How Long Does a Divorce Take in Connecticut?

The 90-Day Waiting Period

Connecticut imposes a mandatory 90-day waiting period under C.G.S. § 46b-67 before the court can enter a final divorce decree. This countdown starts on the Return Date — the administrative Tuesday you select when preparing your Summons (JD-FM-3) — not the day you physically file at the clerk's office.

This distinction catches a lot of people off guard. If you file your complaint on March 1 and choose April 1 (a Tuesday) as your Return Date, the 90 days start on April 1, not March 1. Your earliest possible decree date would be around July 1.

The waiting period applies to all standard family docket cases, whether contested or uncontested. There is no exception for couples who agree on everything from the start.

Realistic Timeline by Case Type

Nonadversarial (expedited track): approximately 35 days. If you qualify — married nine years or less, no children, no jointly owned real property, no defined benefit pensions, combined net assets under $80,000, no pending bankruptcy — you can file a joint petition (JD-FM-242) that bypasses the 90-day wait entirely. There is no formal service of process and no courtroom hearing. A judge reviews the paperwork and can enter the decree in roughly five weeks.

Uncontested (standard track): 3 to 6 months. You and your spouse agree on all terms but do not qualify for the nonadversarial track. After filing, you exchange Financial Affidavits within 30 days of the Return Date, attend the Resolution Plan Date (where a Family Relations Counselor assigns you to Track A for fast processing), and wait out the 90-day period. If your Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172) is complete and consistent, the judge can approve it "on the papers" shortly after the waiting period expires.

Contested: 12 to 24 months or more. When spouses disagree on property, custody, or support, the case moves to Track B (mediation) or Track C (trial preparation). Discovery, depositions, custody evaluations, and pre-trial conferences all add time. Complex contested cases in Connecticut can stretch past two years.

What Slows Things Down

Several factors can push your timeline beyond these estimates:

Incomplete Financial Affidavits. The court requires both spouses to submit Form JD-FM-6 within 30 days of the Return Date. If your numbers do not add up — Connecticut requires weekly calculations for income and expenses — the court may reject the filing and send you back to correct it.

Parenting Education Program delays. If you have minor children, both parents must complete a six-hour court-approved parenting course within 60 days of filing. Missing this deadline can stall your case.

Resolution Plan Date scheduling. The RPD is typically scheduled 30 to 45 days after the Return Date, but crowded court calendars can push it further out. If a Family Relations Counselor determines your case needs mediation or trial, that adds months.

Service of process issues. If your spouse is avoiding service, you may need to file a Motion for Alternative Service — service by certified mail or newspaper publication — which adds weeks of court approval time and publication lead time.

Can You Speed Up a Connecticut Divorce?

The most effective way to shorten your timeline is to agree on terms before filing. Couples who walk into the process with a signed Dissolution Agreement and complete Financial Affidavits avoid mediation sessions, discovery disputes, and trial preparation.

If you qualify for the nonadversarial track, that is the fastest option — roughly 35 days from filing to decree.

For standard-track cases where you already agree on everything, requesting "on the papers" approval (using Forms JD-FM-281 and JD-FM-282) eliminates the need for a courtroom hearing and speeds up the final step.

The Connecticut Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a detailed timeline worksheet that maps every deadline — from Return Date selection through final decree — so you can plan around the waiting period and avoid preventable delays.

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