Westport Divorce Lawyers
Skilled Legal Counsel in Fairfield County & Surrounding Areas
Divorce is one of life’s most challenging and emotionally taxing experiences. It can mark the end of years of struggle within a relationship and significantly impact spouses and their children, families, and social networks.
Beyond the emotional and psychological challenges, a divorce involves untangling financial, legal, and logistical ties, which can further complicate the process and cause added stress and uncertainty.
At Ferro, Battey & Eucalitto, LLC, we understand how complex and deeply personal this process can be, and we are here to guide you through divorce proceedings with the utmost care, compassion, and advocacy.
Consult a Westport divorce attorney with your questions and concerns by contacting Ferro, Battey & Eucalitto, LLC online or at (475) 264-4362 today. We also serve Darien, Norwalk, Wilton, and New Canaan.
Key Issues to Be Decided in Connecticut Divorce
Several key issues must be addressed during the divorce to resolve all matters fully. These issues typically include:
- Division of property and assets – Connecticut is an “equitable distribution” state, meaning that marital assets and debts are divided fairly, though not always equally.
- Alimony – We can help you pursue or contest alimony, which an be awarded for an indefinite or definite period.
- Child custody and visitation – Courts prioritize the child’s best interests in determining physical and legal custody and visitation schedules.
- Child support – Courts use established guidelines to determine the amount of support the parent with less parenting time must pay to the parent who provides the child’s primary residence and daily care.
Grounds for Divorce in Connecticut
Connecticut allows for both no-fault and fault-based divorce. In almost all cases, spouses pursue a no-fault divorce, citing that the marriage has 'irretrievably broken down' without assigning blame to either party.
You can also be divorced based on you and your spouse having lived apart continuously for 18 months without an expectation of reconciliation.
Fault-based grounds still exist and include, but are not limited to:
- Adultery
- Willful desertion for at least a year
- Habitual alcohol abuse
- Intolerable cruelty
While fault-based grounds may be relevant in some cases, such as those involving a significant power imbalance or trauma, they often carry additional emotional and legal challenges. Because of the need for court intervention, they typically take longer, cost more, and create extra stress.
Methods for Resolving Divorce
Divorce does not always equate to lengthy court battles. Many couples successfully resolve their divorce through alternative dispute resolution methods like mediation, emphasizing cooperation and constructive communication. Mediation involves working with a neutral mediator to reach agreements.
Such methods often save time, reduce stress, and minimize costs compared to traditional litigation, which may be necessary if contentious disputes arise. When litigation is unavoidable, it is critical to have a skilled attorney to effectively represent you in court.
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“I had a fairly complex case which involved adultery. Janet & Olivia were able to dissect the issue in a stepwise, logical manner, delivering ample rewards during the actual trial.”- Former Client
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“I know Ferro Family Law provided me the very best outcome I could hope for. Since then, I have retained them to represent me in some post judgment actions.”- Former Client
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“From the first time I met Janet & Olivia, through the end of my case, I knew I was in great hands. I cannot thank Ferro Family Law enough.”- Former Client
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“Aggressive, compassionate, cost-effective. I regularly refer Janet & Olivia to some of my most sensitive divorce cases. They are results-focused and responsive.”- Attorney Referral
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“This compassionate group of knowledgeable attorneys helped me and my children. I have and will continue to refer this firm to anyone in need of counsel for divorce.”- Former Client
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“Not only did Janet & Olivia quickly help me secure all protections for my daughter, they also ingeniously found a way to impel my spouse to get proper treatment.”- Former Client
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“Janet & Olivia genuinely care about all aspects of the client’s case and pay close attention to the client’s concerns, goals, and finances.”- Former Client
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“I have worked on several matters with Janet and Olivia. They are amazing attorneys. Smart, thorough and practical.”- Former Client
Have Questions?
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What is alimony?Alimony is a court-ordered payment from one party to another. There are several factors that come into play when determining if one party should be granted alimony including, but not limited to, the length of the marriage, the amount and sources of income, and the causes for the breakdown of the marriage. Connecticut does not have alimony guidelines, which means that the decision to award alimony, including the duration and the amount, is entirely in the judge’s discretion.
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What is the difference between a divorce and a legal separation?Both a legal separation and divorce will change the status of your relationship. However, a divorce will end your marriage, and a legal separation will not. Both terms are similar but the outcome in each is different. In both, the court will divide the parties’ property and enter alimony and child support orders. Unlike divorce if spouses are legally separated, they are not free to remarry. Spouses may elect a legal separation over divorce for religious reasons or to keep certain financial benefits. A legal separation can always be converted into a divorce. Converting a legal separation into a divorce effectively requires the parties to repeat the process they went through to get legally separated. For that reason, legal separation is rare; divorce is far more common.
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Does Connecticut have no-fault divorce?Connecticut has no-fault divorce, meaning that neither party needs to establish that the other is at fault to get divorced. Instead, to get divorced, one party must show that the marriage has irretrievably broken down with no hope of reconciliation. However, no-fault divorce does not mean that the fault of one or both parties is irrelevant. The court may still consider fault when making awards of alimony or dividing property.
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Who is entitled to custody of the children in a divorce case?The court may assign custody of a child to either parent, jointly to both parents, or in very rare situations, to a third party, depending on the facts of the case and the best interests of the child.
