These instructions are to help you represent yourself in court in a custody or visitation case. Legal words and court documents can be confusing. The more you know, the more comfortable you will be when you fill out the necessary court forms and come to court. These instructions will give you some useful information and instructions on filling out the necessary forms.

Every case is different and these instructions are to be used as a guide only; if you think you need more help you may want to get an attorney. You can also go to a Court Service Center or contact the Connecticut Network for Legal Aid or find additional information at the Law Libraries. Court Staff can help you understand the legal process, and while they may give you procedural information, they cannot give you legal advice.

• Custody/Visitation Application (JD-FM-161) - If you are a parent of the child or children
• Custody Application Verified Petition for Visitation – Grandparents & Third Parties (JD-FM-221) - If you are not a parent of the child or child(ren)
• Order To Attend Hearing And Notice to Respondent (JD-FM-162)
• Notice of Automatic Orders (JD-FM-158)
• Affidavit Concerning Children (JD-FM-164)
• Appearance (JD-CL-12) - (How-To Slidecast)

If you need to ask the court for temporary orders while your custody or visitation case is pending, you may also fill out the:

• Motion for Orders Before Judgment (Pendente Lite) in Family Cases (JD-FM-176)

Once you finish your paperwork, you must take it to the Superior Court Clerk’s office along with the entry (filing) fee. The Clerk will sign and return the original forms to you. If you are a grandparent or third party filing a petition for visitation, the clerk will also have to take your oath for the Verification section of the form.

There is a form you can fill out to ask the court to waive the entry fee if you prove that you cannot afford to pay the fee to file the case. It is the Application For Waiver Of Fees/Payment Of Costs/Appointment Of Counsel - Family (JD-FM-75). Do not sign this form until you are in front of a court clerk or a notary public. You can also use this form to ask the court to pay the State Marshal fee if you prove that you cannot afford to pay.

After signature, the paperwork must be delivered to the other party by a State Marshal. The Clerk’s office or the Court Service Center can give you a list of State Marshals. A State Marshal will charge a fee for delivering the paperwork which you must pay, unless the court has decided that you do not have to pay.

Once the paperwork has been delivered to the other party, the original paperwork must be returned to the Clerk’s office along with proof that the papers were delivered to the other party. If the court has decided that you do not have to pay the fees, you must return the Application For Waiver Of Fees/Appointment of Counsel with your other papers.

Be sure to make copies of all your paperwork before returning it to the Clerk’s office as your court date will be listed on the Order To Attend Hearing and Notice to The Respondent form.

If you are asking to have child support ordered in your case, be sure to fill out a Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6) and bring it with you to your hearing along with proof of your income.

On your court date be sure to come to the courthouse early because it can take 10 to 20 minutes to get into the courthouse since everyone must go through a metal detector. Be sure to bring your filled out court forms and copies of any other forms you may have given or sent to the court clerk. Go to your assigned courtroom and wait for instructions. If you are not sure where to go, check with the Clerk’s Office or Court Service Center.