• Short Calendar Procedure
• Short Calendar Notice
• Dissolution of Marriage Checklist
• Status Conference Notice
• Standing Orders - Family Special Masters

Standing Orders Re: Family Short Calendar

PROCEDURE FOR SHORT CALENDAR:

Court begins at 9:30 a.m. There shall be no formal call of the calendar.

All contested matters, except motions concerning questions of law, shall report to family relations for discussion.

Motions regarding questions of law need not report to family relations. However, the moving party must complete a "memo to clerk" form which must be submitted to the courtroom clerk.

Agreements will be called first in the order received by the courtroom clerk. Following agreements, contested matters will be heard according to the length of time indicated on the "memo to clerk."

When parties return from family relations, the moving party must submit the fully completed "memo to clerk" form to the courtroom clerk. These forms are available in the courtroom or at family relations. If the form is incomplete, the clerk will return it to the parties for completion.

The court shall limit the argument to the time indicated on the "memo to clerk." If more time is needed, the matter will be placed at the end of the docket. If more than one hour is necessary, the court may specially assign the matter for another day.

At 11:00 a.m. the court will call those cases in which the opposing party has failed to appear. If the non-appearing party is the moving party, the matter will be marked off for failure to appear. If the moving party is present, and the non-appearing party was properly served, and all required documents are presented to the court, the court will proceed with a hearing on the matter according to the time indicated on the "memo to clerk."

All cases that have not been heard shall report to Courtroom #1 at 12:45 for a status call.

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Short Calendar Notice:

SHORT CALENDAR NOTICE:

Danbury
SUPERIOR COURT
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Family Short Calendar
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Hon. Sandra V. Leheny
9:30 A.M.
Courtroom 1
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NOTICE

Court begins at 9:30 a.m. There shall be no formal call of the calendar. Assignments will be posted on the bulletin board in the Clerk's office and outside Courtroom #1.

All contested matters, except motions concerning questions of law shall report to Family Relations. Motions regarding questions of law need not report to Family Relations, however, the moving party must complete a "referral slip" (available from the Clerk or Family Relations.) This slip must be submitted to the Clerk in Court.

Short calendar markings will occur from 9:00 a.m. Tuesday until 4:00 p.m. Thursday of the week preceding the short calendar.  In the event a State holiday falls on the Thursday preceding the calendar, markings will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. Tuesday until 5:00 p.m. Wednesday.  If a State holiday falls on a Friday preceding the calendar, markings will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. Tuesday to 11:00 a.m. Thursday. Upon release of the Short Calendar markings entry transaction on the Judicial Branch website, markings may be submitted electronically, generally commencing 7:00 a.m. Tuesday subject to system availability and closing in accordance with the above schedule. This Court location will accept short calendar markings by FAX at (203)207-8642. Every case must be marked individually on the marking form available at the Danbury Clerk's Office with the following information only:

1. Name of case
2. Docket number
3. Position number on calendar
4. Number and title of motion(s)
5. Marking made by
6. Marking
7. Verification that the marking was made by agreement or that all counsel and pro se parties were notified of the marking.
8. Signature of marking attorney or pro se party.

No markings other than those offered on the form will be accepted or transmitted to the Court.

In lieu of a FAX marking, you may leave a recorded message on (203)207-8603 under the same guidelines as the FAX system. The deadline for such calls is as set forth above.

Counsel and pro se parties are directed to one of three marking options: READY, TAKE PAPERS, or OFF. The OFF marking is relevant only to non-arguable cases. The Court will consider any non-arguable matter that is not marked as being OFF.

No calls will be accepted regarding markings at the general Clerk's Office number nor with the Judge's secretary. Please note that only pre-marked cases will be available for the calendar. No READY markings will be accepted at the calendar and no files will be added to the docket or pre-marked pool after 9:00 a.m. on the last Court business day preceding the next Short Calendar.

Child support guidelines worksheets are required from each party in all proceedings, either pendente lite or final, for the establishment or modification of a child support award. A limited number of worksheets are available at the Clerk's office. The Court requires compliance with Practice Book Rule 25-30. Please file sworn financial statements in accordance with that provision.

Effective March 1,1990 the Superior Court must issue an immediate order for withholding against the earnings of any obligor to enforce a support order at the time the order is entered, at the time the order is modified or when an obligor is before the court in an enforcement proceeding. The court may, however, issue a contingent wage withholding if it finds cause not to issue an immediate withholding or if the parties agree.

Before any support is ordered by the court, the obligor must sign an "Advisement of Rights" form. This form is available from the clerk's office.

All agreements in pendente lite matters must be in writing but need not be signed by the parties. This requirement is for the benefit of the clerk of court.

PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS-§ 46b-69b. The court must order any person in certain types of family cases, except restraining orders, in which a minor child is involved to attend a Parenting Education Program. A form will be completed by the courtroom clerk and will be mailed to counsel of record and pro se parties along with a brochure and a list of service providers.

New federal requirements regarding wage withholding for child support in Non-IV-D family cases are now in effect. Information and forms are available at all Judicial District Clerk's Offices.

