The First 30 Days After Filing for Divorce in Connecticut

The moment a Connecticut dissolution action is served, automatic orders under Practice Book § 25-5 bind both spouses. Neither party may sell, transfer, or hide marital property outside the ordinary course, cancel or change insurance coverage, or take the children out of state for an extended period without agreement or a court order.

Read the automatic orders attached to the summons. Most first-month mistakes are violations of them made in good faith, like moving money to a new account or changing a beneficiary.

Both parties will file a sworn financial affidavit. Start assembling tax returns, pay stubs, account statements, retirement statements, and debt records now. The document checklist lists what is typically required.

Gathering early does two things: it makes the affidavit accurate, and it reveals what you do not know about the household finances while there is still time to ask.

If there are children, a temporary routine matters more than a perfect plan. Courts look favorably on parents who keep school, activities, and contact stable. The custody and parenting plan starter helps frame a first schedule.

Decisions about who stays in the marital home can be made by agreement or, if needed, through a pendente lite motion. Moving out without a plan can affect later custody and possession arguments.

The return date, set when the case is filed, starts the ninety-day waiting period under C.G.S. § 46b-67. By the end of the first month you should know your Judicial District, your case track, and whether temporary orders are needed. Our guide to how long a Connecticut divorce takes explains the rest of the timeline.

If the other spouse does not respond by the return date, the case can still move forward, but notice requirements must be followed carefully. If both spouses are cooperating, the first month is the right time to discuss whether mediation or a negotiated agreement could shorten the process.

Connecticut courts can enter pendente lite orders, meaning temporary orders that apply while the divorce is pending. These can address temporary child support, alimony, custody and parenting time, use of the marital home, and payment of household bills.

Temporary orders are not a preview of the final judgment, but they often shape it. A parenting routine that works for six months, or a support arrangement both spouses have lived with, tends to carry weight when final terms are negotiated. That is why the first month is the time to think about what a fair temporary arrangement looks like, not only the final one.

Assume anything you write to your spouse, post online, or send by text may be read by a judge. Keep communication brief, factual, and focused on the children and logistics. Avoid discussing the case on social media, and do not post about new relationships, large purchases, or travel while the case is active.

Start a simple log: dates of parenting time, missed exchanges, significant expenses, and any agreements you reach. A calendar and a folder of statements kept from the beginning are far more persuasive than memories reconstructed months later.

Finally, protect your own information. Change passwords on personal email and devices, and be thoughtful about shared cloud accounts, but do not access your spouse's private accounts. Doing so can create legal problems of its own.