Connecticut Divorce Steps

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A divorce is a legal procedure to end an unwanted marital relationship. There are many grounds on which such decision is made by the partners. In Connecticut, a dissolution of marriage has a certain process involving various stages. These stages can be mentioned as below:

Connecticut Divorce Steps during cooling-off period

Divorce steps in Connecticut include many legal procedures and formalities. The basic steps for a dissolution of marriage can be explained as below:

• The Plaintiff files a Complaint and Summons with the Superior Court that exists in the judicial district wherein one of the divorcing partner lives. A divorce compliant is also known as the application for a dissolution of marriage. It is necessary to confirm that all residency requirements have been fulfilled before filing for a disintegration of a marital bond.

• The Complaint comprises of the following data:
  • The names of the divorcing partners to prove their identification
  • The basis on which the court's jurisdiction was chosen
  • The maiden name of the wife
  • If there are any minor children, their names and birth dates
  • The grounds of divorce
  • The relief that has been requested
  • If any partner has received public assistance
  
  
• A return date is a date that has been decided by Plaintiff's council. The significance of this date is as follows:
  • The Plaintiff must file the complaint minimum six days prior to the return date
  • The Plaintiff must serve the Defendant minimum 12 days prior to the return date
  
  
• A cooling off period is duration from the initialization of the divorce action till the final action is reached. This period vary from the state to state. The state of Colorado has the cooling off period of 90 days.

• While the case is pending, the divorcing partners might approach the court to issue temporary orders regarding the following issues:
  • Exclusive possession of the marital residence: An ownership of a residential house can be requested if that partner has no other places to shift immediately
  • A restraining order against abuse: It is usually demanded in the cases of domestic violence and cruelty. The nature of such order is of mandatory type. That is any failure to follow such order will be taken as a punishable offense
  • Child support and custody: If a parent is interested in permanent custody of child, he or she may apply for a temporary custody. Sometimes, a temporary custody is awarded to protect rights of children and to keep them safe from any kind of imbalanced behavior of the spouse
  • Alimony that is spousal maintenance: This is a sort of obligation that is to be paid by one partner to help the other to cope up with financial problems after getting separated from the partner

Connecticut Divorce Steps in a majority of cases

It has been observed that in more than 90 percent of the dissolution cases in this state, there is no need of a trial. Most of the divorcing couples opt to draft the "Separation Agreement." The council of the parties drafts this agreement. Further, the divorcing parties acknowledge and execute it. This agreement addresses the following issues:

• Council fees
• Real and personal property
• Child support
• Alimony
• Custody and visitation of children
• Waiver of rights in future property
• Other divorce related issues

Once this agreement has been drafted, a claim is made that it should be included in an uncontested divorce list. The next step is that a hearing is arranged. During this hearing, the court ascertains the following facts:

• Whether jurisdiction is proper?
• Whether the grounds of separation have been proved?
• Whether both the partners consider this agreement as fair and equitable within the background of their respective needs and resources?

It is a public policy to have a bias towards private resolution of conflict. As a consequence of this, the agreements of the partners are generally endorsed immediately.

Steps involved in Discovery

Every divorcing partner is expected to reveal all of his or her liabilities, assets, expenditures and income. The court takes the following traditional steps for this to happen:

• Request for production of documents
• Depositions
• Interrogatories

If the case is very simple then the discovery steps are restricted to just the following:

• W - 2 forms
• Exchange of tax returns

If the divorcing partners are businessmen, proprietors, etc. who might have hidden or manipulated their incomes then the discovery steps include actuaries and accountants executing exorbitant and extensive procedures.

This is the way to apply for a permanent separation from the partner in Colorado. Though every case will follow a same procedure, there may be minute differences according to the individuals involved and exact nature of the case.

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