These instructions are to help you represent yourself in the dissolution of a civil union. 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.

• Summons Family Actions (JD-FM-3)
• Dissolution of Civil Union Complaint (JD-FM-159A)

And attach to the complaint:

• Notice of Automatic Court Orders (JD-FM-158)

Once you finish your paperwork, you must take it to the Superior Court Clerk’s office. The Clerk will sign the summons and return the forms to you. Copies of the paperwork must be delivered to the defendant 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. There is a form you can use to ask the court to excuse you from paying the State Marshal if you prove that you cannot afford to pay. It is the Application For Waiver Of Fees/ Appointment Of Counsel Family (JD-FM-75). You can also use this form if you cannot afford to pay the fee to file the case. Do not sign this form until you are in front of a court clerk or notary public.

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

On your paperwork there will be 2 dates listed. One is the Return Date. The return date must be a Tuesday and should be at least 4 weeks after the day you bring the papers to the court clerk. The other is the Case Management Date. The Case Management date is at least 90 days after your Return Date.

The next form you will have to fill out and send or give to the Clerk’s office is the:

• Case Management Agreement/Order (JD-FM-163)

If the defendant has filed an Appearance form, he or she needs to sign the Case Management Agreement form, too. This form must be given or sent to the Clerk’s Office before the Case Management Date on your Summons form. You do not have to go to court on the Return Date. On the Case Management Agreement form you are choosing your actual dissolution date and must be in court on that date. If you and the defendant do not agree to a dissolution date and have not filed a Case Management Agreement either, you must come to court on your Case Management Date.

For your final dissolution hearing you have to fill out the following forms:

• Financial Affidavit (JD-FM-6)
• Dissolution Agreement (JD-FM-172)

If the defendant did not respond to the Dissolution of Civil Union Complaint you may have to file another form, the:

• Affidavit Concerning Military Service (JD-FM-178)

On the day of your dissolution hearing be sure to come to court 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 filed. 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.