Divorce & family

Family cases in Connecticut are heard in the judicial district where they are filed. They are decided on paperwork, financial disclosure and, for children, the court's judgment of their best interests. A case that starts calmly can turn when a protective order or a criminal charge lands in the middle of it. Many assault arrests in Connecticut are family-violence cases, and the office handles both sides of that: the divorce and the criminal case, together.

Norwalk is in the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District, whose Superior Court and Family Services offices are at 123 Hoyt Street in Stamford, and Norwalk family cases are generally heard there. A marriage can be dissolved on a finding that it has broken down irretrievably (General Statutes section 46b-40). In a contested case, trial cannot begin until at least 90 days after the return date, under section 46b-67, and parties who reach a full agreement can ask the court for judgment sooner. Custody is decided on the best interests of the child, with the court weighing a statutory list of factors that includes any history of domestic violence (section 46b-56). Property is divided under section 46b-81, which lets the court assign all or part of either spouse's estate after considering a list of factors, among them the length of the marriage, each person's income and earning capacity and what each contributed. Child support follows the state guidelines, which the court presumes to be the right amount unless it finds that applying them would be inappropriate (section 46b-215b).

What the office handles

• DivorceContested and uncontested divorces.
• Child custodyLegal and physical custody, parenting plans, relocation, and the guardian ad litem process.
• Child supportThe Connecticut guidelines, deviations from them, and modifications when the numbers change.
• Property divisionConnecticut is an equitable-distribution state, which does not always mean an equal split.
• AlimonySection 46b-82 lets the court order alimony after weighing factors such as the length of the marriage, each person's health and income, and what the property award provides.
• Restraining orders in a family caseA family or household member who is a victim of domestic violence can apply to the Superior Court for a civil restraining order under section 46b-15. A hearing is set within 14 days, and no order may last longer than a year without being extended.
• Domestic violence in the family caseProtective orders, restraining orders and the criminal case that often runs alongside a divorce. See the domestic violence page.

How a case starts

1. CallTell the office whether there is a court date, a protective order or a criminal charge already in place.
2. Free consultationThe first 30 minutes are free. Bring what you have: any orders, the financial picture as you understand it, and the children's schedule.
3. Filing and disclosureThe financial affidavit is an important document in a divorce case. It should be prepared carefully.
4. ResolutionFamily cases can often be resolved by settlement. The ones that are not are tried in Superior Court.

Questions people ask first

See also the published case results, what clients have said, questions about fees and courts and what happens after an arrest in Norwalk.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case turns on its own facts. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and contacting the office does not create an attorney-client relationship.