Connecticut Automatic Court Orders in Divorce: What You Can and Cannot Do

What Automatic Court Orders Are

The moment you sign your divorce complaint in Connecticut, a set of court orders takes effect automatically — before any judge has reviewed your case. These orders are spelled out on Form JD-FM-158, the Notice of Automatic Court Orders, which must be served on your spouse along with the complaint.

The orders bind you (the plaintiff) from the moment you sign the complaint. They bind your spouse (the defendant) from the moment they receive the papers through service of process. Under C.G.S. § 46b-83, these orders remain in effect until the divorce is finalized or the court modifies them.

What the Orders Prohibit

Connecticut's automatic orders cover four major categories:

Asset restrictions. Neither spouse may sell, transfer, encumber, conceal, or otherwise dispose of any property — real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, or personal property — except for normal household expenses and reasonable attorney fees. You cannot liquidate retirement accounts, take out new loans against the house, or move money to accounts the other spouse does not know about.

Insurance restrictions. Neither spouse may cancel, modify, or let lapse any existing insurance policies — health, auto, life, homeowners, or renters. If your spouse is on your employer health plan, you cannot remove them. If you hold a life insurance policy naming your spouse as beneficiary, you cannot change the beneficiary designation.

Children restrictions. Neither parent may relocate the minor children outside the state of Connecticut without the written consent of the other parent or a court order. This applies even if you have historically been the primary caregiver. Routine travel (vacations, school trips) is not restricted, but a permanent move across state lines requires permission.

Debt restrictions. Neither spouse may incur unreasonable debts, including borrowing against any credit line or credit card. "Unreasonable" is evaluated based on the family's historical spending patterns — normal grocery bills and utility payments are fine; a new car purchase or luxury vacation is not.

What You Can Still Do

The orders are about preserving the status quo, not freezing your life entirely. You can:

• Pay normal household bills (rent, mortgage, utilities, groceries, insurance premiums)
• Make routine payroll deductions (retirement contributions you were already making)
• Use joint accounts for ordinary family expenses
• Continue normal parenting routines, including in-state travel with children
• Spend reasonable amounts on your own legal representation

The test is whether the transaction is part of the family's normal financial pattern. If you have been contributing $500 per month to a 401(k) for years, continuing that contribution is fine. Opening a new brokerage account and moving $50,000 into it is not.

Consequences of Violating Automatic Orders

Violating automatic court orders is treated as contempt of court. Your spouse can file a Motion for Contempt, and the court can:

• Order you to reverse the transaction (return transferred assets, reinstate canceled insurance)
• Award the other spouse a larger share of the marital estate to compensate for the violation
• Impose fines or, in extreme cases, jail time
• Draw negative inferences about your credibility on financial disclosures

Judges take these violations seriously because they are designed to prevent exactly the kind of asset manipulation and insurance gamesmanship that makes divorces ugly.

Common Questions

Can I refinance the house? Generally not without your spouse's written consent or a court order. Refinancing changes the terms of the mortgage, which is a modification of existing financial obligations.

Can I close a joint credit card? You cannot close the account, but you can (and probably should) request that the card issuer freeze the credit limit to prevent new charges. Notify your spouse in writing if you do this.

What about my employer switching health insurance plans during open enrollment? Mandatory employer-initiated changes are not violations. But if open enrollment gives you the option to drop your spouse, you must keep them covered.

Do the orders apply if we are separated? Yes. The orders are triggered by the filing of the complaint, not by whether you are living together. Even if you have been living apart for months, the orders kick in the day you sign the complaint.

The Connecticut Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a detailed breakdown of the automatic orders with practical examples of what is allowed and what is not, so you do not accidentally violate them while your case is pending.

See more Connecticut guides →