Basic Divorce Questions
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| How long does it take to divorce in Connecticut? |
Anywhere from four months to more than one year. The duration and timing of a divorce depends primarily on the motivations of the husband and wife, complexity of the case and method of divorcing.
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| What does marriage “dissolution” mean? |
Dissolution is the legal term for terminating a marriage in Connecticut. Most people refer to dissolution as divorce.
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| What is a “no fault” divorce? |
One in which the legal grounds for the divorce is the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
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| What is a “legal separation”? |
A legal status in which the spouses are freed from most legal obligations to each other and have given up most legal rights with regard to the other. A legally separated person is however still married.
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| Will the person wanting or filing for the divorce be penalized by the court simply because he or she wants the divorce or starts the case? |
No. There is no automatic “penalty” for being the plaintiff, the person asking the court for the divorce.
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| Does a divorcing person need a lawyer to divorce? |
No. But in most circumstances the input of an experienced divorce lawyer can add great value to your divorce experience and settlement.
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| What is a “pro se” divorce? |
Pro se means that officially the husband or wife is representing himself or herself in the court case. Many divorcing persons are pro se although they are utilizing the services of a divorce lawyer either as a consultant, mediator or collaborative attorney.
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| Is it abandonment if a person moves out of the house before the divorce is completed? |
No, not typically. However, we recommend that you confer with your spouse, mediator and/or lawyer before moving out.
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| If one spouse can afford to stay in the house after the divorce but the other cannot, does the spouse who can afford the house automatically get to keep it? |
No. Disposition of a house is part of an overall property division and a court must consider numerous factors.
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| Once the divorce starts, can one spouse force the other to move out? |
Typically no, but under certain circumstances yes.
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| Once the divorce starts, can either spouse date? |
Yes. However, you should consider the potential influence on the court or negative impact on your spouse and children and be sensitive to these possibilities.
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