Reviewed August 2026
Spousal Support in Connecticut
Connecticut calls spousal support alimony. The Superior Court decides it as part of a dissolution of marriage case under Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-82. Connecticut has no statutory formula for calculating alimony. Instead, the statute lists a broad set of factors. The judge weighs them to decide whether to award alimony, and if so, how much and for how long. Alimony in Connecticut can be time-limited or awarded without a fixed end date. This depends on the length of the marriage and the parties' circumstances. Connecticut courts also consider fault in the breakdown of the marriage as one of the statutory factors. That is different from many states, which only look at financial need and ability to pay. Connecticut law includes a specific, frequently used provision addressing cohabitation. Under § 46b-86(b), a paying spouse can ask the court to modify or terminate alimony. This applies if the recipient is living with another person and that arrangement changes the recipient's financial needs.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how spousal support works under Connecticut law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Connecticut paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Factors under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-82
Section 46b-82 directs the court to consider the length of the marriage and the causes of the marriage's breakdown. It also weighs each spouse's age, health, station, occupation, employability, and financial resources, along with any property distribution made in the same proceeding. Because fault is one of the listed factors, conduct during the marriage can influence a Connecticut alimony award. That would not happen in a pure no-fault state.
Time-limited versus long-term alimony
Connecticut courts often set alimony for a defined term. Courts often use this when a spouse needs time to gain education or job skills and become self-supporting, especially after shorter marriages. In longer marriages, or where there is a significant disparity in earning capacity, courts have discretion to order alimony without a fixed end date. This is sometimes called permanent alimony, though it remains modifiable under the statute.
Cohabitation and modification under § 46b-86
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-86(b) lets the paying spouse petition the court to modify, suspend, or terminate alimony. This applies when the recipient is cohabiting with another person. The paying spouse must show the cohabitation has altered the recipient's financial needs. This is a fact-specific inquiry decided by the court, not an automatic termination, and the paying spouse carries the burden of proof. Alimony can also be modified generally under § 46b-86(a) if either spouse shows a substantial change in circumstances. It does not apply if the original order specifically bars modification.
Termination on remarriage
Connecticut law provides that periodic alimony terminates upon the remarriage of the recipient, unless the decree specifically states otherwise. As with cohabitation, a paying spouse should confirm the termination with the court. Payments should not simply stop without any documentation, particularly if they are made through wage withholding.
Sources: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 815j (includes §46b-82 and §46b-86), Connecticut Judicial Branch Self-Help, IRS Tax Topic 452, Alimony and Separate Maintenance
Not independently confirmed
- The specific statutory citation confirming automatic termination on remarriage was not independently isolated to a single subsection separate from §46b-86; confirm current text of the chapter or check with the court.
Spousal Support in Connecticut: frequently asked questions
What is spousal support called in Connecticut?+
Connecticut statute and courts use the term alimony. It is governed by Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-82 and decided by the Superior Court as part of a dissolution of marriage case.
Does Connecticut have a formula for calculating alimony?+
No. Connecticut has no statutory formula. Section 46b-82 lists factors the court must weigh, including the length of the marriage, each spouse's health and earning capacity, and the cause of the marriage's breakdown. The judge has discretion in applying them.
Can fault affect alimony in Connecticut?+
Yes. Unlike many states, Connecticut's alimony statute specifically lists the causes of the marriage's breakdown as a factor the court can weigh. That means conduct during the marriage can influence the amount or duration of an award.
Can living with a new partner affect alimony in Connecticut?+
Yes. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-86(b), a paying spouse can petition the court to modify or terminate alimony. This applies if the recipient is cohabiting with another person in a way that changes the recipient's financial needs. It requires a court finding, not an automatic cutoff.
Does remarriage end alimony in Connecticut?+
Generally yes, unless the divorce decree specifically states otherwise. Periodic alimony in Connecticut typically terminates upon the recipient's remarriage, but the paying spouse should still confirm the termination with the court.
Is alimony taxable in Connecticut?+
For divorces finalized after December 31, 2018, federal law no longer allows the paying spouse to deduct alimony. It also no longer requires the recipient to treat alimony as taxable income, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Agreements executed before 2019 generally keep the older tax treatment unless later modified.
This page is general information about spousal support in Connecticut, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Connecticut's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Connecticut. Virdix does not prepare or file Connecticut divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Connecticut.
More Connecticut divorce guides
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