This blog is about filing an Answer and Cross Complaint in a Connecticut divorce. A divorce starts with the Plaintiff preparing a Summons, Complaint and Notice of Automatic Orders and serving the Defendant with those documents. Then the Plaintiff provides proof that the Defendant was properly served and pays the filing fee to the Clerk’s…
In Fairfield County Connecticut, if you have been threatened or abused you should request a Restraining Order from the Family Court in Bridgeport or Stamford. Here’s how it works: The person requesting the order of protection (the Applicant) must file an Application along with an Affidavit. The Affidavit must set forth the specific reasons as…
A Connecticut Divorce Return Date is always a Tuesday. The Plaintiff, or the Plaintiff’s attorney, should pick a Tuesday about 4 weeks out to allow the Defendant to be properly served. This also allows the return to be timely filed. The other spouse (the Defendant) must be served with the Summons, Complaint and Notice of…
Connecticut has created a “special” divorce court, which hears lengthy, contested cases involving children. The court is the Middletown Regional Family Trial Docket (RFTD). The RFTD is designed to decide cases quickly and efficiently. One judge is assigned to the case and presides over all aspects of the litigation. Divorce cases and other matters involving…
Sometimes after a divorce, a parent feels that the legal custody (decision-making) or residential custody orders should be changed. Other times, it appears that the visitation or parenting time arrangements are no longer in their child’s best interest. In other words, the Parenting Plan is not working. When this happens, a Modification of a Parenting…
Most divorce lawyers in Connecticut bill by the hour. Clients usually pay a retainer, which the attorney deposits in a Trustee account. The attorney maintains an accounting of their time as services are performed. Then the attorney withdraws funds from the Trustee account for the legal fees they earned. It sort of works like a…