of Marriage Report (sometimes referred to as the "health form") is required in every divorce. The form requests certain statistical information from the parties, and is forwarded to the Connecticut Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) Judgment: This documents ends the marriage and consists of the orders issues by the court regarding the divorce.