Establishing Alimony and Child Support in Connecticut
The Law Office of Giustino Capodilupo
Ridgefield, Connecticut
1-866-644-3769 ∙ E-Mail
Different Connecticut laws define child support and alimony, and the formal rules for when child support is required are different from the rules that state when alimony (also called spousal support) are required.
Negotiating child support and alimony payments is a necessary part of most divorces. It is important to have a knowledgeable divorce lawyer on your side to give you practical advice about the most likely outcome and how to best protect your interests and the future of your children.
Establishing Child Support in Connecticut
Connecticut has firm guidelines for how child support is calculated. Spouses can privately agree to a higher amount of child support, but the court is unlikely to approve a monthly child support payment that is lower than the amount set by the official child support guidelines.
Under the child support guidelines, the amount of child support is calculated based on the net incomes of both parents. Then, each parent's share of the total amount is calculated based on their respective incomes.
Child support orders also include agreements about health care (both health insurance premiums and unreimbursed medical expenses) and child care expenses.
Once a child support agreement is made, it can be changed if the financial circumstances of either parent change. More information about modifications of child support orders can be found on the Post-Divorce Modifications page of this Web site.
Child support is also available for unmarried parents and guardians. You may need to first file a paternity action to establish who the child's legal father is. After paternity is established, the custodial parent may ask the court to order child support. After paternity is established, the child's father may in turn ask the court to order reasonable parenting time or visitation.
Establishing Alimony in Connecticut
The guidelines for whether alimony will be granted in a Connecticut divorce proceeding are much less strict than the child support guidelines. The family court judges have much more discretion in determining whether alimony should be granted, the amount, and for how long.
Generally, some of the factors the court will look at in deciding whether to order alimony include:
- The length of the marriage
- The relative earning ability of the spouses, including education and work history
- Decisions about division of other marital property
- Whether either spouse engaged in marital misconduct (adultery, physical abuse, or mental cruelty)
If the judge decides to award alimony, it can be awarded in a lump sum or as a periodic alimony payment. Sometimes, a spousal support award is called "rehabilitative alimony," when the purpose of the award is to give one spouse transitional financial support during a period of education or training necessary to re-enter the workplace.
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If you are considering divorce and believe that either child support or alimony will be a point of disagreement between you and your spouse, then it is critically important to get early legal advice from a knowledgeable divorce lawyer.
At each stage of the divorce proceedings, there are steps your attorney can take to protect your financial interests and the interests of your children.
At The Law Office of Giustino Capodilupo, we offer all new clients an initial consultation. We are always available to answer your legal questions and provide practical and effective legal representation. To schedule an appointment, contact our offices. Call toll-free 1-866-644-3769 or send us an e-mail.
