Superior Court for Family Matters
Standing Orders – Management Order for Trials,
Hearings, Case Dates, and Resolution Plan Dates
Effective July 1, 2021
These management orders shall apply to trials, hearings, Case Dates, and
Resolution Plan Dates in family matters, whether pendente lite or
postjudgment, unless:
(1) the requirements are waived or modified by the court in a particular
case, or
(2) the hearing is on an application for, or a motion for extension,
modification, or contempt of, a temporary restraining order pursuant
to Section 46b-15 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Section A applies to trials and hearings that are assigned to a date other than
a Case Date. Section B applies to hearings on a Case Date. Section C applies
to Resolution Plan Dates. Section D applies to all items to be filed or exchanged
under this order.
A. Trials and Hearings. Counsel and self-represented parties are ordered
to exchange with each other and file with the court, in the manner set forth
in Section D, the following documents not less than five (5) calendar days
before the assigned trial or hearing date.
1. Current sworn financial affidavits meeting the requirements of Practice Book
Sec. 25-30(a), if any financial issues are involved.
2. A list of all pending motions, including motions to be decided before the
start of the trial or hearing such as motions in limine and motions for protective
order.
3. A fully completed child support guidelines worksheet as required by Practice
Book Sec. 25-30(e), if applicable.
4. Written proposed orders in accordance with Practice Book Sec. 25-30(c) and
(d).
5. A list of the names of all witnesses each party reasonably expects to call as
part of the party’s case in chief, as well as any reasonably anticipated rebuttal
witnesses, including an identifier (that is, party, eyewitness, or expert) and
stating any expected scheduling problems. Note: This order does not replace
or change the requirements of Practice Book Sec. 13-4 about the manner and
time for expert witness disclosure.
6. A list of exhibits each party reasonably expects to introduce in evidence,
indexed by P plus a number for the plaintiff, and D plus a letter for the
defendant, with a brief description of each exhibit, indicating whether any party
objects to the admission of the exhibit and if so, including a statement of the
grounds for the objection if known.
7. Copies of the exhibits listed in the document required under Section A(6).
B. Case Dates. For Case Dates, counsel and self-represented parties are
ordered to exchange with each other and file with the court, in the manner set
forth in Section D, the following documents not less than five (5) calendar
days before the Case Date.
1. If there is a pending motion that concerns financial issues, current sworn
financial affidavits meeting the requirements of Practice Book Sec. 25-30(a);
provided, that if a party has already filed a financial affidavit in the case, there
has been no substantial change in the party’s financial condition in the interim,
and the party is prepared to so testify on the Case Date, no additional financial
affidavit is required of the party at this time.”
2. If there is a pending motion that concerns child support, a fully completed
child support guidelines worksheet as required by Practice Book Sec. 25-30(e).
3. If a party has more than one motion that is pending at the time of the Case
Date, the party shall provide:
a. A list of the motions the party intends to pursue on the Case Date by
having a hearing on the Case Date or, if the estimated length of the
hearing exceeds the time available, on a subsequent date assigned
at the Case Date; provided, that the filing party must be prepared to
commence the hearing of any motion on this list on the Case Date,
even if completion of the hearing requires additional time at a later
date. The list shall include an estimate of the amount of hearing
time expected to be required for the hearing of each listed motion.
Motions shall be listed in order of the priority in which the filing party
believes the motions should be heard.
b. A list of the party’s motions that are pending but which the party
does not intend to pursue on the Case Date as set forth in
Section(B)(3)(a). Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the
motions on this list shall be deemed to be scheduled for the next
Case Date, if any, and if none, then for the time of trial.
4. As to any motion that a moving party intends to pursue on the Case Date,
such party shall provide copies of the party’s proposed exhibits to the other
party (and, if the Case Date is to be held by remote means, to the court) in
accordance with the procedures described in Section D(2).
5. A party who intends to offer exhibits with respect to a motion filed by the
opposing party must provide copies of such exhibits to the opposing party
(and, if the Case Date is to be held by remote means, to the court) at least
two business (2) days before the Case Date, notwithstanding the five-day
requirement as to other Case Date compliance.
6. A party may (but is not required to) provide written proposed orders in
accordance with Practice Book Sec. 25-30(c) and (d).
C. Resolution Plan Dates. If an action or motion that is the subject of
a Resolution Plan Date involves any financial issues, then at least five (5) days
before the Resolution Plan Date, the parties shall file current sworn financial
affidavits meeting the requirements of Practice Book Sec. 25-30(a). The other
provisions of this order shall not apply to Resolution Plan Dates.
D. Methods of Filing and Exchanging Items.
1. Except for the documents covered by Sections D(2) and (3), all
documents to be exchanged under this order shall be placed in the court file,
and the filing party shall serve copies of same upon each other appearing party
in the manner prescribed by Practice Book Section 10-13.
2. Copies of exhibits shall be filed and exchanged as follows:
a. Where applicable court procedures require or allow the electronic
submission of proposed exhibits, a party (the “submitter”) shall be in
compliance with the requirements of this order as to exhibits if, by the time
required in this order, the submitter submits the exhibits to the court
electronically and (i) gives written notice of such submission to each other
appearing party who has the ability to view exhibits submitted
electronically, and (ii) provides paper or digital copies to each other
appearing party who does not have the ability to view exhibits submitted
electronically. An attorney who appears for a party shall be presumed to
have the ability to view exhibits electronically unless the attorney notifies
the submitter at least ten (10) days before the proceeding of an inability to
do so. A self-represented party shall be presumed not to have the ability
to view exhibits electronically unless said party has also submitted exhibits
for the proceeding electronically, or the submitter has received said party’s
written confirmation of the ability to view exhibits submitted electronically.
b. Except to the extent that Section D(2)(a) applies, paper or digital
copies of exhibits shall be exchanged by the parties, independent of the
court file, by the time required in this order. Parties shall not submit copies
of proposed exhibits in advance to the court unless the proceeding is to be
held by remote means, but shall report to the courtroom clerk at least
fifteen (15) minutes before the assigned time for the proceeding in order
to complete the marking of exhibits. If the proceeding is to be held by
remote means, paper copies of proposed exhibits shall be submitted to the
Clerk’s Office at least two (2) business days before the date of the
proceeding.
c. If a party has both a current self-representation appearance and a
current appearance by an attorney in a case, compliance with this order
shall require only the exchange of proposed exhibits with the attorney.
If a party does not follow this order, the court may impose sanctions
on the party, which may include a monetary sanction, exclusion of
evidence, or the entry of a nonsuit, default or dismissal. On a Case
Date, the court may in its discretion decline to hear a pending motion
for which the moving party has not complied with the requirements of
Section B.
The Honorable Michael A. Albis
Chief Administrative Judge
Family Division