Connecticut § 46b-45 (Formerly Sec. 46-36). Service and filing of complaint and appearance. Waiver of service.

Connecticut Statutes

§ 46b-45 — (Formerly Sec. 46-36). Service and filing of complaint and appearance. Waiver of service.

Connecticut § 46b-45

Title 46bFamily Law

Ch. 815jDissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation and Annulment

This text of Connecticut § 46b-45 ((Formerly Sec. 46-36). Service and filing of complaint and appearance. Waiver of service.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-45 (2026).

Text

(a)A proceeding for an annulment, a dissolution of marriage or civil union or a legal separation shall be commenced by the service and filing of a complaint as in all other civil actions in the Superior Court for the judicial district in which one of the parties resides. The plaintiff shall cause to be served with the complaint a blank appearance form, in such form as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes. The complaint may also be made by the Attorney General in a proceeding for annulment of a void marriage. The complaint shall be served on the other party.

(b)Any person entitled to service of process of a summons and complaint that commences an action for an annulment, a dissolution of marriage, a dissolution of civil union or a legal separation may waive such service by (1) executi

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(a) A proceeding for an annulment, a dissolution of marriage or civil union or a legal separation shall be commenced by the service and filing of a complaint as in all other civil actions in the Superior Court for the judicial district in which one of the parties resides. The plaintiff shall cause to be served with the complaint a blank appearance form, in such form as the Chief Court Administrator prescribes. The complaint may also be made by the Attorney General in a proceeding for annulment of a void marriage. The complaint shall be served on the other party. (b) Any person entitled to service of process of a summons and complaint that commences an action for an annulment, a dissolution of marriage, a dissolution of civil union or a legal separation may waive such service by (1) executing a written waiver of service on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, and (2) filing an appearance with the court. Upon filing of both the waiver of service and the appearance of the person waiving such service, the action shall proceed as consistent with the provisions of this chapter. (c) If any party is an inmate who is (1) committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction, and (2) a patient in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities, a copy of the complaint shall be served on the Commissioner of Administrative Services personally or by registered or certified mail. If any party is confined in an institution in any other state, a copy shall be so served on the superintendent of the institution in which the party is confined. See Sec. 46b-10 re reconciliation attempts ordered by court in action for dissolution of marriage, legal separation or annulment.

Legislative History

(P.A. 73-373, S. 4; P.A. 74-169, S. 3, 18; P.A. 77-614, S. 70, 610; P.A. 78-230, S. 21, 54; 78-280, S. 2, 127; P.A. 17-47, S. 3; P.A. 18-14, S. 1.) History: P.A. 74-169 clarified provisions, substituting “service and filing of a complaint as in all other civil actions” for “making a complaint”; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of finance and control with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 78-230 divided section into Subsecs. and restated provisions; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties, a change effected as well in P.A. 78-230; Sec. 46-36 transferred to Sec. 46b-45 in 1979; P.A. 17-47 amended Subsec. (a) by adding “civil union” and making technical changes, added new Subsec. (b) re waiver of service and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and amended same by replacing “inmate of a mental institution in this state” with “inmate who is (1) committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction, and (2) a patient in a hospital for psychiatric disabilities”; P.A. 18-14 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision re plaintiff to cause blank appearance form to be served with the complaint and made a technical change. Annotations to former section 46-36: Cited. 173 C. 161. Cited. 31 CS 188. Annotations to present section: Cited. 181 C. 225; 185 C. 249; Id., 491; 208 C. 329; 224 C. 749. Cited. 35 CA 449.