CT Bar CT Bar Family Law & Domestic Relations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Connecticut law, what is the minimum period of residency required before a party may file for divorce?
- 6 months (Correct answer)
- 1 year
- 90 days
- No residency required if the marriage took place in Connecticut
Correct answer: 6 months
Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-44 requires that one of the parties must have resided in Connecticut for at least 12 months before the divorce is granted, but a complaint may be filed after 6 months of residency.
Question 2: In Connecticut, the doctrine of 'irretrievable breakdown' is classified as which type of divorce ground?
- Fault-based ground
- No-fault ground (Correct answer)
- Hybrid ground requiring both fault and breakdown
- Administrative ground
Correct answer: No-fault ground
Connecticut adopted irretrievable breakdown as a no-fault ground for dissolution under C.G.S. § 46b-40(c), eliminating the need to prove spousal misconduct.
Question 3: When dividing marital property in Connecticut, courts apply which standard?
- Equal (50/50) division
- Title-based distribution
- Equitable distribution (Correct answer)
- Community property rules
Correct answer: Equitable distribution
Connecticut is an equitable distribution state under C.G.S. § 46b-81, meaning courts divide marital assets fairly but not necessarily equally, considering factors like length of marriage and contributions.
Question 4: Under Connecticut law, which standard governs all custody and visitation determinations?
- Parental fitness standard
- Best interests of the child standard (Correct answer)
- Primary caretaker presumption
- Equal time presumption
Correct answer: Best interests of the child standard
Connecticut courts apply the best interests of the child standard under C.G.S. § 46b-56 when determining custody and visitation arrangements.
Question 5: Which Connecticut statute governs orders of protection in domestic violence cases?
- C.G.S. § 46b-15 (Correct answer)
- C.G.S. § 46b-40
- C.G.S. § 53a-223
- C.G.S. § 46b-56
Correct answer: C.G.S. § 46b-15
C.G.S. § 46b-15 authorizes the Superior Court to issue civil restraining orders for relief from physical abuse, stalking, or sexual assault in family relationships.
Question 6: In Connecticut, child support obligations are primarily calculated using which method?
- Discretionary judicial assessment
- Income shares model via Child Support Guidelines (Correct answer)
- Percentage of obligor's income model
- Flat statutory schedule
Correct answer: Income shares model via Child Support Guidelines
Connecticut uses the income shares model under the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines, combining both parents' net incomes to determine the support obligation.
CT Bar CT Bar Family Law & Domestic Relations 1
Under Connecticut law, what is the minimum period of residency required before a party may file for divorce?