Home Connecticut Uncontested Divorce Kit
2026 edition • Built on Connecticut’s current JD-FM formsConnecticut Uncontested Divorce Kit
The right JD-FM forms and a roadmap through the Return Date, service, and Connecticut’s current post-Return-Date timeline.
- Complaint (JD-FM-159), Waiver of Service & Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172)
- Step-by-step Superior Court filing instructions
- Free eligibility check before you pay anything
- Instant PDF download — $129 one-time, no subscription
Takes 2 minutes to check · no commitment
“No confusion about which Financial Affidavit to use once the kit explained the $75,000 threshold clearly.”
Charlotte K. · New Haven, Connecticut
Is this kit right for you?
Not every divorce in Connecticut can be done DIY. Check below to see if you qualify for an uncontested case.
Use this kit if…
- You and your spouse agree the marriage has broken down irretrievably.
- One of you meets Connecticut’s residency rule — typically 12 months of CT residency immediately before filing or the decree (domicile-at-marriage and in-state cause-of-action paths can also qualify; see our full eligibility guide).
- You agree on dividing property, debts, and (if applicable) parenting and support.
- Each of you is willing to file a current Financial Affidavit — required from both spouses, even when you agree on everything.
Talk to a lawyer first if…
- There is domestic violence or a restraining order.
- You disagree on custody, parenting, or alimony.
- Your spouse is hiding assets, refuses to sign the Dissolution Agreement, or won’t exchange financial disclosures.
- Neither of you yet meets a Connecticut residency path — you may be able to file, but the court can’t enter a decree until residency is established.
Which route is yours?
Most agreeing couples use the regular Complaint route. A small number of short, simple marriages qualify for a separate, narrower process. Picking the right one avoids paperwork built for the wrong case.
Generic online forms and outdated guides still describe a 90-day waiting period that Connecticut repealed for most agreed cases in 2023. Getting the Return Date, service, and financial affidavit rules right — under the current law — is what keeps a self-filed case from stalling.
Includes the Complaint (JD-FM-159), Return Date guidance, Waiver of Service, Financial Affidavit & Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172)
Regular route (most couples)
Complaint (JD-FM-159) & Summons (JD-FM-3)
One spouse files the Complaint and Summons and selects a compliant Return Date; the other spouse is served, or completes a Waiver of Service and Appearance. Both spouses file Financial Affidavits and, once agreement is reached, a Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172).
Works for any eligible marriage, with or without children.
Nonadversarial joint petition (narrow eligibility)
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-44a
A single notarized joint petition — no service required — but only available if: the marriage is 9 years or less; there are no children (born, adopted, or expected); no real property and no defined-benefit pension; combined net marital property is under $80,000; and no bankruptcy, other pending dissolution action, or active restraining/protective order between you.
The court still reviews your agreement for fairness and can call you in if it can’t confirm it’s fair and equitable.
We give you the current statewide JD-FM forms for the regular Complaint route, plus instructions for checking Nonadversarial eligibility and your court’s requirements.
Why choose a DIY kit?
Generic online forms and outdated guides still describe Connecticut’s old 90-day wait, an informal Waiver of Service, or a generic settlement template. We build around the current JD-FM forms and the 2023 law change so your paperwork matches how Superior Court actually runs today.
Save thousands
You do the filing yourself and keep the difference between a lawyer’s fee and a one-time kit price. The Superior Court’s entry fee is separate — see the breakdown alongside.
Built for the current rules
Includes the mandatory Financial Affidavit (with the correct $75,000 threshold), the proper Waiver of Service + Appearance pairing, and instructions for choosing a compliant Return Date.
The cost of divorce in Connecticut
The Superior Court entry fee is currently $360 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-259), paid directly to the court, not to PlainDivorce. Service and any other court costs are also separate.
What’s in the kit: Connecticut JD-FM forms
Current statewide JD-FM forms for the regular Complaint route, in the order you’ll actually use them.
Step-by-step roadmap
- Filing the Complaint and choosing a compliant Return Date
- Arranging service or a proper Waiver of Service
- Filing your Appearance on time
- Meeting your Resolution Plan Date
- Preparing your Dissolution Agreement
Core legal documents
Includes the core packet for the regular uncontested route:
Financial Affidavits
- Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6) required from each spouse, regardless of agreement
- Short form for income and assets each at or under $75,000
- Long form if either spouse’s income or assets exceed $75,000
- Instructions on which one applies to you
If you have children
Cases with children add the Worksheet for the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines (CCSG-1), Advisement of Rights (JD-FM-71), Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164), and Parenting Education Program certification (JD-FM-149, one per spouse). These are separate from the core packet above — the Nonadversarial joint-petition route is not available if you have children.
What this kit does not include
- A 90-day waiting period or waiver of one — that mechanism was repealed in 2023; timing now depends on whether you file a full agreement before the Return Date, and contested trials still need 90 days
- A guarantee your case avoids a hearing — the court reviews agreements involving children, support, alimony, or property for fairness and equity
- Service of process itself, or a guarantee your spouse will complete a Waiver of Service and Appearance
- The Superior Court’s $360 entry fee, or any service/marshal costs — paid directly to the court or process server
- The Nonadversarial joint-petition forms — described here as an eligibility path, not included as a separate product
- A guaranteed timeline — the court’s own schedule, your Resolution Plan Date, and whether your agreement is complete all affect how long a case takes
- Contested cases, or representation in court
- Legal advice about your situation, or review of your completed documents
PlainDivorce is a private publisher. The Connecticut Judicial Branch publishes the official statewide JD-FM forms but has not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this product. Individual Superior Courts and family support magistrates can require additional local steps — always confirm current form versions and your court’s specific requirements before filing.
