connecticut can you find out who the divorce attorney was in a case

by Prof. Alexander Cummings DVM 9 min read

What happens after divorce papers are served in CT?

Once a complaint gets served by one spouse against the other, the divorce process will start. This complaint must get filed if you or your spouse wants to file for divorce. Once the complaint gets filed on the Return Date, the Court Case will begin, starting the 90 day time period.

Is CT A no fault divorce state?

What is a No-Fault Divorce? The state of Connecticut allows a no-fault divorce when there is no chance of reconciliation for you and your spouse. A no-fault divorce is the most common Connecticut divorce procedure.

How do I look up a lawsuit in CT?

Yes, interested persons can look up court cases in Connecticut. They can do so by using the Case Look-up page of the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. The Case Look-Up website is updated daily but may not display information on confidential cases per Connecticut law. It is also a user-friendly website.

How much is a divorce lawyer in CT?

Hourly rates for divorce lawyers in Connecticut vary from about $200 to $750. The initial retainer also varies. Some attorneys request as little as $1,000 while others ask for $30,000 or more.

Does adultery affect divorce in CT?

Adultery is one of the for fault grounds for divorce in Connecticut. In order for the court to order a divorce based upon for fault grounds, the spouse who is the plaintiff must be able to prove, with specific evidence, that his or her spouse's misconduct caused the relationship to fail.

How many years do you have to be married to get alimony in CT?

Connecticut Family Judges have broad discretion in their consideration of these factors. That said, the shorter duration of a marriage, the less-likely there should be a presumption of alimony; Typically, if the marriage lasted for two years or less then there will be a very short award of alimony, if any.

Are divorce records public in Connecticut?

For many people, privacy — for themself, their spouse, and their children — is a priority during and following a divorce. It's normal to wonder whether divorce is a matter of divorce records public in Connecticut. The short answer is yes, divorce filings are public records.

How long are court records kept in Connecticut?

(b) and (c) and added provisions allowing destruction of records after 7 years, including official notes and tapes of evidence or judicial proceedings concerning title to land; P.A. 02-29 amended Subsec.

What does rearrest ordered mean in CT?

When defendants fail to appear for court hearings, courts will sometimes send out bail commissioner letters to remind them to appear on the next date. If the accused continues to fail to appear, the court will order a re-arrest and raise the defendant's bail bond.

Who pays attorney fees in divorce?

When a divorcing couple's financial situation is not completely one-sided, courts will sometimes order the spouse with a larger income to pay a percentage of the other party's attorney's fees in proportion to each spouse's income.

How long does a divorce take in CT?

Divorce may be granted in approximately 35 days without the need to see a judge. You and your spouse will be provided a court date. Both you and your spouse must see a judge on that date. advice.

Is Connecticut an alimony state?

Under Connecticut's alimony statute, there is no minimum length of time you must be married to receive alimony. CT alimony laws give a judge discretion to determine the amount of alimony and the duration of payments.

How long do you have to be separated before divorce in CT?

You and your spouse must wait at least 90 days to get a divorce. Any unresolved issues will be decided by the judge. See “Divorce Without an Agreement – Part 2” on page 2.

How much does an uncontested divorce cost in CT?

How much does it cost to file for a divorce in Connecticut? To file for a divorce in Connecticut, you will need to pay a $350 filing fee, a $50 fee for having the court papers served, and if you have children, you'll also need to pay $125 for a mandatory parenting education class.

Is CT an equitable distribution state?

Is Connecticut a Community Property state? No. Like the majority of states, including the Midwestern states and all states located along the Eastern seaboard, Connecticut is an "equitable distribution" state.

How is alimony calculated in CT?

There is no specific formula for alimony, and the judge has broad discretion on whether to award support and, if so, how much and for how long. As with other divorce-related issues, like child custody and property division, couples can negotiate and create a settlement agreement that meets their needs for alimony.

What Divorce Records are Accessible to the Public in Connecticut?

Under Connecticut Practice Book Section 25-59A (h), Financial Affidavits — the sworn statements of current income, expenses, assets, and liabilities filed with the court — are automatically “sealed,” which means they are unavailable to the public.

Can You Have Other Divorce Records Sealed?

Experienced divorce attorneys are familiar with how to request the Court order that divorce records be sealed. This involves convincing the Court that the reason to keep the documents private outweighs the public’s First Amendment right to free access to these documents.

Is Information About Divorces Available Online to the Public?

If a divorce happened in the past 10 years, some information about it can be located online here.

How Easy is it for the Public to Access Divorce Documents?

If you are looking for something that isn’t available online — such as a copy of a document filed in a divorce case — you generally need to head to the Judicial District Clerk’s Office in the court location where the divorce took place. (Click for the current fees for copying.)

What About Access to Transcripts of Divorce Hearings and Trials?

