Section 25-2.Complaints for Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union, Legal Separation, or Annulment
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis section states what a complaint for dissolution, legal separation, or annulment must contain: the date and place of the marriage or civil union, the jurisdictional facts, information about the children, any state or town support, the demand for relief, and the automatic orders.
(a)Every complaint in a dissolution of marriage or civil union, legal separation or annulment action shall state the date and place, including the city or town, of the marriage or civil union and the facts necessary to give the court jurisdiction.
(b)Every such complaint shall also state whether there are minor children issue of the marriage or minor children of the civil union and whether there are any other minor children born to the wife since the date of marriage of the parties, or born to a party to the civil union since the date of the civil union, the name and date of birth of each, and the name of any individual or agency presently responsible by virtue of judicial award for the custody or support of any child. These requirements shall be met whether a child is issue of the marriage or not, whether a child is born to a party of the civil union or not, and whether custody of children is sought in the action or not. In every case in which the state of Connecticut or any town thereof is contributing or has contributed to the support or maintenance of a party or child of said party, such fact shall be stated in the complaint and a copy thereof served on the attorney general or town clerk in accordance with the provisions of Sections 10-12 through 10-17. Although the attorney general or town clerk shall be a party to such cases, he or she need not be named in the writ of summons or summoned to appear.
(c)The complaint shall also set forth the plaintiff’s demand for relief and the automatic orders as required by Section 25-5.
End
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 453.) (Amended June 25, 2001, to take effect Jan. 1, 2002; amended June 26, 2006, to take effect Jan. 1, 2007; amended June 29, 2007, to take effect Jan. 1, 2008; amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009.)
Plain-English Summary
This section is the pleading checklist for the paper that starts a divorce. Every complaint for dissolution of marriage or civil union, legal separation or annulment must state the date and place of the marriage or civil union, including the city or town, and the facts that give the court jurisdiction.
It must also address the children. The complaint states whether there are minor children issue of the marriage or minor children of the civil union, and whether there are any other minor children born to the wife since the date of the marriage or to a party to the civil union since the civil union, with each child’s name and date of birth, and the name of any individual or agency currently responsible by judicial award for a child’s custody or support. Those requirements apply whether or not a child is issue of the marriage and whether or not custody is being sought in the action.
Where the state or a town is contributing or has contributed to the support of a party or a child, the complaint must say so and a copy must be served on the attorney general or town clerk. The attorney general or town clerk is a party in such a case but need not be named in the writ of summons or summoned to appear. Finally, the complaint sets out the plaintiff’s demand for relief and the automatic orders required by Section 25-5.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a Connecticut divorce complaint state?
The date and place of the marriage or civil union, including the city or town, the facts necessary to give the court jurisdiction, the required information about minor children, the plaintiff’s demand for relief, and the automatic orders.
Do I have to list children even if custody is not in dispute?
Yes. The requirements must be met whether a child is issue of the marriage or not and whether custody of children is sought in the action or not.
What if the state has been paying support?
The complaint must state that fact and a copy must be served on the attorney general or town clerk. They are parties to the case but need not be named in the writ of summons or summoned to appear.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 25-2). 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
Also known as:Connecticut divorce complaint requirementsPractice Book section 25-2what goes in a CT dissolution complaintattorney general notice divorce Connecticutlisting children in divorce complaint CT