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Divorce Waiting Period in Connecticut

In Connecticut, a contested divorce trial cannot start until at least 90 days after the return date, while spouses with a full agreement can ask for judgment sooner, and no separation period is required.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Connecticut at a glance

Waiting period
90 days after return date if contested
An uncontested case can generally proceed after the return date. A default judgment after personal or abode service needs at least 30 days after the return date.
Separation required
No
Irretrievable breakdown is a ground. Living apart for 18 months due to incompatibility is a separate optional ground.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Connecticut

How long is the waiting period before a divorce can be finalized in Connecticut?

Waiting period in Connecticut: 90 days after return date if contested. An uncontested case can generally proceed after the return date. A default judgment after personal or abode service needs at least 30 days after the return date.

Do spouses have to live apart before a no-fault divorce in Connecticut?

Separation required in Connecticut: No. Irretrievable breakdown is a ground. Living apart for 18 months due to incompatibility is a separate optional ground.

Where do the Connecticut divorce waiting periods come from?

The rules above come from Conn. Gen. Stat. 46b-67 and Conn. Gen. Stat. 46b-40. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Public Act 23-46 rewrote Conn. Gen. Stat. 46b-67 and removed the former general 90-day waiting period, replacing it with the time frames described above.

What this means in practice

A waiting period is a minimum, not an estimate. Contested issues such as property division, support or custody, court schedules and missing paperwork can make a divorce take much longer than the statutory minimum.

Separation rules can depend on how the state defines living apart. Some states count time spent separated under the same roof, while others require separate homes. Keeping a record of the date the separation began, such as a written separation agreement or a lease, can help show when the period started.

Spouses can often use the waiting period to negotiate a written settlement covering property, debts, support and parenting time. A settlement agreement that is ready when the waiting period ends can help the court finalize the divorce sooner, and a local attorney can confirm the filing requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.