Connecticut Divorce Attorney

As a successful Connecticut divorce attorney, a wife, and a mother of three children, Maria understands the complexity of the family dynamic and the emotional toll that divorce can exact on everyone involved. Therefore she tailors her services in a manner that will achieve your needs and objectives in a cost effective and timely manner, while keeping the best interests of your children at the forefront.

Maria believes in partnering with her clients, keeping them informed and actively involved in the details of their case, while advocating for their best interests.

Contact Maria today at 203-264-7300.

Connecticut Divorce Law

What constitutes grounds for divorce in Connecticut?

1. The death of one of the parties
2. A decree of annulment or dissolution of the marriage by a court of competent jurisdiction

A decree of dissolution of a marriage or a decree of legal separation shall be granted upon a finding that one of the following causes has occurred:

1. The marriage has broken down irretrievably
2. The parties have lived apart by reason of incompatibility for a continuous period of at least the eighteen months immediately prior to the service of the complaint and that there is no reasonable prospect that they will be reconciled
3. Adultery - "adultery" means voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person other than such person's spouse
4. Fraudulent contract
5. Wilful desertion for one year with total neglect of duty
6. Seven years' absence, during all of which period the absent party has not been heard from
7. Habitual intemperance
8. Intolerable cruelty
9. Sentence to imprisonment for life or the commission of any infamous crime involving a violation of conjugal duty and punishable by imprisonment for a period in excess of one year
10. Legal confinement in a hospital or hospitals or other similar institution or institutions, because of mental illness, for at least an accumulated period totaling five years within the period of six years next preceding the date of the complaint

A Connecticut divorce attorney can assist you in filing a Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage, in which you will request the court terminate the marriage based on one or more of the above grounds.

Who gets child custody?

Connecticut courts will grant joint custody when both parents agree to it.

Connecticut uses the "best interests of the child" standard when awarding custody.

In making or modifying any order the court shall consider the best interests of the child, and in doing so may consider one or more of the following factors:

1. The temperament and developmental needs of the child
2. The capacity and the disposition of the parents to understand and meet the needs of the child
3. Any relevant and material information obtained from the child, including the informed preferences of the child
4. The wishes of the child's parents as to custody
5. The past and current interaction and relationship of the child with each parent, the child's siblings and any other person who may significantly affect the best interests of the child
6. The willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage such continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent as is appropriate, including compliance with any court orders
7. Any manipulation by or coercive behavior of the parents in an effort to involve the child in the parents' dispute
8. The ability of each parent to be actively involved in the life of the child
9. The child's adjustment to his or her home, school and community environments
10. The length of time that the child has lived in a stable and satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity in such environment, provided the court may consider favorably a parent who voluntarily leaves the child's family home pendente lite in order to alleviate stress in the household
11. The stability of the child's existing or proposed residences, or both
12. Best interests of the child
13. The child's cultural background
14. The effect on the child of the actions of an abuser, if any domestic violence has occurred between the parents or between a parent and another individual or the child
15. Whether the child or a sibling of the child has been abused or neglected
16. Whether the party satisfactorily completed participation in a parenting education program

As you can see, child custody can be quite complex. A Connecticut divorce attorney can help you navigate through the child custody issues and determine what is best for your child.

How is child support determined?

How is the property divided?

1. The length of the marriage
2. The causes dissolution of the marriage
3. Age
4. Health
5. Station
6. Occupation
7. Amount and sources of income
8. Vocational skills
9. Employability
10. Estate
11. Liabilities and needs of each of the parties
12. The opportunity of each for future acquisition of capital assets and income

It is important that you contact a Connecticut divorce attorney to help you navigate through the complex court system. Maria Pepe VanDerLaan knows the best practices for navigating through the process and successfully negotiating settlements and prevailing in trials. She will tailor a course of action to your needs, always focusing on the most efficient and best resolution for your situation. We look forward to meeting and working with you.

With offices in Hartford and Southbury, we are prepared to handle matters throughout the State. If you can't come to us, we will come to you.