Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Connecticut
Connecticut calls this action dissolution of marriage, not divorce. It runs two different tracks for couples who agree. Most couples file a standard complaint, which still goes through the regular family docket. A smaller group of eligible couples can file a joint petition instead, under the nonadversarial dissolution law, and get a decree without ever appearing before a judge. The nonadversarial track is a separate legal procedure, not just an uncontested label. It falls under Conn. Gen. Stat. sections 46b-44a through 46b-44d. It has strict eligibility limits: a short marriage, no children, no real property, and combined assets under a set dollar cap.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist 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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Nonadversarial dissolution: eligibility
Both spouses have to attest under oath that every one of these is true. The marriage lasted 9 years or less. Neither party is pregnant. No children were born to or adopted by the parties before or during the marriage. Neither spouse owns any interest in real property.
Combined property, after debt, is worth less than 80,000 dollars. Neither spouse has a defined benefit pension. Neither has a pending bankruptcy. No other dissolution, separation, or annulment case is pending, and no restraining or protective order exists between the spouses.
How the nonadversarial track works
Eligible couples file a joint petition, form JD-FM-242, instead of a complaint and response. The court sets a disposition date at least 30 days after the petition is filed. It can enter the decree on that date, or up to 5 days later, with no hearing required.
This path is faster and simpler than a standard uncontested case. A standard case still uses the complaint form JD-FM-159 and still gets a return date. It generally needs a hearing too, even when both spouses agree on every term.
Document checklist
For the nonadversarial track, the core document is the Joint Petition, JD-FM-242, plus a signed agreement resolving property and debt. For a standard uncontested case, start with the Divorce Complaint, JD-FM-159, the summons JD-FM-3, and the notice of automatic court orders, JD-FM-158.
Spouses can skip service by a state marshal if both sign a Certification of Waiver of Service of Process, JD-FM-249. A spouse who cannot afford the filing fee can file JD-FM-75, Application for Waiver of Fees. Couples with minor children add the parenting education certificate, tracked on form JD-FM-149.
The return date and residency
Connecticut's clock runs from the return date, a specific date the case is made returnable to court, not from the filing date. A contested trial cannot start until 90 days after that return date. The nonadversarial track runs on its own separate clock instead, tied to the petition's filing date.
There is no minimum residency period just to file a complaint. The final decree cannot be entered unless one spouse has lived in Connecticut for the 12 months before filing or before the decree. A spouse can also qualify by meeting one of two narrower alternative tests set out in state law.
Sources: Conn. Gen. Stat. Title 46b, Chapter 815j (dissolution of marriage), JD-FM-159, Divorce Complaint (Dissolution of Marriage), JD-FM-75, Application for Waiver of Fees, family matters, Connecticut Judicial Branch, family law self-help FAQ, Connecticut Judicial Branch, court forms library, Connecticut service of process guidance
Not independently confirmed
- A direct, independently loadable copy of form JD-FM-242, the Joint Petition for nonadversarial dissolution, was not separately confirmed by URL, though it is referenced in the Judicial Branch's own forms library and statute guidance. Confirm the current version on jud.ct.gov before filing.
- Whether a nonadversarial dissolution case can ever be denied the no-hearing disposition and redirected to a standard hearing, for example if the judge has questions about the sworn petition, was not confirmed in detail.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Connecticut: frequently asked questions
Can I get a Connecticut divorce without going to court?+
Yes, if you qualify for the nonadversarial dissolution track. Both spouses must meet strict limits: a marriage of 9 years or less, no children, and no real property. Combined assets must stay under 80,000 dollars, with no pending bankruptcy or protective order. Eligible couples file a joint petition, and the court can enter the decree about 30 to 35 days later with no hearing.
What is Connecticut's nonadversarial dissolution track?+
A separate statutory procedure under Conn. Gen. Stat. sections 46b-44a through 46b-44d, distinct from an ordinary uncontested divorce. Both spouses file a sworn joint petition, form JD-FM-242, instead of a complaint. If every eligibility condition is met, the court assigns a disposition date roughly 30 days out and can grant the decree then, without either spouse appearing.
What if we do not qualify for the nonadversarial track?+
You can still have an uncontested divorce through the standard process. File the Divorce Complaint, JD-FM-159, along with the summons and notice of automatic orders. Both spouses can sign a waiver of marshal service. The case still gets a return date and generally proceeds through the regular family docket, but it moves faster without a contested trial.
What is Connecticut's return date and why does it matter?+
The return date is a specific date the case is made returnable to court, and Connecticut's deadlines run from it rather than the filing date. A contested trial cannot begin until 90 days after the return date. Default judgment timelines and other procedural steps are measured from that same date, so tracking it matters more than tracking the filing date.
Can I get the Connecticut filing fee waived?+
Yes, if you cannot afford it. File JD-FM-75, Application for Waiver of Fees, Payment of Costs, or Appointment of Counsel, for a family case. This is a different form from the one used in civil, housing, or small claims matters, so use the family-specific version when filing a dissolution case.
Do we need a parenting class if we have minor children in Connecticut?+
Generally yes. Conn. Gen. Stat. section 46b-69b requires both parents to complete a Judicial Department parenting education program. The court can excuse it, or the parties can complete an approved outside program instead. The cost is capped at 200 dollars per participant, and no one can be excluded from the program for inability to pay.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist 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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