If you live in Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford, Bloomfield, Manchester, South Windsor, Glastonbury, Avon, Farmington, or the surrounding towns, your divorce will be filed in the Hartford Judicial District, and your case will be heard at the Hartford family courthouse located at 90 Washington Street in Hartford. This guide walks through the entire process, from the first form to the final decree, based on how cases actually move through this courthouse.
I am Rich Rochlin, principal attorney at Rich Rochlin Law Group, LLC, a family law firm located in West Hartford. The Hartford family court is our home courthouse. We are there constantly, and the practical details below reflect how this district really operates.
Where Do I File for Divorce in the Hartford Area?
Family cases for the Hartford Judicial District are heard at 90 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106. One caution that trips up self-represented parties: there is a second courthouse directly across the street at 95 Washington Street. That building handles other matters. Divorce, custody, and family cases belong at 90 Washington Street.
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You may file in the judicial district where either you or your spouse lives. Residents of West Hartford, Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, South Windsor, Manchester, Marlborough, and Granby, among other Hartford County towns, file in the Hartford Judicial District. If you are unsure which district covers your town, the Connecticut Judicial Branch website lists every town’s assigned court, or we can tell you in thirty seconds.
Most filings today are submitted electronically through the Judicial Branch e-filing system. Attorneys are required to e-file, and self-represented parties can enroll to e-file as well.
What Forms Do I Need to Start a Hartford Divorce?
A standard Connecticut dissolution filing includes the Summons (JD-FM-3), the Divorce Complaint (JD-FM-159), and the Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158). If you have minor children, you also file the Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164). The filing fee is $360, and fee waivers are available through Form JD-FM-75 for those who qualify.
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The automatic orders deserve special attention. The moment you sign the complaint, and the moment your spouse is served, both of you are bound by court orders that prohibit things like emptying bank accounts, changing insurance beneficiaries, taking on unusual debt, or relocating the children out of state. Violating the automatic orders early in a case is one of the most common and most damaging unforced errors we see.
How Does Service and the Return Date Work?
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After filing, your spouse must be formally served, typically by a Connecticut state marshal, at a cost of roughly $50 to $75. Your case is assigned a return date, which is always a Tuesday, generally about four weeks out. Nobody goes to court on the return date. It is simply the date your case officially enters the docket, and several deadlines run from it, including the 90-day waiting period under Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-67 and the parenting education deadline.
Your spouse must file an Appearance (JD-CL-12) shortly after the return date. Both parties must also prepare sworn Financial Affidavits: the short form (JD-FM-6-SHORT) for annual income under $75,000, or the long form for income above it. In our experience at the Hartford courthouse, an accurate, complete financial affidavit filed early is the single best thing you can do for your credibility with Family Relations and the judge.
What Is the Resolution Plan Date at Hartford Family Court?
Since 2021, Connecticut family courts have used the Pathways process. Roughly 30 to 45 days after your return date, the Hartford court will schedule your Resolution Plan Date (RPD). This is your first real court event. You, the other party, and your attorneys meet with a Family Relations Counselor, a court employee who screens the case, identifies the disputed issues, and recommends a plan to the judge.
Based on that screening, your case is assigned a track. If you already have a full agreement, the judge may be able to approve it quickly, sometimes within weeks of the RPD. If issues remain, the court sets a scheduling order with one or more Case Dates, which are interim hearings where a judge can enter temporary orders on custody, support, and use of the home, monitor progress, or approve an agreement if you have reached one. Complex cases are placed on a longer track with evaluations, additional Case Dates, and a trial date, with the goal of trial within about a year of the return date.
Preparation for the RPD matters enormously. Parties who arrive with a completed financial affidavit, a proposed parenting plan, and a clear list of what is and is not agreed consistently get better tracks and faster outcomes. We prepare every client for the RPD as if it were a hearing, because in practical effect it shapes the entire case. We have written a detailed explanation of Resolution Plan Dates elsewhere on this site.
How Long Does a Divorce Take in the Hartford Judicial District?
Connecticut imposes a 90-day waiting period from the return date before a final decree can enter, though courts can waive it when the parties have a complete agreement. In practice, uncontested Hartford divorces typically finalize in three to six months. Contested cases usually run nine to eighteen months depending on the track assigned at the RPD, and heavily litigated custody or financial cases can take longer.
If you have minor children, both parents must complete the mandatory parenting education program, approximately $150 per parent, within 60 days of the return date.
Practical Tips for the Hartford Family Courthouse
A few local details that make the day easier. Metered street parking is available on Washington and Lafayette Streets, with public courthouse parking nearby on Grand Street, and the courthouse fills up on heavy docket mornings, so arrive early. Bring photo identification for security screening. The Court Service Center inside 90 Washington Street can help self-represented parties with forms, though staff cannot give legal advice. And treat every interaction with Family Relations as if a judge were watching, because their recommendations carry significant weight.
Work With a Divorce Attorney Who Knows the Hartford Family Court
Local knowledge matters in family court: which issues a particular courthouse pushes to mediation, how Family Relations screens cases, and how to position a case at the Resolution Plan Date. Rich Rochlin Law Group, LLC is based in West Hartford and practices in the Hartford family court week in and week out, representing clients in divorce, custody, alimony, and post-judgment matters throughout Hartford County and statewide.
Contact us at richrochlinlaw.com to schedule a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Hartford family court located? Family matters for the Hartford Judicial District are heard at 90 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Do not confuse it with the courthouse across the street at 95 Washington Street, which does not handle family cases.
Which towns file for divorce in the Hartford Judicial District? Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford, Bloomfield, Manchester, South Windsor, East Windsor, East Granby, Granby, Marlborough, and surrounding Hartford County towns. You may file where either spouse lives.
What is a Resolution Plan Date in Hartford family court? Your first court event, held roughly 30 to 45 days after the return date, where a Family Relations Counselor screens your case and the court assigns it a track: quick approval if you agree, or scheduled Case Dates and possibly trial if you do not.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Hartford? The filing fee is $360, plus roughly $50 to $75 for marshal service and approximately $150 per parent for the parenting education program if you have minor children. Fee waivers are available for qualifying filers.
How long does a divorce take in the Hartford Judicial District? Uncontested cases typically finalize in three to six months. Contested cases generally take nine to eighteen months, with complex matters tracked toward trial within about a year of the return date.
About the Author: Rich Rochlin is the principal attorney and managing partner of Rich Rochlin Law Group, LLC, a Connecticut family law firm located in West Hartford, Connecticut, serving Hartford County, the Farmington Valley, and clients statewide. The firm concentrates its practice in divorce, child custody, alimony, and post-judgment family matters.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Court procedures and fees change; verify current details with the Connecticut Judicial Branch.
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