How it works
A roadmap through the Return Date, service, and the current post-Return-Date timeline.
Prepare & file
Fill out the Complaint (JD-FM-159), Summons (JD-FM-3), and Notice of Automatic Orders, choosing a compliant Return Date — a Tuesday no more than two months after the date of process — then file with the Superior Court Clerk. The Return Date marks when your case is officially in court; it isn’t a hearing date.
Serve, appear & disclose
Serve your spouse by a proper officer, or have them complete the Waiver of Service (JD-FM-249) and file an Appearance — both are required together. Each spouse’s Appearance is due by the second day after the Return Date. Watch for the court’s Resolution Plan Date notice (sent about 5 days after), and file your Financial Affidavits.
Agree & finalize
Complete your Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172) and any children’s forms. With no flat 90-day wait for most agreed cases, the court can move sooner than the old rule allowed — but it still schedules review, and cases with children, support, alimony, or property typically involve a brief hearing.
Simple pricing vs. lawyer fees
| Feature | PlainDivorce Kit | Typical Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation cost | $129 | $2,500+ |
| Court entry fee | Paid to the Superior Court directly — currently $360 | Same, usually billed on top |
| Process control | Your prep is DIY; the Resolution Plan Date and court’s calendar set the pace | Lawyer schedule |
| Includes forms? | Yes (Complaint, Summons, Waiver of Service, Appearance, Financial Affidavit, Dissolution Agreement) | Yes |
The Superior Court entry fee and any service or marshal costs are separate in both cases and paid directly to the court or process server.
Secure One-Time Payment · No Subscriptions
What our customers say
Experiences from people who prepared their Connecticut divorce paperwork with PlainDivorce.
4.7 out of 5 based on 300+ customer reviews
Customer reviews are collected from purchasers and support conversations. Names may be shortened for privacy, and individual results vary by court, case facts, and filing requirements.
“Thank you for making this stressful time a little easier — I finally understood what the Return Date on my Summons actually meant.”
Daniel P.
Hartford
“No lawyers needed. The guide walked me through the Waiver of Service and Appearance together, which I would have gotten wrong on my own.”
Freya V.
Bridgeport
“Why pay thousands? This kit had the actual Dissolution Agreement form, not a generic template, for a fair price.”
Andrew N.
New Haven
“No confusion about which Financial Affidavit to use once the kit explained the $75,000 threshold clearly.”
Charlotte K.
New Haven
“The guided steps were easy to follow, from the Return Date to the Resolution Plan Date notice. I didn’t need to hire a lawyer.”
John X.
Stamford
Connecticut uncontested divorce: frequently asked questions
What is an uncontested or simple divorce in Connecticut?
An uncontested divorce means both spouses agree on all issues — property, debts, support, and children if you have them. You still open a standard Superior Court case with a Return Date. Whether a hearing is required depends on your case: the court reviews agreements involving children, support, alimony, or property for fairness, so a brief hearing is common.
Does this kit include the official Connecticut court forms?
Yes. The kit includes current statewide JD-FM forms for the regular Complaint route: the Complaint (JD-FM-159), Summons (JD-FM-3), Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158), Waiver of Service (JD-FM-249), Appearance (JD-CL-12), Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6), and the Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172) — plus the children’s-case forms (CCSG-1, JD-FM-71, JD-FM-164, JD-FM-149) if you have children. Individual courts can require additional case-specific filings; confirm with your Superior Court Clerk.
Is there still a 90-day waiting period?
Not a flat one. A 2023 law (Public Act 23-46) removed Connecticut’s former 90-day wait and its waiver motion for most agreed cases. Now, unless you file a full agreement with the court before your Return Date, the court may proceed as soon as the second day after that date. A contested trial still can’t start until at least 90 days after the Return Date, and a default judgment (if your spouse never appears) takes 30 or 60 days depending on how they were served.
What is the ‘Return Date’?
The Return Date is the date your case is officially in court — it is not a hearing date, and it isn’t assigned by the clerk. Whoever prepares the Summons selects it, following the rule that it must be a Tuesday no more than two months after the date of process; after service, the original papers must be filed at least six days before it. Our kit explains how to choose and complete a compliant date under the current form.
Is there a simpler process for short marriages with no children and modest assets?
Possibly. Connecticut’s Nonadversarial Divorce (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-44a) lets qualifying couples file one notarized joint petition instead of a Complaint and Summons — but only if the marriage is 9 years or less, there are no children, no real property or defined-benefit pension, combined net property is under $80,000, and neither spouse has a bankruptcy, another pending dissolution, or a restraining/protective order against the other. The court still reviews the agreement for fairness.
Do both spouses have to file a Financial Affidavit even if we agree on everything?
Yes. Each spouse must file a current Financial Affidavit regardless of agreement — the short form (JD-FM-6 Short) if your income and assets are each at or under $75,000, or the long form if either spouse’s income or assets exceed $75,000.
Important legal disclaimer
PlainDivorce is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or representation. The Connecticut Uncontested Divorce Kit is a private self-help information product containing publicly available Connecticut Judicial Branch JD-FM-series forms with general instructions. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed Connecticut lawyer, and no court has reviewed, approved, or endorsed it or its templates.
We do not guarantee that a judge will enter your Dissolution Agreement without a hearing, that your case qualifies for the Nonadversarial route, or that your Superior Court’s local practice will match this kit’s general description. There is no single total cost: the $360 entry fee, service or marshal costs, and any additional court fees are separate and can vary. You are responsible for verifying current forms, fees, and your court’s specific requirements with your Superior Court Clerk before filing.
Content last reviewed: September 2026.