Hamden Divorce Process
Steps in Connecticut Divorce
The following are the general steps that most couples follow when seeking or responding to a divorce. Many factors can affect these steps and complicate matters. Experts recommend the advice of a qualified divorce attorney, such as those of Biller, Sachs, Raio & Zito.
The initial step is a spouse, Spouse A for our purposes, and his or her attorney file a formal document with the court. This is called the “complaint” and cites the reasons Spouse A is requesting a dissolution of marriage and what he or she seeks in the divorce (custody, property, etc.). The complaint lists a date where both spouses will meet in court, called the “return date.”
The court requires Spouse B to receive the complaint from the process server or the sheriff. If he or she lives outside Connecticut, certified mail is generally acceptable. The process becomes more difficult when his or her whereabouts are unknown.
Spouse B responds to the complaint and his or her lawyer returns the complaint to the court by the return date. He or she is not required to appear in court but he or she must return the complaint in time. Otherwise, he or she will no longer receive information about the court proceedings and is subject to court orders without voicing dissent.
There is a 90-day waiting period from the return date until the court hears the case. The couple, and their attorneys, use this time to attempt amicable agreement on the division of marital rights and responsibilities before turning the decision over to a judge.
Call the law office of Biller, Sachs, Raio & Zito and discuss alternative dispute resolution before filing divorce in Hamden. Our attorneys work with mediation and collaborative divorce techniques to encourage divorcing couples to reach an amicable agreement over many contentious issues.
File Divorce in Hamden
Biller, Sachs, Raio & Zito are compassionate, experienced family law attorneys who appreciate the importance of family stability before, during, and after, a divorce. This information is just a brief outline of the early steps in a divorce process and the actual events may prove much more complicated. Contact our office to discuss how to file a divorce in Hamden and the surrounding areas of Connecticut.
Reach out to Biller, Sachs, Raio, & Zito at 203-281-1717 to discuss filing divorce in Hamden or use our email form to contact us today!
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