Same-Sex Divorce Attorney in Hamden

Connecticut Same-Sex Marriage & Divorce: A Brief Legal History

Understanding the legal timeline helps explain why some same-sex divorces raise questions a typical divorce doesn’t. In 2008, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in Kerrigan v. Commissioner of Public Health that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples violated the state constitution, making Connecticut the third state to legalize same-sex marriage. Connecticut had offered civil unions since 2005, and on October 1, 2010, those unions were automatically converted to marriages under state law, unless a couple had already begun a divorce, annulment, or legal separation proceeding. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges extended marriage equality nationwide, after which same-sex divorce proceedings follow the same legal framework as any other divorce in Connecticut.

How Marriage Dates Affect Alimony & Property Division

Connecticut courts generally calculate the length of the marriage from the legal marriage date, not from when a relationship began. For couples whose civil union converted to marriage on October 1, 2010, courts may treat that conversion date, rather than the original civil union date, as the starting point for this calculation, though how a specific case is handled can vary. This distinction can affect both spousal support determinations and equitable distribution of marital assets.

Courts have discretion to weigh a broader set of factors, but a couple’s full relationship history isn’t something a court assumes. It has to be presented. If your relationship predates your legal marriage date, that history may be relevant to how the court evaluates your case and should be raised with counsel rather than left unaddressed.

Custody & Legal Parentage for Same-Sex Couples

Custody decisions in Connecticut are based on the best interests of the child, regardless of the parents’ sexual orientation. For same-sex couples with children, the more consequential question is often whether legal parentage has been formally established for a non-biological parent.

Parental rights in this context may depend on whether legal parentage was secured through adoption or recognized under another legal mechanism. The Connecticut Parentage Act addresses parentage determinations for families formed by same-sex couples and can be a relevant framework in these proceedings. Where legal parentage is uncertain, custody and visitation rights may need to be resolved alongside it, making early legal guidance particularly important.

Court Jurisdiction for Hamden Divorce Cases

Hamden family law and divorce cases are handled by the New Haven Judicial District, which also serves New Haven, Wallingford, and surrounding towns in the county. The district has courthouse locations in both New Haven and Meriden. Knowing which courthouse handles your filing and how cases move through that district is part of the practical guidance we bring to clients we represent.

If you’re ready to move forward, call us at (203) 687-4050 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with Goldblatt, Marquette & Rashba, PC.