How to File for Online Divorce in Connecticut

To file for an online divorce in Connecticut, you prepare three core forms, upload them through the Judicial Branch’s E-Services portal at eservices.jud.ct.gov, pay a $360 filing fee, and hire a state marshal to serve the papers on your spouse. From the official start date of the case, you wait at least 90 days before the court can enter a final decree. A faster 30-day path exists for short, simple marriages. Everything except service of process happens online.

Confirm You Meet Connecticut’s Residency Rule

Before you file anything, Connecticut courts need jurisdiction under C.G.S. § 46b-44. You qualify if any one of these is true:

You or your spouse has lived in Connecticut for at least twelve consecutive months before filing or before the final decree is entered.
Either spouse was living in Connecticut when you married and has since returned with the intent to stay permanently.
The reason for the divorce arose after either spouse moved into the state.

That third ground gets overlooked. If you moved to Connecticut and the marriage broke down after the move, you have jurisdiction even without a full year of residence.¹

For the legal basis, most people file under “irretrievable breakdown,” the no-fault ground in C.G.S. § 46b-40. You state the marriage has broken down beyond repair; you do not have to prove adultery, abandonment, or any specific wrongdoing.¹

Prepare the Forms You’ll Upload

All of the forms are fillable PDFs on the Connecticut Judicial Branch website. Four documents do the work of opening your case.

Summons (JD-FM-3)

The Summons formally notifies your spouse that a divorce action has been filed. It requires both parties’ names, current addresses, and the judicial district where the case will be heard. It also carries the return date, which the E-Services system generates when you file.

Divorce Complaint (JD-FM-159)

The Complaint is the document that actually requests the dissolution. It asks for the date and place of your marriage, the names and birthdates of any minor children, and the grounds for divorce.² Be precise with dates and spellings. Errors here create processing delays that can push your timeline back weeks.

Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158)

Form JD-FM-158 is not the complaint itself; it is the Notice of Automatic Court Orders that must be attached to and served alongside the complaint.³ The orders take effect the moment your spouse is served and bind both of you equally.

Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6)

Both spouses must file a Financial Affidavit disclosing all income, expenses, assets, and debts. Use the short form if both your gross annual income and total net assets fall below $75,000.⁴ If either figure exceeds that threshold, use the long form, which asks for more granular detail on investments, business interests, and real estate.⁵ Unlike the other forms, the Financial Affidavit must be signed under oath before a notary public, court clerk, or attorney. Misrepresenting your finances can lead to sanctions or criminal charges.

File Through the E-Services Portal and Pay $360

Registration at eservices.jud.ct.gov is free and requires only an email and password. The portal becomes your hub for uploading documents, paying fees, and tracking the case without visiting the courthouse.⁶

After uploading the Summons, Complaint, and Notice of Automatic Court Orders, the system prompts you to pay the $360 filing fee by credit or debit card. The fee applies to any civil case in Superior Court under C.G.S. § 52-259.⁷ If you skip or fail payment, the filing is rejected outright.

Fee Waiver for Low-Income Filers

If you cannot afford the $360, Connecticut law lets the court waive the fee and cover the cost of service. Under C.G.S. § 52-259b, you are presumed to qualify if you receive public assistance or if your after-tax income (minus mandatory deductions and child care) falls at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. The court can also find you indigent based on your broader circumstances. Apply using Form JD-FM-75, which requires detailed financial disclosure and a signature before a notary, clerk, or attorney. A denial can be appealed by requesting a hearing.⁸

Have a State Marshal Serve Your Spouse

Service of process is the one step you cannot do online. Connecticut requires that a state marshal, sheriff, or constable physically deliver the Summons, Complaint, and Notice of Automatic Court Orders to your spouse. You cannot hand the papers over yourself. Service must happen at least twelve days before the return date on the Summons.⁹

The return date is always a Tuesday and functions as the official start date of your case. It is not a court appearance. It is the moment the clock starts on the waiting period and on your spouse’s response deadlines. When you file through E-Services, you select the return date, and the system prints it on your Summons. The marshal files proof of service with the court, and you can track it through the portal.

Personal hand delivery is preferred. If the marshal cannot reach your spouse directly, “abode service” lets them leave the papers at the home with another adult resident, followed by a mailing. If your spouse cannot be located, the court may authorize service by publication in a newspaper, but only after you show a genuine effort to find them. Marshal fees generally run between $50 and $150 depending on how many attempts are needed.

Expect a 90-Day Wait, or 30 Days if You Qualify

Once the return date arrives, the 90-day waiting period under C.G.S. § 46b-67 begins. No final decree can be entered until those 90 days have elapsed. The period exists so both parties can negotiate a settlement on property division, custody, and support. The court may schedule case management conferences or mediation during this window, and you should monitor E-Services for scheduling notices.¹

After 90 days, you can request a final hearing. If you and your spouse have a complete agreement on every issue, the hearing is typically brief: the judge reviews the settlement, confirms you both understand it, and enters the decree. If issues remain unresolved, the case moves toward trial and the timeline stretches.

The 30-Day Nonadversarial Path

Connecticut offers a streamlined nonadversarial dissolution under C.G.S. § 46b-44a. Both spouses file a joint petition and attest under oath that all of the following are true:

The marriage has lasted nine years or less.
Neither party is pregnant, and no children were born to or adopted by either spouse during or before the marriage.
Neither party owns real estate.
The combined net value of all property owned by either spouse is under $80,000.
Neither party has a defined benefit pension.
No bankruptcy petition is pending, and no restraining or protective order exists between the parties.

If you qualify, the court can finalize the divorce in as few as 30 days. If any condition changes between filing and the final hearing, you must notify the court immediately.¹⁰

Finish the Parenting Education Program if You Have Minor Children

If minor children are involved, Connecticut law requires both parents to complete a court-approved parenting education program. Under C.G.S. § 46b-69b, the court orders participation unless both parties agree (with court approval) to skip it or choose an equivalent program on their own. The curriculum covers helping children adjust to separation, cooperative co-parenting, and age-appropriate communication, and it cannot exceed ten hours.¹¹

Programs are available in person around the state and in virtual two-session formats. Expect to pay around $150. Complete the course within 60 days of the case being filed. Missing that deadline is one of the most common ways self-represented filers accidentally stall their own case.

Know What the Automatic Orders Restrict

The moment your spouse is served, the automatic orders bind both of you. They restrict things like draining bank accounts, canceling insurance policies, changing life insurance beneficiaries, and hiding assets. Exceptions exist for ordinary living expenses and actions taken in the normal course of business. Anything else requires written consent from your spouse or a court order. The restrictions are not aimed at the person being served; they apply to the filer just as strictly, from the same moment.

1
Connecticut General Assembly. Connecticut Code Chapter 815j – Dissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation and Annulment
2
State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. Divorce Complaint (Dissolution of Marriage)
3
State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. Notice of Automatic Court Orders
4
Judicial Branch of the State of Connecticut. Financial Affidavit – JD-FM-6-SHORT
5
Connecticut Judicial Branch. Financial Affidavit – JD-FM-6-LONG
6
Connecticut Judicial Branch. Connecticut Judicial Branch E-Services
7
Justia. Connecticut Code 52-259 – Court Fees
8
Justia. Connecticut Code 52-259b – Waiver of Fees and Payment of Cost of Service of Process for Indigent Party
9
Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries. Choosing a Return Day
10
Justia. Connecticut General Statutes 46b-44a – Filing of Joint Petition for Nonadversarial Dissolution
11
Justia. Connecticut General Statutes 46b-69b – Parenting Education Program