Connecticut Divorce Forms: What Each Form Is Used For
Why the Forms Feel Overwhelming
The Connecticut Judicial Branch website hosts dozens of family court forms, most identified only by a JD-FM number and a legalistic title. If you download the court's own self-help guide (JDP-FM-179), you are looking at 50-plus pages of text and form references without a clear filing order.
The reality is simpler than it looks. An uncontested divorce with no children requires about six core forms. Add children, and you need a few more. Here is what each one does and when you file it.
Forms You File at the Start
Summons — Family Actions (JD-FM-3). This is the document that officially starts your case. It names both parties, identifies the court, and specifies the Return Date — a Tuesday at least four weeks in the future. The Return Date is an administrative deadline, not a court appearance.
Divorce Complaint (JD-FM-159). This states why you are filing (usually "irretrievable breakdown"), lists minor children if any, and spells out what you are requesting — property division, alimony, child support, custody arrangements, or name restoration. Think of it as your one-page summary of the entire case.
Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158). These orders become binding on you when you sign the complaint and on your spouse when they are served. They prohibit selling assets, changing insurance beneficiaries, incurring unreasonable debts, and relocating children without consent or court approval. This form is not optional — it must be served with the complaint.
Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164). Required only if you have minor children under 18. It certifies where the children have lived for the past five years under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA).
Forms Related to Service of Process
Appearance (JD-CL-12). Your spouse files this to officially enter the case. It is not a substantive filing — it simply tells the court that the defendant acknowledges the case and wants to participate. A blank copy is served along with the complaint.
Certification of Waiver of Service (JD-FM-249). If your spouse agrees to skip formal marshal service, they sign this waiver and file it along with an Appearance. This eliminates marshal fees ($50–$150) and simplifies the process.
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Forms Due After Filing
Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6). Both spouses must complete and exchange this form within 30 days of the Return Date. It requires a full disclosure of weekly income, weekly expenses, assets, and liabilities. All figures must be calculated on a weekly basis — not monthly, not annual. Inconsistencies between this form and other filings (like the fee waiver) can delay your case.
Fee Waiver Application (JD-FM-75). If you cannot afford the $360 filing fee, submit this with your initial filing. It requires monthly income figures (not weekly — different from the Financial Affidavit). The waiver can cover filing fees, marshal costs, and the Parenting Education Program fee.
Forms for Finalizing Your Divorce
Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172). This is the settlement document for uncontested cases. It contains all agreed-upon terms: property division, debt allocation, alimony, child custody, child support, and any other orders. Both spouses sign it, and the judge reviews it for fairness before incorporating it into the final decree.
Affidavit in Support of Judgment Without Appearance by Plaintiff (JD-FM-281) and Defendant (JD-FM-282). These forms allow the court to enter a final judgment without requiring either party to appear in a courtroom. Both spouses submit sworn statements confirming the Dissolution Agreement is fair, voluntary, and accurate.
Request for Judgment on the Papers (no separate form number — included in the JD-FM-281/282 package). Since 2022, uncontested cases can be finalized entirely by paper review — no hearing, no testimony, no courtroom visit.
Nonadversarial Track: Different Forms
If you qualify for the expedited nonadversarial track (married nine years or less, no children, limited assets), you file a different set:
Joint Petition for Nonadversarial Dissolution (JD-FM-242). This replaces both the Summons and the Complaint. Both spouses sign it together.
Nonadversarial Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-243). This replaces the standard Dissolution Agreement.
No marshal service, no 90-day waiting period, and the decree can be entered in approximately 35 days.
Quick Reference
| Form | Purpose | When Filed |
|---|---|---|
| JD-FM-3 | Summons — starts the case | With initial filing |
| JD-FM-159 | Complaint — states grounds and relief sought | With initial filing |
| JD-FM-158 | Automatic Court Orders | Served with complaint |
| JD-FM-164 | Children's residency affidavit | With initial filing (if children) |
| JD-CL-12 | Appearance — defendant enters case | 20–25 days after Return Date |
| JD-FM-249 | Service waiver | Instead of marshal service |
| JD-FM-6 | Financial Affidavit | Within 30 days of Return Date |
| JD-FM-75 | Fee Waiver Application | With initial filing |
| JD-FM-172 | Dissolution Agreement | Before final hearing or paper review |
| JD-FM-281/282 | Approval without appearance | With Dissolution Agreement |
| JD-FM-242/243 | Nonadversarial petition + agreement | For qualifying couples |
The Connecticut Divorce Filing Process Guide explains each form field by field, provides a filling checklist for every document, and organizes the entire sequence so you know exactly what to file and when.
Get Your Free Connecticut — Divorce Filing Quick-Start Checklist
Download the Connecticut — Divorce Filing Quick-Start Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.