• Custody/Visitation Application (JD-FM-161) - If you are a parent of the child or children
• Custody Application Verified Petition for Visitation – Grandparents & Third Parties (JD-FM-221) - If you are not a parent of the child or child(ren)
• Order To Attend Hearing And Notice to Respondent (JD-FM-162)
• Notice of Automatic Orders (JD-FM-158)
• Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164)
• Appearance (JD-CL-12) - (How-To Slidecast)

Once you finish your paperwork, you must take it to the Superior Court Clerk’s office along with the filing fee. The Clerk will sign and return the original forms to you. If you are a grandparent or third party filing a petition for visitation, the clerk will also have to take your oath for the Verification section of the form.

If you cannot afford the court fees to file for a divorce, you can also ask the court to waive the fees by filing an Application For Waiver Of Fees/Payment Of Costs/Appointment Of Counsel - Family (JD-FM-75) form to show the court why you cannot afford to pay. Do not sign this form until you are in front of a court clerk or a notary public.

• Once you finish your paperwork, you must take it to the Superior Court Clerk’s office. Do not sign these forms until you are in front of a court clerk or a notary public.
• The Clerk will sign the Summons and return the forms to you.
• A State Marshal or other proper officer must deliver copies of the paperwork to the other parent.
• The Clerk’s office or the Court Service Center can give you a list of State Marshals.
• A State Marshal or other proper officer will charge a fee for delivering the paperwork, which you must pay, unless the court has decided that you cannot afford to pay.
• There is a form you can use to ask the court to pay the fee if you prove that you cannot afford to pay. It is the Application For Waiver Of Fees/Payment Of Costs/Appointment Of Counsel - Family (JD-FM-75). You also can also use this form if you cannot afford to pay the fee to file the case. Do not sign this form until you are in front of a court clerk or a notary public.

• Once copies of the paperwork have been delivered to the other parent, you must return the original paperwork to the Clerk’s office along with the filing fee and proof that the papers were delivered to the other party. You may want to make copies of any forms that you are filing in the Clerk’s office for your records.
• If the court has decided that you cannot pay the filing fee, you must return the Application For Waiver Of Fees/Payment Of Costs/Appointment Of Counsel - Family (JD-FM-75) form with your other papers.
• Your court date will be listed on the Order To Attend Hearing and Notice to The Respondent form.

Unless there are already child support orders in a separate case, be sure to fill out the following form and bring it to your hearing along with proof of your income

• Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6-LONG) OR
• Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6-SHORT)

You will also need to fill out the following forms:

• Worksheet for the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines (CCSG-1)
• Advisement of Rights (JD-FM-71)

Family Relations Counselors will assist you and the other parent to reach an agreement and offers the following free services:

• Pre-trial Settlement Negotiations

  In all Judicial Districts, Family Relations Counselors conduct pre-trial and final judgment settlement conferences with attorneys and litigants.

• Mediation

  Family Relations Counselors mediate custody and access disputes for up to three 2-hour sessions. These efforts are geared toward assisting parents in resolving differences in a self-determining, non-coercive, and confidential manner.

  Click here to view a video about mediation.

• Conflict Resolution Conference

  This is a confidential, directive process utilizing negotiation and mediation techniques to resolve the primary issues of custody and access. Parents and attorneys participate in the conferences and information from professional sources may be included. The Family Relations Counselor may offer recommendations to the parents at the conclusion of the process if the parties are unable to resolve their dispute. These recommendations are not provided to the Court.

  Click here to view a video about conflict resolution conference.

• Conciliation Counseling

  Family Relations Counselors conduct conciliation sessions with parties upon referral from the Court. The focus of these sessions is to explore the possibility of the parties reconciling.

• Issue-Focused Evaluation

  This is a non-confidential process of assessing a limited issue impacting a family and/or parenting plan. The goal of an Issue-Focused Evaluation is to explore the defined parenting dispute, gather information regarding only this issue and provide a recommendation to the parents and the Court. This evaluation format is limited in scope, involvement, and duration.

  Click here to view a video about issue-focused evaluation.

• Comprehensive Evaluation

  This is an in-depth, non-confidential assessment of the family system by the Family Relations Counselor. The information gathered by the counselor, the assessment of the family, and the resulting recommended parenting plan is shared with the parents and attorneys. This recommendation may be used to form the basis of an agreement. At the conclusion of the process, a report with recommendations is filed with the Court.

  Click here to view a video about Comprehensive Evaluation.

1. What is a guardian ad litem (GAL)?
2. Who can be a GAL?
3. What is the role of a GAL?
4. What can a parent in a family court matter expect from a GAL?
5. Who pays the GAL?
6. Is there a sliding scale fee option for parents with limited resources?
7. Can a GAL be removed from a case?
8. Is there a list of individuals qualified to be appointed as a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) in a family case?
9. Is there a Code of Conduct for Guardians Ad Litem?

1. What is an Attorney for a Minor Child (AMC)?
2. Who can be an AMC?
3. What is the role of an AMC?
4. What can a parent in a family court matter expect from an AMC?
5. Who pays the AMC?
6. Can an AMC be removed from a case?
7. Is there a list of individuals qualified to be appointed as an Attorney for a Minor Child (AMC) in a family case?
8. Is there a Code of Conduct for Attorneys for the Minor Child?

Assistant Attorney General

• If you, the other parent or child ever received public assistance from the State of Connecticut, or if anyone in your family ever received HUSKY health insurance, the state may have an interest in your case, and you are required to notify the Attorney General's Office of your divorce.
• Send the Certification of Notice in Family Cases(Public Assistance)(JD-FM-175) to:
  Attorney General's Office
  165 Capitol Avenue
  Hartford, CT 06106
  
• The Attorney General`s Office will decide whether it needs to be involved and, if so, will file its own Appearance(JD-CL-12).

• If you have children under the age of 18 (eighteen), you must take part in a Parenting Education Program within 60 (sixty) days after a family case is filed.
• There is a fee for the classes that you will have to pay unless the court has decided that you cannot afford to pay.
• If you cannot afford the fee, you will need to complete the Application For Waiver Of Fees/Payment Of Costs/Appointment Of Counsel - Family (JD-FM-75) form.
• You will need the following forms to participate in the class :
  Parenting Education Program – List of Approved Programs (JDP-FM-151)
  Parenting Education Program - Order, Certificate and Results (JD-FM-149)

• On the day of your divorce hearing be sure to come to court early because it can take 10 to 20 minutes to get into the courthouse since everyone must go through a metal detector.
• Be sure to bring your filled out court forms and copies of any other forms you may have filed.
• Go to your assigned courtroom and wait for instructions.
• If you are not sure where to go, check with the Clerk’s office or Court Service Center.

• Every case is different and this information sheet is to be used as a guide only.
• If you think you need more help, you may want to get an attorney.
• You also can go to a Court Service Center or contact the Connecticut Network for Legal Aid or find additional information at the Law Libraries.
• Court staff can answer procedural questions and help you understand the legal process, but cannot give you legal advice

The information on this webpage is provided as a service and a convenience by the Connecticut Judicial Branch. It is not intended as legal advice to any person. If you have questions about the use of these forms, your legal rights, or particular issues in your case, it is strongly recommended that you talk to an attorney.

Due to the changing nature of the law, the forms and information found on this website will change from time to time. It is up to you to follow the current procedures and to file the correct, up-to-date forms.