How are Divorce Records Generated in Connecticut?

In the state of Connecticut, divorce records are any records generated at any point in the process of the dissolution of a marriage of union. Divorce records include case files, such as statements, motions, and any other records generated in the course of a divorce. Records generated at the end of the process, such as the Divorce Decree or Certificate of Divorce are also divorce records. In Connecticut, the divorce rate is 6.8 out of every 1,000 women aged 15 and older.

There are three types of divorce in Connecticut:

• Divorce with an agreement: also known as “Waive 90, this type of divorce can take place when the couple is in agreement about the issues relating to their marriage such as property and asset division, child support, spousal support, and child custody. Couples in agreement may obtain divorces as quickly as possible and waive the required 90-day waiting period.
• Divorce without an agreement: this happens when a couple is unable to agree on the terms and issues relating to their divorce. A 90-day waiting period is mandatory between the time of filing and the time of the hearing. However, if an agreement is reached before the end of the waiting period, the couple may request that the waiting period be waived.
• Non-adversarial divorce: in a non-adversarial divorce process, the couple may obtain a divorce within 35 days. The couple will not need to go to court or appear before a judge. To be eligible for a non-adversarial divorce, the couple must meet certain criteria, such as having no children or real property together. The couple must also have been married for nine years or less.

The grounds for divorce in Connecticut are:

• An irretrievable breakdown in the marriage without any hope for reconciliation
• Separation for at least 18 months
• Adultery
• Intolerable cruelty
• Absence of a spouse for up to seven consecutive years
• Habitual intemperance
• Wilful desertion and total neglect of duty for up to one year
• Fraudulent contracts
• Sentence to imprisonment for life
• Confinement in a hospital or an institution for an accumulated period of five years

To be eligible to file for divorce in Connecticut, couples must satisfy residency requirements and have a legal ground for divorce. One of the parties to the marriage must have lived in Connecticut for 12 months before the filing of the divorce complaint. Armed forces or merchant marine personnel who lived in Connecticut at the time of entering service will be assumed to have lived there continuously during their time of service.

Divorce is final when a Superior Court judge delivers the judgment of divorce and issues the judgment file, which is otherwise known as a Divorce Decree. The Judicial District Clerk’s Office in each county maintains records of divorce. In Connecticut, except the process is expedited or the waiting period is waived, divorce takes at least three months to finalize.

Are Divorce Records Public in Connecticut?

As provided by the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, some divorce records are available to the public in Connecticut. Summaries of divorce cases can be accessed online through the Civil/Family Case Look-up. However, actual divorce files will not be available in the portal. Divorce information is maintained on the website for up to 10 years. Only authorized persons may request copies of Divorce Decrees. Divorce records that contain restraining order information are not accessible to the public.

Persons authorized to obtain copies of divorce records in Connecticut include:

• Either of the parties listed in the divorce record
• A parent, child, or legal guardian of the parties listed in the divorce record
• An attorney representing either of the parties listed in the divorce record

A Judgment File of Divorce Decree can be obtained by authorized persons at the Judicial District Clerk’s Office in the county in which the divorce was finalized.

What are the types of Divorce Records available in Connecticut?

Types of divorce records available in Connecticut include Judgment Files or Divorce Decrees, and case files, which includes all the records generated from the beginning of a divorce process until the end. Examples of case files may include statements, complaints, orders of notice and appearances, and pleadings.

Certified copies of Divorce Decrees are acceptable as legal proof or verification of divorce in Connecticut. Certified copies may be obtained from the Superior Court Clerk’s office in the county where the divorce was finalized, or at the Judicial District Clerk’s office in the county where the divorce was finalized.

The Vital Records Office of the Connecticut Department of Public Health does not maintain divorce records or issue certified copies.

How Do I Get Divorce Records in Connecticut?

Divorce records can be obtained in person in person or by mail. Summaries of case files can be viewed online through the Civil/Family Case Look-up.

To request certified copies of divorce records in person, applicants must visit the Superior Court Clerk’s office or the Judicial District Clerk’s office at the County where the divorce judgment was delivered. Applicants must fill a request form and show proof of their relationship with the divorced parties through a valid, government-issued photo identification.

Applicants must also have details of the divorced parties such as their full names, case or docket number, and the date of finalization of the divorce. The names of the divorced parties, including any maiden names, must be written accurately and in their order of appearance in the divorce record. This is to ensure accuracy.

Divorce records request forms, along with copies of valid, government-issued photo identification, and applicable fees may be presented on appearance in person at the Judicial District Clerk’s office at the county where the divorce was finalized.

Requests for divorce records may also be made by mail. Applicants must write a letter requesting certified copies of a divorce record from the Judicial District Clerk’s office. The letter should outline the relationship of the applicant to the divorced parties and the reason(s) for the request. The letter must be mailed in a stamped, self-addressed envelope along with copies of a valid, government-issued photo ID and a money order for a certified copy. The identification is necessary to verify that the applicant is authorized to access the requested record.

The letter should also include search or identification criteria such as the names of the divorced parties listed on the record, the case or docket number, the date of divorce, and the county where the divorce was finalized. Requests must be mailed to the Judicial District Clerk’s office.

The fee for obtaining a certified Judgment File is $25. Requests made in person may be granted quicker than requests made by mail. The waiting period for a request made by mail can be up to eight weeks.

The Connecticut State Library offers an archive for records of divorce that took place no later than 1922. Available archives may contain only summaries of divorce cases and files.

Who Can Obtain Divorce Records in Connecticut?

Only authorized persons may request certified copies of divorce records in Connecticut. Persons authorized to request divorce records include:

• Either party named on the divorce record
• A child, parent, or legal guardian of either party named on the divorce record
• Attorneys representing either party named on the divorce record.

Requesters must provide valid, government-issued photo IDs and other proof of relationship to either party named in the divorce records.

Divorce records can be accessed freely online through the Civil/Family Case Look-up, however, available records are summaries, as actual divorce records cannot be viewed or accessed on the portal. Records are maintained on the portal for up to 10 years.

Are Connecticut Divorce Records available online?

Connecticut divorce records are available to view freely online. The Civil/Family Case Look-up website provides access to summaries of divorce files and stores divorce information for up to 10 years. However, actual copies of the divorce records are not available online; therefore, the information provided on the website is only for the purpose of information. Requests for divorce records can also not be made online.

How Do I seal My Divorce Records in Connecticut?

There are a few reasons why divorce records may be sealed in Connecticut. Records may be sealed to protect children younger than 18 years old, to protect victims of domestic violence and abuse, to protect proprietary or confidential business information, or to prevent a spread of false information.

To seal parts of a divorce record, applicants may file a motion and have their attorney work to get the record sealed. If the court determines that good cause is shown, or that sealing the record is of greater benefit to the public, the motion may be granted.