Lovejoy and Rimer, P.C.
Attorneys at Law

Call for a free consultation!
203-853-4400
Contact Us

Lovejoy & Rimer | Nowalk Law Firm

Attorneys At Law

CALL US
for a FREE Consultation

(203) 853-4400

  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Attorneys & Staff
    • John Hall
    • Christopher J. Jarboe
    • Beverly M. Krieger
    • Steven D. Smith
    • Staff
  • Practice Areas
    • Elder Law
      • How to Apply for Medicaid
      • Denied Medicaid Benefits
      • Difficulties in Applying for Medicaid
      • Medicaid Applications and Planning
      • Medicaid (Title XIX) and Elder Law
    • Family Law
      • Divorce
        • Divorce Trials
        • Mediation/Collaborative Divorce
        • Family Owned Business
        • Property/Asset Division
        • Inherited and Gifted Property
        • Premarital Assets
        • Retirement Asset Valuation
        • Employee Benefits Pension Valuation
        • Divorce Arbitration
        • Divorce and the Special Needs Child
      • Complex and High Net Worth Divorce
      • Business Asset Valuation
      • Alimony/Maintenance
      • Child Custody and Support
        • International & Out-of-State Divorce
        • Hague Convention
        • Custodial Interference, Parental Kidnapping / Taking the Child
        • Parental Alienation
        • Relocation and Moving Out-of-State
        • Can I Get Sole Custody?
      • Father’s Rights
      • Post Divorce Modification
      • Unmarried Partners
      • Domestic Violence & Spousal Abuse
        • Restraining Orders and Protective Orders
        • Contempt and Violation of Court Orders
      • Prenuptial Agreements
      • Same-Sex Marriage
    • Foreclosures
    • Landlord / Tenant Law
    • Litigation / Appeals
      • Personal Injury
    • Personal Injury
    • Probate, Wills & Trusts
      • Estate Administration
      • Special Needs Trusts
      • Will Contests
    • Real Estate & Land Use
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

2013 CHANGES TO CONNECTICUT ALIMONY LAWS

153741300During 2014, alimony laws throughout the east coast will be going through significant changes. States including Massachusetts and New Jersey have already proposed new alimony laws to override their old systems. In 2013, HB 6688 was passed in Connecticut. HB 6688 introduces sweeping changes to Connecticut’s alimony and property division laws, which many considered outdated and biased against men. In fact, in 2013, four plaintiffs filed suit claiming that the current Connecticut alimony laws were unconstitutional and archaic. In this suit, the plaintiffs asserted that the current Connecticut alimony laws did not provide judges with significant guidance for making their alimony award and property division decisions.

HB 6688 repealed and replaced the Connecticut General Statutes Section 46b-8. Under Section 46b-8, when determining what alimony should be awarded, the court was advised to consider the cause of the divorce, length of the marriage, and each party’s age, occupation, health, sources and amounts of personal income, employability, and personal needs. However, Section 46b-8 did not advise on when a court should actually award alimony. It also did not provide direction regarding how much alimony should be paid and for how long. This lack of guidance caused significant confusion and widely diverse outcomes throughout Connecticut in the awarding of alimony during divorce proceedings.

 Under HB 6688, the Connecticut alimony and property division laws will provide more guidance for judges entering alimony awards. The law requires that all alimony awards and property divisions be gender neutral. The act requires courts to still consider most of the factors under Section 46b-8, but now a party’s education and earning capacity are additional factors for consideration. HB 6688 also increases the amount of evidence that must be considered by the court before awarding alimony and assigning property. Instead of just granting lifetime or indefinite alimony, the court must provide a specific basis for such a grant.

Furthermore, judges must now modify alimony orders by applying the same criteria that must be utilized to establish an alimony award. In the past judges where given great deference and leniency in the modification of alimony awards. The most important thing to come out of the HB 6688 was the creation of the Connecticut Law Revision Commission (“CLRC”). The CLRC was created to evaluate and study the adequacy and fairness of Connecticut’s state alimony statutes. By February 1st, 2014 the CLRC must present its findings and recommendations to the Judiciary Committee and chief court administrator. Hopefully, the CLRC’s findings will provide some guidance regarding when alimony awards should be granted, and for how long.

