Divorce is a major life event that can bring about emotional, financial, and logistical challenges. That’s why it helps to contact a divorce lawyer in West Hartford who can represent you throughout every step of your legal proceedings. With a West Hartford family lawyer by your side, you won’t have to figure out the details by yourself.
At Rich Rochlin Family Law, we have decades of combined experience representing people in situations like yours. Let us help you with residency requirements, grounds for divorce, asset division, and child custody arrangements. We have over 37 years of combined experience ready to fight for you.
Grounds for Divorce in Connecticut
In Connecticut, you are legally allowed to file for divorce for both no–fault and fault-based reasons. In no-fault cases, the primary grounds for divorce include Irretrievable breakdown of the marriage and spouses having lived apart for at least 18 months due to incompatibility.
Meanwhile, fault-based grounds are also available, and they often include the following:
- Adultery
- Fraudulent contract
- Willful desertion for at least one year
- Seven years of absence with no contact
- Habitual intemperance or alcoholism
- Intolerable cruelty
- Imprisonment for certain crimes
- Matters related to mental illness
Even in no-fault cases, the court may still consider fault when evaluating alimony, custody, and the division of property. Your West Hartford divorce attorneys can help you determine whether your divorce is no-fault or fault-based, depending on the details of your situation.
Why Hire a West Hartford Divorce Lawyer
Having an attorney on your side can make the divorce process less fraught. We understand the stress and emotional strain you can experience during this process, and we want to stand by you, provide the legal advice you need, and offer dedicated support every step of the way.
Working with a lawyer means you’ll have someone there to explain Connecticut’s laws and regulations for getting a divorce. You’ll have help completing all the necessary forms and paperwork. We also provide information on all critical deadlines associated with the process.
A divorce attorney from our law office can help you explore alternative dispute resolution during the divorce process. Find out more about the benefits of working with our team and divorce options in Connecticut by reaching out to us right now.
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Residency Requirements for Divorce in Connecticut
In Connecticut, the process of initiating a divorce is not as straightforward as simply deciding to get divorced and then following through.
Instead, state laws require that at least one spouse meet specific residency criteria. In the state of Connecticut, the following must be true in order to file a divorce complaint:
- Either spouse was a resident of Connecticut for at least 12 months before 1) filing the complaint or 2) the date that the court granted the divorce decree.
- At least one spouse was domiciled in Connecticut at the time of the marriage and returned to the state with the intent to live there permanently prior to filing for divorce.
The court also expects that the grounds for divorce occurred after at least one of the two spouses in question moved to Connecticut. These residency requirements might sound confusing, but they simply exist to make sure Connecticut courts have jurisdiction over your divorce proceedings.
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The Complicated Factors That Make Divorce Challenging
As your divorce lawyer in West Hartford, our legal team works with you to explore all of the ways your life will change as a result of this legal process. There is no simple way to break apart the lives of people who have lived together for years.
We can help you with all aspects of your divorce, including:
- Child custody matters: Our West Hartford child custody attorney will discuss your legal rights to seek custody or determine whether visitation is the best route for your needs.
- Property division concerns: Our team will consider various strategies to help you both separate marital property in a meaningful and effective manner. We look at how property division could affect your future and what the best possible route is.
- Mediation support: Whenever possible, you and your ex should reach an agreement on a variety of decisions. That is not always easy in heated situations. With our mediation services, our West Hartford mediation lawyer can help you determine whether it is possible to make these critical decisions, which often result in meeting everyone’s needs.
- Conflict resolution: There are many ways divorces can become complex. From navigating issues like parental alienation to addressing grandparents’ rights, we provide comprehensive legal support for your case. Trust our West Hartford parental alienation lawyer to find a solution or educate you on all of your options.
With so many complex factors to manage, it is always wise to hire a trusted, experienced divorce lawyer in West Hartford who can provide you with hands-on support.
We listen, gather evidence, and build a solid strategy for you that aims to help you create a new life on solid footing. No matter what complexities you are facing today, contact us now for legal guidance you can rely on.
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What Your Divorce Attorney Can Tell You About Property Division and Equitable Distribution
Connecticut upholds a principle known as “equitable distribution.” This principle is applied to divorce cases when dividing marital assets and debts between soon-to-be-former spouses. It’s important to note that this does not necessarily entail that your divorce will involve a 50/50 split.
Instead, it’s a way of splitting up assets in a manner that the court considers fair based on the following factors:
- The length of your marriage
- The causes that resulted in the breakdown of your marriage
- The age, health status, and needs of each spouse
- The income level, occupation status, and employability of each spouse
- The opportunity each spouse has for future asset acquisition and income
- The contribution each partner made to the acquisition, preservation, or appreciation in value of assets
Connecticut is an “all-property” state. In other words, the court might decide to divide your property no matter who owns it, no matter if you acquired it before or during the marriage, and no matter whose name is on the title.
We can give you more information and tell you everything you need to know about divorce and taxes when you contact us for help.
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How Alimony Works in Connecticut Divorce Cases
Also known as spousal support, alimony is not automatic. Instead, it is decided on a case–by–case basis. As your divorce lawyer in West Hartford, we will help you determine if alimony is available to you and what steps you can take to receive it.
There are also different types of alimony that the court may order in your case:
- Temporary alimony is paid out during the divorce proceedings
- Rehabilitative alimony is intended to help one spouse become self-supporting
- Lump-sum alimony that is either paid all at once or in a set number of payments
- Permanent alimony in the face of divorce from a long-term marriage
Our alimony lawyers at Rich Rochlin Family Law can help you compare your options based on the unique elements of your divorce. When alimony is available and beneficial, it can be a critical resource for families. Let us take a closer look at how it may apply to your situation.
How Courts Decide on Alimony
If you believe you should receive alimony, the next step for our divorce attorney in West Hartford is to determine how much. There are a number of factors that can influence the decision the court makes regarding alimony in your case, including:
- The duration of your marriage
- The reasons behind filing for divorce in the first place
- The age and health status of both spouses involved
- Each person’s income level, employability, and vocational skills
- The needs of each party
- Each person’s contribution to the household and financial status
We can use our legal experience to give you the guidance and support you need when dealing with alimony. There is no rule requiring you to receive it, but we can bring a case to court that demonstrates why you should receive it.
Expect our attorney to discuss legal strategies with you that make sense for your individual situation. Call us today to schedule an appointment for your divorce matters in West Hartford.
Reach Out to Our Divorce Law Firm in West Hartford Today for More Information About How We Can Help You
If you’re either thinking about filing for divorce or already in the process of doing so, it’s normal to feel uncertain or overwhelmed by everything that’s at stake. However, you’re not alone in this. At Rich Rochlin Family Law, we understand how personal this process can be.
That’s why our team of West Hartford divorce attorneys wants to help you through every stage of this transition with clarity and confidence. Reach out to our divorce law firm today.
We can help you protect your interests and move forward with peace of mind. Find out more about us and how we can help today.
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