By FindLaw Staff | Legally reviewed by Nicole Prebeck, Esq. | Last reviewed January 09, 2023
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Just as states have regulations on the marriage process, so too do they have them for divorce. There are legal requirements for divorce that include procedures a person must go through in order to get divorced. Connecticut divorce laws, as with the divorce laws in other states, require divorcing couples to be residents of the state for a certain amount of time while also imposing waiting periods.
While certain legal grounds for divorce may be cited in Connecticut, such as adultery or willful desertion, it is also possible to get divorced on "no-fault" grounds. In Connecticut, a no-fault divorce would be filed as an "irretrievable breakdown" or after at least 18 months of continuous separation.
This article provides an overview of Connecticut divorce laws.
Learn more about Connecticut's divorce laws in the chart below.
Code Section |
§ 46b-40 et. seq. of the Connecticut General Statutes |
|---|---|
Residency Requirements |
Resident for 12 months before filing or one party domiciliary at time of marriage and returned with intent to stay or the cause for dissolution occurred after either moved to the state |
Waiting Period |
90 days |
'No-Fault' Grounds for Divorce |
Irretrievable breakdown; separation (lived apart for at least 18 mos. prior to the complaint) |
Defenses to a Divorce Filing |
- |
Other Grounds for Divorce |
Adultery; cruelty or violence; willful desertion for 1 yr.; drug/alcohol addiction; insanity; unexplained absence for at least 7 yrs.; conviction of an infamous crime; fraudulent contract; legal confinement for mental illness 5 out of last 6 yrs. |
Note: State laws are constantly changing, usually through caselaw or the enactment of new legislation, but occasionally through the passage of ballot initiatives or other means. FindLaw makes every effort to keep these pages up to date, but you may also want to contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Getting divorced is rarely a stress-free endeavor and typically conjures intense emotional responses, which is why it's almost always important to have an attorney by your side who can focus on the legal particulars of your case. And if your spouse has a lawyer, it makes even more sense to secure legal representation.
Get started today by calling an experienced Connecticut divorce attorney.
Contact a qualified attorney.
Get tailored divorce advice and ask a lawyer questions. Many attorneys offer free consultations.