§ 46b-67 — (Formerly Sec. 46-44). Time frame for court to proceed in action for dissolution of marriage or civil union, legal separation or annulment.

Connecticut § 46b-67

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 46b: Family Law
• Ch. 815j: Dissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation and Annulment

Text

(a) Unless the parties reach a full agreement upon which they ask the court to enter judgment prior to the return date, following the second day after which a complaint for dissolution or legal separation is made returnable, or after the expiration of six months, where proceedings have been stayed under section 46b-53, the court may proceed on the complaint, or whenever dissolution is claimed under cross complaint, amended complaint or amended cross complaint, the case may be heard and a decree granted thereon after the expiration of twenty days from the filing of the cross complaint, amended complaint or amended cross complaint with the court, provided the requirement of the twenty-day delay shall not apply (1) whenever the opposing party, having appeared, consents to the cross complaint, amended complaint or amended cross complaint, or (2) where the defendant has not appeared and the amendment does not set forth either a cause of action or a claim for relief not in the original complaint. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, (A) no judgment upon default of appearance of a defendant who has been served by personal or abode service shall be entered pursuant to subsection (b) of this section until at least thirty days after the return date; (B) no judgment upon default of appearance of a defendant who has been served in any other manner shall be entered until after a hearing held at least sixty days after the return date; and (C) no trial of a contested action for dissolution of marriage or legal separation shall commence until at least ninety days after the return date. (b) (1) If the defendant has not appeared, the plaintiff may file a motion for the entry of judgment upon default of appearance, no sooner than thirty days after the day on which the complaint for dissolution of marriage or civil union or for legal separation is made returnable. The plaintiff shall file such motion on a form prescribed by the Chief Court Administrator. Such motion shall include an affidavit in which the plaintiff shall attest, under oath (A) the manner in which service was made on the defendant, pursuant to section 46b-45 , and, if such service was abode service, (i) that the address at which service was made is the usual place of abode of the defendant, (ii) that the defendant was not known by the plaintiff to be residing, whether permanently or temporarily, at any other address at the time service was made, and (iii) the most recent date on which the plaintiff had personal knowledge that the defendant resided at the address at which service was made; (B) whether there were children born to or adopted by the parties prior to, or during, the marriage or civil union, and whether either party is pregnant; (C) whether there exists a restraining order, issued pursuant to section 46b-15 , or a protective order, issued pursuant to section 46b-38c , between the parties that is in effect; (D) whether the plaintiff is requesting alimony or spousal support; and (E) whether the parties have any jointly owned property or jointly held debt. (2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the motion by the plaintiff filed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be docketed for a hearing. At such hearing, the court, in its discretion, may enter a decree of dissolution of marriage or civil union or of legal separation at such hearing, provided all other applicable requirements of this chapter are met. (3) If the court finds that (A) the plaintiff has properly effectuated service upon the defendant, either personally or by abode, and, if by abode, has attested (i) that the address at which the defendant was served is the usual place of abode of the defendant, (ii) that the defendant was not known by the plaintiff to be residing, whether permanently or temporarily, at any other address at the time service was made, and (iii) to the most recent date on which the plaintiff had personal knowledge that the defendant resided at the address at which service was made; (B) there were no children born to or adopted by the parties prior to, or during, the marriage or civil union, and that neither party is pregnant; (C) there does not exist a restraining order, issued pursuant to section 46b-15 , or a protective order, issued pursuant to section 46b-38c , between the parties that is in effect; (D) the plaintiff is not requesting alimony or spousal support; and (E) the parties do not have any jointly owned property or jointly held debt, and the plaintiff has filed with the clerk of the court a completed financial affidavit, the court may, in its discretion, grant the motion to waive the time periods set forth in subsection (a) of this section without a hearing. The court may further enter a decree of dissolution of marriage or civil union or of legal separation without a hearing, provided the court shall not enter any order other than a dissolution of marriage or civil union or a legal separation, and, if the plaintiff requests, an order restoring his or her birth name or former name, without a hearing. If the court determines that any of the conditions of this subdivision have not been met, the matter shall be docketed for a hearing pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. (c) A decree of annulment or dissolution shall give the parties the status of unmarried persons and they may marry again. A decree of legal separation shall have the effect of a decree dissolving the marriage except that neither party shall be free to marry. The six-month period referred to in section 46b-53 shall not apply in actions for annulment and the court may proceed on any cause of action for annulment in the manner generally applicable in civil actions.

Legislative History

(P.A. 73-373, S. 7; P.A. 78-230, S. 29, 54; 78-331, S. 50, 58; P.A. 15-7, S. 5; P.A. 18-14, S. 2; P.A. 23-46, S. 4.) History: P.A. 78-230 restated provisions, specifying that they are to be effective from October 1, 1978, to December 31, 1978; P.A. 78-331 deleted provision limiting period of applicability; Sec. 46-44 transferred to Sec. 46b-67 in 1979 and references to Sec. 46-41 revised to reflect that section's transfer; P.A. 15-7 added new Subsec. (b) re filing of motion to waive waiting period and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c); P.A. 18-14 amended Subsec. (b) to add references to civil unions, added new Subsec. (c) re filing motion to waive time periods when defendant is nonappearing, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (d), and made technical changes; P.A. 23-46 substantially revised Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re 90-day waiting period and prescribing new time periods for court to proceed on complaint for dissolution of marriage or legal separation, deleted former Subsec. (b) re waiver of time periods in Subsec. (a) and redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) and (d) as Subsecs. (b) and (c), amended redesignated Subsec. (b) by adding reference to motion “for the entry of judgment upon default of appearance” and by deleting references to waiver of time periods set forth in Subsec. (a) and amended redesignated Subsec. (c) by deleting reference to 90-day time period and making technical changes. Statute to be considered on question of alimony is Sec. 46b-82, not this section. 189 C. 685.