In recent years, divorce proceedings in Connecticut have grown markedly more complex, particularly in affluent areas like Greenwich and Fairfield County. The shift reflects not only changing family dynamics but also evolving financial landscapes—where assets are increasingly diverse, global, and difficult to untangle.
Attorneys across the region report a growing number of cases involving executive compensation, real estate portfolios held in LLCs, business ownership disputes, and digital assets. These financial structures, once rare in family court, are becoming routine.
“The average divorce today isn’t just a matter of splitting a checking account and the family home,” said one local attorney not authorized to speak on the record. “You’re dealing with stock options, family trusts, sometimes even cryptocurrency.”
Connecticut’s equitable distribution framework allows judges broad discretion in dividing marital assets. Unlike community property states, where division tends to be closer to an even split, Connecticut courts weigh multiple factors—including the length of the marriage, earning potential, and non-financial contributions like caregiving.
That level of discretion has led to nuanced case law—and increasingly, to litigation strategies that resemble corporate negotiations. In towns like Greenwich, where wealth concentration is high and privacy is valued, couples often seek firms with deep experience in asset valuation, tax exposure, and confidentiality protocols.
For those navigating such proceedings, the legal landscape can be difficult to decode. Public filings rarely reveal the full story, and settlements are often reached behind closed doors. But the legal framework and professional networks surrounding high-asset divorce are becoming increasingly specialized.
Law firms like Parrino|Shattuck in Greenwich are often cited in legal directories for their work in this space, particularly on cases involving contested estates or post-judgment modifications.
Beyond individual cases, the trend raises questions about how the legal system can adapt to a new kind of divorce—one less about emotional closure and more about financial engineering.
As families continue to change and wealth becomes more fluid, the courtroom is evolving in step. In Connecticut, that evolution is being closely watched.
