These instructions are to help you represent yourself in a divorce. Legal words and court documents can be confusing. The more you know, the more comfortable you will be when you fill out the necessary court forms and come to court. These instructions will give you some useful information and instructions on filling out the necessary forms.

Every case is different and this instruction sheet is to be used as a guide only; if you think you need more help you may want to get an attorney. You can also 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.

• Summons Family Actions (JD-FM-3)
• Divorce Complaint/Cross Complaint (JD-FM-159)

And attach to the complaint:

• Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158)

If you need to ask the court for temporary orders while your divorce case is pending, you may also fill out the:

• Motion for Orders Before Judgment (Pendente Lite) in Family Cases (JD-FM-176)

Once you finish your paperwork, the documents must be sent or brought to the Superior Court Clerk’s Office for the Clerk to sign the summons. After doing so, the Clerk will return the forms to you. Copies of the paperwork must be delivered to your spouse by a State Marshal. The Clerk’s office or the Court Service Center can give you a list of State Marshals. A State Marshal will charge a fee for delivering the paperwork which you must pay, unless the court has decided that you do not have to pay. There is a form you can use to ask the court to pay the State Marshal if you prove that you cannot afford to pay. It is the Application For Waiver Of Fees/ Appointment Of Counsel Family (JD-FM-75). You can also use this form if you cannot afford to pay the fee to file the case. Do not sign these forms until you are in front of a court clerk or a notary public.

Once copies of the paperwork have been delivered to your spouse, the original paperwork must be returned to the Clerk’s Office along with the filing fee and proof the papers were delivered to the other party. If the court has decided that you do not have to pay the filing fee, you must return the Application For Waiver Of Fees/ Appointment Of Counsel with your other papers.

On your paperwork there will be 2 dates listed. One is the Return Date. The return date should be a Tuesday and must be at least 4 weeks after the day you bring the papers to the court clerk. The other is the Case Management Date. The Case Management date is at least 90 days after your Return Date.

The next form you will have to fill out and send or give to the Family Clerk’s office is the:

• Case Management Agreement/Order (JD-FM-163)

If your spouse has filed an Appearance form, he or she must sign the Case Management Agreement form, too. This form must be given or sent to the Clerk’s Office before the Case Management Date on your Summons form. You do not have to go to court on the Return Date. On the Case Management Agreement form you are choosing your actual divorce date and must be in court on that date. If you and your spouse do not agree to a divorce date and have not filed a Case Management Agreement either, you must come to court on your Case Management Date.

For your final divorce hearing you have to fill out the following forms:

• Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6) - Long
• Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6) - Short
• Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172)

If your spouse did not respond to the divorce complaint you may have to file another form, the:

• Affidavit Concerning Military Service (JD-FM-178)

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 given or sent to the court clerk. 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.