Westport Appeal Lawyers
Challenging a Family Law Court Decision in Connecticut
Family court decisions can significantly affect your life, finances, and relationships. If you believe a ruling was legally flawed or unfair, you may have the right to challenge it through an appeal. At Ferro, Battey & Eucalitto, LLC, we help clients understand their appellate options and provide trusted guidance throughout this complex legal process.
Consult a Westport appeal attorney about your case by calling us at (475) 264-4362 or contacting a team member online. We serve clients in Fairfield County, including Darien, Norwalk, Wilton, and New Canaan.
The Right to Appeal in Family Law Cases
In Connecticut, most family law court orders can be appealed. This includes final judgments and temporary orders, such as pendente lite alimony and child support. However, some rulings—such as discovery orders—are not appealable. A discovery order refers to a ruling that compels one party to disclose information or documents relevant to the case, which is generally not subject to appeal.
Appeals offer a formal process to challenge decisions that may have resulted from legal errors or misinterpretations of the law. Our experienced team can evaluate your case and advise whether an appeal is in your best interest.
What to Expect from the Appeals Process
Pursuing an appeal adds time and cost to your case. Most Connecticut family law appeals take 18 months or longer to resolve. Specific court orders, including those involving custody, visitation, child support, and periodic alimony, must still be followed during this time.
In contrast, property division orders generally do not need to be followed during the appeal unless the trial court orders otherwise.
Understanding which orders remain enforceable during the appeals process is critical, as it can affect your legal and financial responsibilities throughout the case.
Appeals vs. New Trials
An appeal is not a new trial. Instead, the appellate court reviews the trial court’s decision based strictly on the evidence and legal arguments presented during the original proceedings. No new testimony or evidence is introduced.
An appeal aims to determine whether the trial judge made a significant legal error. If the appellate court finds that the law was misapplied or procedural mistakes affected the outcome, it may overturn the decision and remand the case for a new trial, often before a different judge.
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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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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.
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How are child support obligations determined?In Connecticut, when determining child support, the court is required to consider the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines. The Guidelines set forth a presumptive child support award for each case based upon the parties’ combined net weekly incomes and the number of children the parties have. In addition, the court may consider a number of other factors, including, but not limited to, the estate and needs of the child, vocational skills and employability of each parent, and each parent’s earning capacity. The court may also deviate from the presumptive child support for different reasons, which can include shared physical custody, coordination of total family support, or extraordinary disparity in parental income. To learn more about the calculation of child support in Connecticut, including high-income cases, click here.
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How long will the divorce process take?It depends. If the parties have an agreement on all issues and meet certain other conditions, they may get divorced as soon as 35 days from the date the divorce starts. However, that is atypical. Depending upon the contentiousness and complexity of the case, the case could last a year or more.
