Getting divorced is a difficult and potentially complex transition. Our divorce attorneys always advocate for an amicable dissolution of a marriage. However, sometimes circumstances that lead to the divorce rise to the level where cooperative solution is not possible. In Connecticut, there are several grounds for a contested divorce.
Adultery: A married person may file for divorce on grounds of adultery only if they can prove that the other person in the marriage has been sexually unfaithful.
Fraudulent Contract: This means that one or both of the parties entered into the marriage because of fraud or deceit or entered into the marriage with the intent to deceive or defraud the other party in the marriage or a party outside the marriage (such as the government).
Willful Desertion for One Year: This means that one of the people in the marriage has refused to provide for the other’s “care, protection or support” for a period of at least one year before the filing of the divorce.
Seven Years Absence During Which the Absent Party Has Not Been Heard From: This means that one of the parties in the marriage has been absent and out of contact for at least seven years prior to the filing of the divorce.
Habitual Intemperance: This requires that one of the parties in the marriage prove that the other is habitually intoxicated by either alcohol or drugs and that it is negatively effecting the marriage to the point that divorce is necessary.
Intolerable Cruelty: One party must prove that the other party in the marriage behaves in a way that is not only cruel, but absolutely intolerable to the satisfaction of the court.
Imprisonment/Infamous Crime: If one of the parties in a marriage is convicted of a crime that carries a life sentence, or “any infamous crime involving a violation of conjugal duty and punishable by imprisonment for a period in excess of one year”, the other party may be eligible to file for divorce.
Five Years Confinement for Mental Illness: If one of the parties in a marriage has been confined to a hospital or similar institution for reasons of mental illness for a cumulative period of five years (five years total) in the six years preceding the filing of the complaint, the party who has not been confined may be eligible to file for divorce.
A divorce is often a very stressful and painful process. The attorneys at M.C. Law Group can help minimize your stress and pain by advocating for your rights, the rights of your children and ensuring that your assets and rightful share of the marital property are protected. We have helped many individuals and their children through the often complicated process of separation and given them a chance to move on and rebuild their lives.
Our goal at the M.C. Law Group is to help those faced with a possible divorce find the best possible resolution for them to move forward in a positive direction. We do encourage those on the fence about filing for a divorce to seek professional counseling to determine if the marriage can be saved. We also offer mediation services for those who want an uncontested divorce. Nevertheless, whether it is a contested or uncontested divorce, you need to make some well informed decisions. Please follow the links below for more information.
If you would like to schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer, please contact our office.