Requests for written transcripts of any court proceeding must be made in writing to the Court Reporter’s Office at the court location where the case was heard. Currently, orders aren’t accepted via email. To learn what to include in the letter and other information about ordering transcripts, view “Procedures for Ordering a Court Transcript.”

Next Steps

At Freed Marcroft, we want you to understand what is happening in your divorce — including what information will be publicly available. Depending on your goals, skilled divorce counsel can develop a legal strategy keyed into maintaining your privacy. Check out our article “How Do I Protect My Privacy During a Divorce?” for more on how we can help.

How to get a copy of divorce decree in Connecticut?

To obtain a certified copy of a Connecticut divorce decree, the requester must submit a written request to the Superior Court which issued the judgment. Only parties eligible to receive a divorce de cree will receive a copy on request.

What is divorce record in Connecticut?

A Connecticut divorce record includes all the documents associated with the proceedings of the dissolution of a marriage in the State of Connecticut. There are three general types of divorce documents; divorce certificates, divorce decrees, and divorce records. Divorce records are considered court records.

What is a divorce certificate?

A divorce certificate is a legal document that contains basic information about a divorce case. It does not contain specific information related to the details of the divorce settlement. Information usually provided by this document include: Names of the parties to the divorce. Where the divorce took place.

Why are divorce records so low?

Because of this, divorce record, certificate, and decree availability is usually much lower than other types of public records because of the personal nature of divorces.

What is divorce decree?

A divorce decree is a legal document that asserts the dissolution of a marriage, in the State of Connecticut, and details the conditions of the settlement. It establishes the rights and responsibilities of each party as well as the terms of: Asset division. Child custody and visitation rights. Alimony.

Can you seal divorce papers in Connecticut?

Divorce records can be sealed in the State of Connecticut, but this is not done by default. Only family courts can seal divorce records in Connecticut. To seal a record, both parties to the divorce must file a request (motion) with the court. The motion will be reviewed by a judge who can choose to grant or deny the request.

Who can access a divorce record?

Once a divorce record is sealed, it is only available to the parties named in the record, their attorneys, and officials of the court. A third party may access this record only with a court order authorizing access to the confidential documents found in the record.

What does it mean to check an attorney's license in Connecticut?

It also tells the attorney’s licensing and disciplinary history. When you check an attorney’s license you can see if the license has ever been inactive, and why, and if the attorney has ever been disciplined for misconduct . If an attorney’s license is not active, the attorney cannot practice law until he or she is reinstated.

What happens if an attorney is suspended?

If the attorney is currently suspended, disbarred, or resigned, then the attorney’s license was taken because of serious misconduct and the attorney may not practice again unless the license is reinstated. For less serious misconduct, an attorney may be reprimanded or have conditions imposed.

Why is my attorney's license inactive?

An attorney can have an inactive license for reasons other than discipline. A license is deactivated if the attorney is inactive due to disability (under section 2-56 of the Connecticut Practice Book), voluntarily retires, does not pay the Client Security Fund fee or is deceased. These are not discipline.

Where to File for a Connecticut Divorce

If you are filing for divorce, you must go to the clerk’s office in your district. In order to file for divorce, you must bring:

Steps to Take When Planning Divorce

Are you planning a divorce in Connecticut? Do you want to get your paperwork in order before you decide to make the move legally? A smart person will put together a plan of action prior to filing for divorce to enable them to have all the documentation ready and a plan of action in place in case the divorce process becomes complicated.

How to Divorce in Connecticut

Divorce is a major life event that anyone in the United States can have the right to file for. However, the laws and regulations regarding how to file for divorce and the process of divorce will vary from state to state. In the state of Connecticut, there are specific grounds that you can file for divorce under.

Residency Requirements to File For Divorce

One of the most important things to straighten out before filing for divorce is making sure that you meet the Connecticut residency requirements. If you don’t meet these requirements, you will not be able to file for divorce in Connecticut.

State of Connecticut Resources Available for Download

The State of Connecticut Law Library system has a number of downloadable guides to family cases. You can find them here in case you would like to read more. Nothing beats discussing your situation with a lawyer, so please contact a Connecticut Divorce Lawyer here

What is the Superior Court in Connecticut?

The Superior Court regulates the practice of law in Connecticut. There are three ways to practice law legally in Connecticut. (They are more fully described in the Connecticut Practice Book Sections 8 and following.)

Why is a complaint dismissed?

Some reasons for dismissing complaints: only involves a fee dispute which is not clearly excessive or improper; no claim of misconduct; does not contain specific enough information on which to base an investigation; duplicates a complaint already considered and dismissed; or,

What is a lawyer?

Lawyers are trained legal professionals who can explain the laws to you; help you evaluate your options; negotiate or mediate conflicts with other people; prepare letters, court forms or other legal documents for you; and represent you in court. Many lawyers offer a free (or minimal fee) initial consultation. 2.

Is there a charge for filing a grievance in Connecticut?

