
Stamford Divorce Attorney
As soon as the topic of divorce is broached, the emotional toll can be too much to handle. Most couples aren’t sure of where to even begin. The first step to ensure a smooth legal process is to contact an experienced Stamford divorce lawyer.
Hire a Divorce Lawyer in Stamford, CT
The partners at Reich & Truax, PLLC, have over 136 combined years of professional experience and are proud to be pillars in Connecticut’s legal community. When you come in for your confidential consultation at our Southport office, you’ll be able to explain your situation in full detail to one of our skilled family attorneys.
From there, they can provide you with transparent legal guidance to help you make informed decisions about your case. We value giving our clients power back during destabilizing times in life.
Connecticut’s Property Division Laws
In 2023, an average of 12,259 Stamford residents were divorced. While it may feel overwhelming at first, those residents have gone through the same thing you currently are. You aren’t alone during this difficult time. Researching the divorce process in Connecticut is a key next step.
After filing your divorce at the Stamford/Norwalk Courthouse, located at 123 Hoyt Street, you’ll work with your spouse to resolve your divorce issues. These issues include dividing your property, alimony, child support, and custody. When determining how to divide property, courts look at multiple factors, such as:
- The length of the marriage
- The reasons for the divorce
- The age and health of each spouse
- Each spouse’s occupation, income, and earning capacity
- Each spouse’s skills and education
- Each spouse’s debts
- Each spouse’s contributions to acquiring, preserving, or increasing the value of the property during the marriage
The average home value in Stamford in 2023 was $614,300. This tends to be a couple’s highest-value asset, making it essential to hire a divorce lawyer before attempting to resolve your divorce issues. Even if you and your ex are on good terms, having a lawyer is an added layer of protection. Remember, the outcome of a divorce case will affect the rest of your life.
How Alimony Is Decided
Alimony, also called spousal support, is a financial payment made from one spouse to the other after a divorce is finalized. This is awarded for various reasons, such as helping the nonpaying spouse maintain the standard of living during the marriage while they become self-sufficient, or one spouse giving up their career to raise children.
Alimony may be awarded in addition to or instead of dividing property. When deciding whether to award alimony, and how much and for how long, the court considers factors such as:
- The length of the marriage
- The reasons for the divorce or separation
- The age and health of each spouse
- The occupation, income, and earning capacity of each spouse
- The skills and education of each spouse
- Each spouse’s debts, assets, and financial needs
- Any property awarded under the division of assets
- Whether a parent who has custody of minor children can reasonably work
The Benefits of Mediation in a Divorce Case
Mediation is a helpful tool that most couples use to resolve their divorce issues. It allows them to keep control of the outcome in their hands. Other benefits of mediation include:
- Being less costly than court
- Being less time-consuming than court
- Being confidential, compared to a public trial
During mediation sessions, you and your lawyer will communicate with your ex and their lawyer to come to an agreement over your divorce issues. These sessions are run by a neutral third-party, called a mediator. They don’t make any legal decisions, but help both sides feel heard.
If couples can agree on their issues, they’ll submit an agreement to the court for final approval. If they can’t agree or can only resolve their issues partially, anything unresolved will go to trial, where a judge will have the final decision. Mediation can be especially beneficial for parents who need to continue communicating for their children’s well-being.
FAQs About Stamford, CT Divorce Laws
Couples in Connecticut can file for divorce if at least one spouse has lived in the state for 12 months before filing the case, or before the court issues the final order. They can also file if one spouse lived in Connecticut when the couple got married and later moved back, planning to stay permanently, or if the reason for the divorce happened after either spouse moved to the state.
A divorce or legal separation can be granted in Connecticut if conditions are met, including an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage, living apart for at least eighteen months due to incompatibility with no hope of reconciliation, and adultery. An irretrievable breakdown of the marriage is a common reason for filing for divorce, as it allows couples to keep the detailed reasons of divorce private from their public divorce records.
A parenting plan is a document made by both parents and filed with the court during their child custody case. The plan outlines how parents plan to care for their child. It should include the child’s daily schedule, including holidays and other occasions such as summer vacation. It should include how decisions will be made and how the plan will adapt to the child’s future needs. It should include even small details, such as pickup and drop-off times between parents.
In Connecticut, most parents have to attend a parenting education program when minor children are involved in their divorce case. The program helps parents learn about child development, conflict management, cooperative parenting, and how to reduce stress for their children during separation. Attending the program can influence the outcome of your child custody case.
Work With a Trusted Family Law Firm in Connecticut
Reach out to Reich & Truax, PLLC, today to learn how we can help you in your case. Our attorneys value empathy and efficiency above all else and work tirelessly to resolve our clients’ cases as quickly as possible. You deserve to move on from this difficult experience. Let our skilled team guide you.