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Checklist for an Uncontested Dissolution of Marriage:

The following documents may be needed for an uncontested hearing:

1. Dissolution of Marriage Report (Form JD-FM-181)(C.P.B. Sec. 25-58)
    Used by the State to keep statistics on divorce.

2. Plaintiff's Financial Affidavit (Form JD-FM-6)(C.P.B. Sec. 25-30)
    Items left blank are assumed to be zero…form must be signed and sworn to before a Notary Public or Commissioner of the Superior Court.

3. Defendant's Financial Affidavit (Form JD-FM-6)(C.P.B. Sec. 25-30)
    Items left blank are assumed to be zero…must be signed and sworn to before a Notary Public or Commissioner of the Superior Court.

4. Affidavit Concerning Children (Form JD-FM-164)(C.P.B. Sec.25-57)
    Must be signed and sworn to before a Notary Public or Commissioner of the Superior Court.

5. Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (Form-CCSG-1) (C.P.B.Sec.25-30)
    Both sides of the form must be completed and it must be signed and dated by preparer.

6. Affidavit Concerning Military Service (Form JD-FM-178)(C.P.B. Sec. 17-21)
    Used if there is a non-appearing defendant.

7. Advisement of Rights (Form JD-FM-71)(C.P.B. Sec. 25-30)
    Used where alimony or support is to be ordered. If an immediate wage withholding order is to be waived, check the appropriate box on the front side and complete the reverse side of the document.

8. Wage Withholding Order (Form-1)
    Complete if an immediate wage withholding is desired.

9. Signed Divorce Agreement or Stipulation (Form JD-FM-172)
    Used if the parties have an agreement on all issues.

10. Written Claims for Relief
    Used if there is a non-appearing Defendant and more than a dissolution of marriage is claimed.

11. Parenting Education Program Certificate
    A report from the provider that the program has been completed.

Please review your file to insure that you have all such necessary forms PRIOR to appearing before the Court. If you need a particular form, please ask for one at the Clerk's office on the first floor.

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Status Conference Notice:

This matter is assigned for a status conference on (date) at (time) in courtroom #1. All attorneys/pro se parties shall be present and financial affidavits provided. During the conference the following shall be addressed:
1. Parenting issues shall be discussed and appropriate action taken;
2. discovery requests shall be discussed and resolved;
3.scheduling dates for further proceedings shall be determined.

Failure to appear on time may result in the issuance of sanctions pursuant to CGS Section 51-84b, dismissal or the case may immediately proceed to trial.

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Standing Orders for Family Special Masters:

DANBURY
SUPERIOR COURT
Assignment of Limited Contested
Dissolution of Marriage
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Hon. Douglas C. Mintz
Courtroom 3
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NOTICE
SPECIAL MASTERS PROGRAM

The following is a list of cases assigned for pre-trial conference pursuant to the Special Masters Program. There will be one team of Special Masters working on a given assignment day. Case assignments are below and will proceed as follows for each date listed in the conference room outside of Courtroom Three:

Case # 1 -  8:30 A.M.
Case # 2 -  9:30 A.M.
Case # 3 -10:30 A.M.
Case # 4 -11:15 A.M.
Case # 5 -12:15 P.M.

Clients must be present and participate in the discussions with the Special Masters.

Counsel shall exchange information sheets and the following papers and documents one week before the Special Masters conference, unless previously furnished, and shall produce same at the Special Masters conference:

a. Appraisals for all real estate and/or stipulation as to value.
b. Relevant Federal Income Tax returns, 1099's, W-2's, and any other relevant income records for the past three years.
c. Current print-out of all retirement benefits.
d. Current financial affidavits per P.B. 25-30 or statements of income, assets and liabilities.
e. Child support guideline worksheets.
f. Written proposed orders without narrative or argument. Information sheets are available in the Clerk's office.

No continuances will be granted. Failure of both parties to attend will result in dismissal, with prejudice, of the case. If only one party appears, the case will immediately proceed to trial.

At the conclusion of the matter, both counsel must report to the Clerk's Office to indicate to the Clerk whether the matter is settled. If the matter is settled, it will be assigned a date to be heard as an uncontested matter. If it has not settled, then it will be assigned a firm trial date and given back-up status on a sooner date certain. Counsel must indicate to the Clerk the expected length of the trial. Failure of both parties to report to the Clerk's office for a trial date before leaving the courthouse on the day of pre-trial will result in a dismissal of the case.

If a case from this list is settled, counsel shall notify the Court in writing immediately so that it can be scheduled for disposition and another case placed in that slot. Such notice must be accompanied by a claim for the uncontested list and indicate the preferred Wednesday 9:30 a.m. assignment date no more than 2 weeks from the date if notice of settlement. This written notice should be directed to the "Masters Program."

Before any pretrial or Special Masters Conference the attorneys representing the parties shall meet to discuss all issues and make a bona fide attempt to resolve the matter. An affidavit shall be presented at any pretrial or Special Masters conference signed by the attorneys or parties indicating the conferences held, attempts at settlement and areas of disagreement.

NO TELEPHONE MARKINGS WILL BE TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS CALENDAR.

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