Best interest of child in Connecticut. Spend any time in Family Court and you will hear the phrase repeatedly. But what does “best interests of the child” really mean? Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-56(c) sets forth 16 factors that a judge may consider when making or modifying orders concerning custody, visitation and parenting plans. Here…
Divorce Courts in Connecticut are more commonly referred to as Family Courts since they decide more than just divorce cases. In addition to divorces, Family Courts in Connecticut hear: Child custody cases; Child support cases; and Restraining Orders. If you are going through a divorce, you know the Family Court will decide custody and visitation….
Connecticut has created a special divorce court, which hears lengthy, contested cases involving children. The court is the Regional Family Trial Docket (RFTD) and is located in Middletown. The RFTD is designed to decide cases efficiently since one judge presides over all aspects of the case. Once trial begins, the case usually proceeds with few…
Emergency Custody requires a parent to act quickly. There are times when a parent needs to assume custody immediately to protect their child. If DCF has not already filed for Temporary Custody in Juvenile Court then the parent should request immediate custody by filing an emergency motion in Family Court. Here’s how it works: 1….
To change a custody order in Connecticut, a Motion for Modification must be filed. First, the judge must determine whether there has been a “substantial change in circumstances” since the time of the last custody order. Second, if there has been a “substantial change in circumstances”, then the judge can modify custody. In making new…
By the time they turn 16, one-half of children in the United States will experience their parent’s divorce. If you are a parent and going through a divorce (or a contested custody case) it’s important to understand the impact that the process has on your children. I recently watched a quick film about kids and…