You are done with your marriage and have decided to file for divorce. It is not an easy decision, and you have numerous aspects to worry about, including the financial consequences and the well-being of your minor child. Before you go ahead with the legal proceedings, you must consider consulting a Connecticut divorce lawyer to know your case better. Divorces are often complicated, and circumstances are often different for each couple. Here are some key things to know about divorce in the state.

1. This is a no-fault state. That means that you don't have to blame each other for getting divorced in Connecticut. Just stating that the marriage has failed or 'irretrievably broken down' is enough. You can also file for a fault-based divorce, for which there are numerous grounds, including confinement to a mental hospital, adultery, willful desertion, and cruelty.
2. Like other states, Connecticut also has residency requirements. At least one of the parties must have lived in the state for 12 months to get a divorce. You can file for divorce before 12 months, but the court wouldn't grant the divorce until that period has passed.
3. Connecticut is an equitable distribution state when it comes to assets. However, the court will consider several aspects, including the length of the marriage, age, and health of the spouses, earning capacities, and if they are likely to acquire assets or money from other sources in the near future.
4. Either spouse can ask for alimony in Connecticut, and it could be a periodic or lump-sum payment. Alimony could be time-bound in some cases. If the receiving spouse gets married, alimony is automatically canceled.
5. Child custody and support. Like in most states, Connecticut courts also consider the best interests of the child as the ground for deciding on child custody. Child support is dependent on several factors, including the income of the spouses and which parents get physical custody of the child.

Get a divorce lawyer

Nothing in life can prep you for dealing with the consequences of a divorce. It only makes sense to hire a divorce lawyer at the earliest because they can guide you on the dos and don'ts. You can also understand what your rights are and the factors that could impact the case. If you and your spouse can cooperate on the key issues, it would be much easier to finalize the process. Your divorce lawyer can take care of the proceedings.