There is no charge for filing a grievance complaint. Lawyers are regulated by the Superior Court. The standards governing the ethical behavior of lawyers are called The Rules of Professional Conduct. They are printed in the Connecticut Practice Book, which is available at any courthouse law library.

Why can a court find fault in a divorce in Connecticut?

Fraudulent contract is another reason why a court can find fault and order a Connecticut divorce. “There must be a deception in respect to some fact whose existence or nonexistence may affect in some certain way the very essence of the marriage relation, resulting in a lawful marriage which practically operates as a fraud upon the deceived spouse; and the existence or nonexistence of the fact thus concealed or misrepresented must operate, as between parties to the marriage, to prevent some essential purpose of marriage and work a practical destruction of that relation.” Gould v. Gould, 78 Conn. 242, 261 (1905).

How to use cruelty as grounds for divorce?

If you want to use cruelty as grounds for divorce, you have to prove that the cruelty is sustained and severe. You must prove that it is too severe for you to continue in the marriage.

How to file for divorce based on irretrievable breakdown of marriage?

The process of filing for a divorce based on the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is fairly similar for each state. Most states ask that both spouses agree on the divorce. You and your spouse will have to sign an affidavit saying that the marriage has broken down. This statement must happen under oath.

What does it mean when a divorce is irretrievable?

Irretrievable breakdown means that no one is at-fault for your divorce – you and your spouse simply have irreconcilable differences and do not want to remain married. However, you can still file for a fault-based divorce in Connecticut on the following grounds: The marriage has broken down irretrievably;

What is fault based divorce?

This type of divorce gets referred to as fault-based divorce, in which one spouse takes responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage.

Why do people use cruelty in divorce?

Many people choose to use cruelty as grounds for their divorce because it has several advantages. First of all, as previously mentioned, cruelty can impact a fault-based divorce. Fault-based divorces generally take less time to complete than no-fault divorces. No one wants to drag out their divorce, as this only makes it more difficult to heal. For this reason, a fault-based divorce might be the best option. In addition, cruelty can work as a deciding factor on issues such as alimony, child custody, and property division. If you want to keep your assets and custody of your children, you need to prove that you are the more responsible parent. Exposing your spouse’s wrongdoings can help you to get what you want out of your divorce.

What happens when one spouse invents a fake reason for divorce?

Generally, collusion happens when one spouse invents a fake reason for divorce (such as adultery) and the other spouse goes along with the accusation so that they can divorce quicker. The state only recognizes certain acts as grounds for divorce, so if there are no legal grounds for divorce, the divorce will be much more difficult and take longer. Collusion only occurs if both spouses work together based on the agreement that they made. If one spouse changes his or her mind, they can use the collusion as a reason for the divorce to stop.

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What Divorce Records Are Accessible to The Public in Connecticut?

  • Under Connecticut Practice Book Section 25-59A (h), Financial Affidavits— the sworn statements of current income, expenses, assets and liabilities filed with the court — are automatically “sealed,” which means they are unavailable to the public. Other documents filed with the Court are pretty much made available to the public in order to help ensure transparency in court proceedin…
See more on freedmarcroft.com

Can You Have Other Divorce Records Sealed?

  • Experienced divorce attorneys are familiar with how to request the Court order that divorce records be sealed. This involves convincing the Court that the reason to keep the documents private outweighs the public’s First Amendment right to free access to these documents. Some of the reasons that a Court may agree to order divorce records sealed include: 1. The records cont…
See more on freedmarcroft.com

Is Information About Divorces Available Online to The Public?

  • If a divorce happened in the past 10 years, some information about it can be located online here. The public can see some general information online about the docket, such as who the parties are, who their lawyers are, the docket number assigned to the case, and what was filed in the case. The details of those filings are not available to the gener...
See more on freedmarcroft.com

How Easy Is It For The Public to Access Divorce Documents?

  • If you are looking for something that isn’t available online — such as a copy of a document filed in a divorce case — you generally need to head to the Judicial District Clerk’s Office in the court location where the divorce took place. (Click for the current feesfor copying.)
See more on freedmarcroft.com

What About Access to Transcripts of Divorce Hearings and Trials?

  • Requests for written transcripts of any court proceeding must be made in writing to the Court Reporter’s Office at the court location where the case was heard. Currently, orders aren’t accepted via email. To learn what to include in the letter and other information about ordering transcripts, view “Procedures for Ordering a Court Transcript.” If you would prefer to keep the details of your …
See more on freedmarcroft.com

Next Steps

  • At Freed Marcroft, we want you to understand what is happening in your divorce — including what information will be publicly available. Depending on your goals, skilled divorce counsel can develop a legal strategy keyed into maintaining your privacy. Check out our article “How Do I Protect My Privacy During a Divorce?”for more on how we can help. Our first step at Freed Marcr…
See more on freedmarcroft.com