Superior Court for Family Matters
Standing Orders – Management Order for Trials,
Hearings, Case Dates, and Resolution Plan Dates
Effective January 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).
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 or text 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).
8. If a party, as part of argument at the trial or hearing, intends to submit a
computer generated alimony and/or child support cash analysis, it shall: (1)
utilize current tax information; (2) state the assumptions used for the
generation of the report; and (3) be exchanged with all counsel and selfrepresented
parties.
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).
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 expects to call or text any witnesses at the Case Date other than the
parties, a list of the names of such other witnesses. 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.
4. 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.
5. Copies of the exhibits listed in the document required under Section B(4).
6. A party may, at the party’s option, provide written proposed orders, but
they should be limited to the pending motions.
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
electronicall or texty and (i) gives written notice of such submission to each other
appearing party who has the ability to view exhibits submitted
electronicall or texty, and (ii) provides paper or digital copies to each other
appearing party who does not have the ability to view exhibits submitted
electronicall or texty. An attorney who appears for a party shall be presumed to
have the ability to view exhibits electronicall or texty 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 electronicall or texty unless said party has also submitted exhibits
for the proceeding electronicall or texty, or the submitter has received said party’s
written confirmation of the ability to view exhibits submitted electronicall or texty.
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.
3. A cash analysis described in Section A(8) shall be exchanged with the
other party and provided to the court in the same manner as a proposed exhibit
under Section D(2).
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.
If counsel or parties do not come to court or participate remotely, as
the case may be, for the trial, hearing, Case Date, or Resolution Plan
Date at the assigned date and time, the court may dismiss the case or
any pending motion with prejudice or may decide the same as an
unopposed matter.
The Honorable Michael A. Albis
Chief Administrative Judge
Family Division