| An analysis of social statistics and vital | | | | cohabitation for at least 18 months; |
| parameters leads to the conclusion that | | | | |
| Connecticut society is certainly in the pink | | | | (3) adultery; |
| of health. In 1994, Connecticut had the | | | | |
| second lowest divorce rate in the US, which | | | | (4) fraudulent contract; |
| was 2.4/1000 population. Though being the | | | | |
| fourth most densely populated state, the | | | | (5) desertion and neglect of marital duties; |
| divorce rate in Connecticut always stayed | | | | |
| much below the national average. The divorce | | | | (6) prolonged absence of a spouse; |
| rate stood at 3.2/1000 population in 1990 and | | | | |
| maintained itself at the same level in 2001. | | | | (7) addiction; |
| Then followed a downward trend, with divorce | | | | |
| rate being 3.1/1000 in 2004. Several factors | | | | (8) cruelty; |
| are responsible for this. Connecticut is the | | | | |
| richest state in America with the highest per | | | | (9) involvement of a spouse in a crime or in |
| capita income. Being home to the prestigious | | | | case of imprisonment; |
| Yale University, the quality of education in | | | | |
| Connecticut is also very high. It is a known | | | | (10) prolonged and severe mental illness of a |
| fact that the couples with high standards of | | | | spouse |
| living and a better education face less | | | | |
| interpersonal tensions and are less likely to | | | | (Connecticut General Statutes: Title 46b- |
| divorce. Compared to other states, | | | | Chapter 40) |
| Connecticut has a very low rate of | | | | |
| Out-of-Wedlock births. The rate of | | | | As regards the division of property pursuant |
| cohabitation in Connecticut is also very low. | | | | to a divorce decree, Connecticut is an |
| Teen Birth Rate in Connecticut is amongst the | | | | equitable distribution state. All the marital |
| lowest, being 8.3% in 1998. Thus the divorce | | | | property is divided equitably amongst the two |
| statistics regarding Connecticut tend to be | | | | parties, as deemed just and fair by the |
| very reliable. Connecticut has a high joint | | | | court, in case of any disagreement. While |
| custody rate of 35.8/36.4, a factor | | | | doing so, the court weighs various factors |
| considered to be very important in reducing | | | | such as the age and health of the spouses, |
| the divorce rate. As per a 2001 survey, Roman | | | | financial status, employability, contribution |
| Catholics constitute 32% of the state's | | | | of both the parties, etc. (Connecticut |
| population, a community known for having low | | | | General Statutes: Title 46b- Chapter 81). |
| divorce rates. | | | | |
| | | | The court has the power to assign alimony to |
| A suit for dissolution of marriage can be | | | | a spouse. While deciding, the court listens |
| filed by either of the spouses at any time, | | | | to the witnesses of the two parties and |
| once he or she has established residence in | | | | deliberates over various factors such as the |
| Connecticut. For initiating a divorce | | | | causes for the divorce, age and health of the |
| procedure, either of the spouses must be a | | | | two parties, assets and liabilities, |
| resident of Connecticut for at least one year | | | | employability, child custody decision, etc. |
| just before the filing of the complaint or | | | | The court may order a spouse to hold life |
| just prior to the date of the decree, or one | | | | insurance for the other spouse. The alimony |
| of the spouses had been a resident of | | | | granted to a spouse is modifiable in the |
| Connecticut at the time of marriage and | | | | future, depending upon the change in |
| returned to the state with the aim of | | | | circumstances of one or other of the two |
| permanently settling there before the | | | | parties. |
| complaint is filed, or the cause for the | | | | |
| divorce arose after either of the spouses | | | | The Connecticut Law holds the joint custody |
| moved into the state. A complaint for | | | | to be in the best interest of the child. A |
| dissolution is filed in the Superior Court of | | | | court favors a joint custody in the situation |
| the District in which one of the spouses | | | | of an agreement between the two parents. In |
| resides. (Connecticut General Statutes: Title | | | | case of a disagreement, the parents are |
| 46b- Chapters 44 and 45) The party who files | | | | required to file a Parental Responsibility |
| the compliant is called the Plaintiff. The | | | | Plan with the court, demarcating the |
| spouse on whom the complaint is served is | | | | responsibilities and liabilities of each |
| called the Defendant. In case a spouse is an | | | | parent. In exceptional cases, the custody may |
| inpatient of a mental institution in the | | | | be granted to a third party also. After a |
| state, a copy of the complaint is also served | | | | serious contemplation, the court may grant a |
| on the Commissioner of Administrative | | | | visitation right to any person in case of a |
| Services. | | | | minor child. The court may order the parents |
| | | | to participate in a Parenting Education |
| Connecticut has both the fault- and | | | | Program designed by the Judicial Department. |
| no-fault-based grounds for divorce which are | | | | |
| as follows: | | | | The child support is calculated in accordance |
| | | | with the Child Support Guidelines that follow |
| (1) irretrievable breakdown of marriage; | | | | an Income Shares Model. The needs of the |
| | | | child and financial status of the parents are |
| (2) marital incompatibility with no | | | | given a due consideration, while doing so. |