(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the procedures of General Statutes §§ 46b-220 through 46b-223 shall be followed with regard to the suspension from the practice of law of attorneys who are found to be delinquent child support obligors.
Section 2-46.Suspension of Attorneys Who Violate Support Orders
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule sets out the process for suspending a Connecticut attorney's law license when a judge finds the attorney is delinquent on child support, including how the suspension is triggered, enforced, and later vacated.
Full Text of Section 2-46
(b) A judge, upon finding that an attorney admitted to the bar in this state is a delinquent child support obligor as defined in General Statutes § 46b-220 (a), may, pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-220 (b), issue a suspension order concerning that attorney.
(c) If the attorney obligor fails to comply with the conditions of the suspension order within thirty days of its issuance, the Department of Social Services, a support enforcement officer, the attorney for the obligee or the obligee, as provided in the suspension order, shall file with the clerk of the Superior Court which issued the suspension order an affidavit stating that the conditions of the suspension order have not been met, and shall serve the attorney obligor with a copy of such affidavit in accordance with Sections 10-12 through 10-17. The affidavit shall be filed within forty-five days of the expiration of the thirty day period.
(d) Upon receipt of the affidavit, the clerk shall forthwith bring the suspension order and the affidavit to a judge of the Superior Court for review. If the judge determines that pursuant to the provisions of General Statutes § 46b-220 the attorney obligor should be suspended, the judge shall suspend the attorney obligor from the practice of law, effective immediately.
(e) A suspended attorney who has complied with the conditions of the suspension order concerning reinstatement, shall file a motion with the court to vacate the suspension. Upon proof of such compliance, the court shall vacate the order of suspension and reinstate the attorney. The provisions of Section 2-53 shall not apply to suspensions under this section.
(f) The clerk shall notify the statewide bar counsel of any suspensions and reinstatements ordered pursuant to this section.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 30A.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 2-46 governs suspension of an attorney’s license for failing to pay child support. It follows the procedures of General Statutes Sections 46b-220 through 46b-223. A judge who finds that a Connecticut attorney is a delinquent child support obligor, as defined in the General Statutes, may issue a suspension order concerning that attorney.
If the attorney does not comply with the conditions of the suspension order within thirty days, the Department of Social Services, a support enforcement officer, the obligee’s attorney, or the obligee must file an affidavit with the court clerk stating that the conditions have not been met, and serve the attorney with a copy. This affidavit must be filed within forty-five days after the thirty-day period expires. Once the clerk receives the affidavit, a judge reviews it and, if warranted under the General Statutes, suspends the attorney from practicing law effective immediately.
A suspended attorney who complies with the conditions for reinstatement must file a motion to vacate the suspension, and once compliance is proven, the court vacates the suspension and reinstates the attorney. The usual reinstatement provisions of Section 2-53 do not apply to suspensions under this section, and the clerk must notify the statewide bar counsel of any suspension or reinstatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an attorney lose their law license for not paying child support in Connecticut?
Yes. A judge who finds an attorney is a delinquent child support obligor under General Statutes Section 46b-220 (a) may issue a suspension order, and if the attorney does not comply within thirty days, the court can suspend the attorney from the practice of law effective immediately.
How does an attorney get reinstated after a child-support suspension?
The attorney must comply with the conditions of the suspension order and then file a motion with the court to vacate the suspension; once compliance is proven, the court vacates the order and reinstates the attorney.
Do the normal attorney reinstatement rules apply to a child-support suspension?
No. Section 2-46 (e) specifically states that Section 2-53’s reinstatement provisions do not apply to suspensions under this section.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 2-46). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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