Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries   Books
 

   
Ask a Librarian

Connecticut Law About Child Custody and Visitation

These links connect to resources available and are provided with the understanding
that they represent only a starting point for research.

This web page has many external links to valuable resources. Please view our Linkage Policy for more information.

See Also Connecticut Law About Grandparent Rights and Connecticut Law About Child Support

Research Guides and Information

  

Connecticut Public Acts

Connecticut Judicial Branch:

  • Divorce, Custody and Visitation

  • Filing for Custody or Visitation (or both)

  • Filing a Motion for Modification

  • Filing a Motion for Contempt

  • Family Publications

  • Family Matters Frequently Asked Questions

  • Putting Children First: Minimizing Conflict in Custody Cases (video)

  • Pongamos a Los Hijos Primero (video)

Research guides prepared by the Connecticut Judicial Branch law librarians:

  • Best Interests of the Child Standard in Connecticut

  • Child Custody Actions in Connecticut

  • Child Visitation Actions in Connecticut

  • Modification of Judgments in Family Matters

  • Parental Kidnapping and Custodial Interference

  • Parental Relocation in Connecticut

  • Representing Minors in Connecticut

  • Rights of Grandparents and Third Parties in Connecticut

Connecticut Network for Legal Aid:

  • How to Change Your Custody or Visitation Order

  • What if the Other Parent Doesn't Obey a Court Order? How to file a Motion for Contempt

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts:

  • A Guide for Joint Custody and Shared Parenting

Connecticut Department of Social Services:

  • Establish Paternity Q & A for Dads
  • Establish Paternity Q & A for Moms

OLR Research Reports - Office of Legislative Research:

  • Child Custody - 2011-R-0212

  • Child Custody and Support - 2011-R-0377

  • Acts Affecting Family Law - 2005-R-0656

  • Modifying Visitation Orders after Divorce - 2001-R-0250

Library Materials

  • Connecticut Family Law Citations: A Reference Guide to Connecticut Family Law Decisions , by Cynthia C. George

  • Connecticut Practice, Family Law and Practice with Forms by Arnold H. Rutkin

    • Part 10: Custody and Visitation

  • Friendly Divorce Guidebook for Connecticut , by Barbara Kahn Stark

  • Library of Connecticut Family Law Forms , by Thomas D. Colin, ed.

Search the  online catalog   for availability and locations or contact a law library.

Useful Websites
  • Cornell Legal Information Institute - Child Custody
  • Divorce Net - Family Law Information
  • FindLaw - Divorce
  • FindLaw - Child Custody
  • Nolo - Child Custody, Child Support & Visitation
 

  • 2025 Public Acts Affecting Children

  • 2024 Public Acts Affecting Children

  • 2023 Public Acts Affecting Children

Connecticut General Statutes

Selected Statutes:

Chapter 319o. Department of Social Services

  • Sec. 17b-27 . Voluntary parentage establishment program. Protocols. Regulations. Voluntary acknowledgment of parentage system established by Department of Public Health.

Chapter 802h. Protected Persons and Their Property

  • Sec. 45a-606. (Formerly Sec. 45-43). Father and mother joint guardians.

  • Sec. 45a-607. (Formerly Sec. 45-44). Temporary custody of minor pending application to probate court for removal of guardian or termination of parental rights.

Chapter 815j. Dissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation and Annulment

  • Sec. 46b-56. Orders re custody, care, education, visitation, and support of children. Best interests of the child. Access to records of minor child by noncustodial parent. Orders re therapy, counseling and drug or alcohol screening.

  • Sec. 46b-56a. Joint custody. Definition. Presumption. Conciliation. Parental responsibility plan. Modification of orders.

  • Sec. 46b-56b. Presumption re best interest of child to be in custody of parent.

  • Sec. 46b-57. Third party intervention re custody of minor children. Preference of child.

  • Sec. 46b-59. Petition for right of visitation with minor child. Order for payment of fees.

  • Sec. 46b-59a. Mediation of disputes re enforcement of visitation rights.

  • Sec. 46b-61. Orders re children where parents live separately. Filing of accompanying documents.

  • Sec. 46b-64. Orders of court prior to return day of complaint.

  • Sec. 46b-69b. Parenting education program.

  • Sec. 46b-87. Contempt of orders.

  • Sec. 46b-87a. Forms and instructions for application for contempt order based on violation of visitation order.

Chapter 815p. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction & Enforcement Act

Chapter 818. Connecticut Parentage Act and Parentage-Related Provisions

Connecticut Practice Book

  • Sec. 25-3 . Action for Custody of Minor Child

  • Sec. 25-4. Action for Visitation of Minor Child

Official Court Forms

  • File for Custody or Visitation (or both)

  • File a Motion for Modification

  • File a Motion for Contempt

Connecticut Case Law
  • Roth v. Weston , 259 Conn. 202 (2002). Grandparent-third party visitation
  • Fish v. Fish , 285 Conn. 24 (2008). Third party custody

Recent Family Law Opinions
  • Recent Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Court Family Law Opinions
    (From the Law Libraries' NewsLog)

 Connecticut Law by Subject