Here in Connecticut the horizon holds a more fair and gender neutral alimony system. If you have any questions about how HB 6688 will affect your divorce, alimony award, or property divisions, you should contact the knowledgeable family law attorneys here at our law firm in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Filed Under: Alimony & Maintenance in Connecticut, Connecticut divorce lawyer, Fairfield County Connecticut Divorce Attorney

Contact Us Today

    I understand the Terms and agree to be contacted
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Alimony & Maintenance in Connecticut
  • Child Abuse
  • Child Custody
  • Child Custody & Visitation in Connecticut
  • Child Expenses
  • Connecticut divorce lawyer
  • Connecticut family law attorney
  • Connecticut Laws
  • Connecticut Prenups
  • Divorce
  • Divorce Decree Modification
  • Domestic Violence
  • Elder Care
  • Fairfield County Connecticut Divorce Attorney
  • Fairfield County Connecticut Family Lawyer
  • Family Business
  • Family Law
  • Father's Right
  • Grounds for divorce
  • Health Insurance
  • High Asset Divorce
  • Immigration Reform
  • Juvenile Laws
  • Marriage Benefits
  • Mediation
  • Medicaid
  • New Laws
  • Pet Custody
  • Prenup
  • Prenuptial Agreement
  • Property Division in Connecticut
  • Same Sex Marriage
  • Social Media

HOME

FIRM PROFILE

ATTORNEYS & STAFF
Louis Ciccarello
John Hall
Christopher Jarboe
Beverly Krieger
Steven Smith
Staff

PRACTICE AREAS
Real Estate & Land Use
Landlord / Tenant Law
Probate, Trusts and Estates
Litigation / Appeals
Elder Law
Negligence
Family Law

CONTACT US

BLOG

CONTACT US
WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU

Lovejoy And Rimer, P.C.
65 East Avenue,
Norwalk, CT 06851-4907

203-853-4400 ssmith@lovejoyrimer.com

Copyright © 2023 · Lovejoy & Rimer · Disclaimer

Lovejoy & Rimer, P.C.
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Attorneys & Staff
    • John Hall
    • Christopher J. Jarboe
    • Beverly M. Krieger
    • Steven D. Smith
    • Staff
  • Practice Areas
    • Elder Law
      • How to Apply for Medicaid
      • Denied Medicaid Benefits
      • Difficulties in Applying for Medicaid
      • Medicaid Applications and Planning
      • Medicaid (Title XIX) and Elder Law
    • Family Law
      • Divorce
        • Divorce Trials
        • Mediation/Collaborative Divorce
        • Family Owned Business
        • Property/Asset Division
        • Inherited and Gifted Property
        • Premarital Assets
        • Retirement Asset Valuation
        • Employee Benefits Pension Valuation
        • Divorce Arbitration
        • Divorce and the Special Needs Child
      • Complex and High Net Worth Divorce
      • Business Asset Valuation
      • Alimony/Maintenance
      • Child Custody and Support
        • International & Out-of-State Divorce
        • Hague Convention
        • Custodial Interference, Parental Kidnapping / Taking the Child
        • Parental Alienation
        • Relocation and Moving Out-of-State
        • Can I Get Sole Custody?
      • Father’s Rights
      • Post Divorce Modification
      • Unmarried Partners
      • Domestic Violence & Spousal Abuse
        • Restraining Orders and Protective Orders
        • Contempt and Violation of Court Orders
      • Prenuptial Agreements
      • Same-Sex Marriage
    • Foreclosures
    • Landlord / Tenant Law
    • Litigation / Appeals
      • Personal Injury
    • Personal Injury
    • Probate, Wills & Trusts
      • Estate Administration
      • Special Needs Trusts
      • Will Contests
    • Real Estate & Land Use
  • Contact Us
  • Blog