Sec. 46b-1. (Formerly Sec. 51-330). Family relations matters defined.
Sec. 46b-1. (Formerly Sec. 51-330). Family relations matters defined. Matters
within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court deemed to be family relations matters shall
be matters affecting or involving: (1) Dissolution of marriage, contested and uncontested, except dissolution upon conviction of crime as provided in section 46b-47; (2)
legal separation; (3) annulment of marriage; (4) alimony, support, custody and change
of name incident to dissolution of marriage, legal separation and annulment; (5) actions
brought under section 46b-15; (6) complaints for change of name; (7) civil support
obligations; (8) habeas corpus and other proceedings to determine the custody and visitation of children; (9) habeas corpus brought by or on behalf of any mentally ill person
except a person charged with a criminal offense; (10) appointment of a commission to
inquire whether a person is wrongfully confined as provided by section 17a-523; (11)
juvenile matters as provided in section 46b-121; (12) all rights and remedies provided
for in chapter 815j; (13) the establishing of paternity; (14) appeals from probate concerning: (A) Adoption or termination of parental rights; (B) appointment and removal of
guardians; (C) custody of a minor child; (D) appointment and removal of conservators;
(E) orders for custody of any child; and (F) orders of commitment of persons to public
and private institutions and to other appropriate facilities as provided by statute; (15)
actions related to prenuptial and separation agreements and to matrimonial decrees of
a foreign jurisdiction; (16) custody proceeding brought under the provisions of chapter
815p; and (17) all such other matters within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court concerning children or family relations as may be determined by the judges of said court.
(1959, P.A. 531, S. 3; 1967, P.A. 183, S. 3; P.A. 73-373, S. 36; P.A. 76-436, S. 89, 681; P.A. 77-336, S. 2; 77-452, S.
15, 72; 77-576, S. 37, 65; P.A. 78-318, S. 26; 78-379, S. 13, 27; P.A. 86-337, S. 9; P.A. 03-19, S. 101.)
History: 1967 act removed jurisdiction of commitments of mentally ill persons; P.A. 73-373 substituted "dissolution
of marriage" for "divorce" where appearing; P.A. 76-436 restated provisions generally, in Subdiv. (6) included criminal
actions, in Subdiv. (7) added reference to visitation, inserted new Subdivs. (10) to (14), renumbering remaining Subdivs.
accordingly, in Subdiv. (15) included termination of penal rights and rephrased clause re orders of commitment, deleted
former Subdiv. re appeals from judgment or order of juvenile court, inserted new Subdivs. (16) and (17) and renumbered
former Subdiv. (12), effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-336 inserted new Subdiv. (5) re actions brought under Sec. 46b-38,
renumbering accordingly; P.A. 77-452 deleted former Subdiv. (12) re judicial consent to marriage of a minor, renumbering
accordingly and making minor changes in wording elsewhere; P.A. 77-576 deleted former Subsec. (10) re termination of
parental rights with regard to children committed to state agency and contested termination of parental rights transferred
to probate court and included jurisdictional power re matrimonial decrees of foreign jurisdiction; P.A. 78-318 included
jurisdiction over custody proceedings under Ch. 815; P.A. 78-379 deleted reference to criminal actions in Subdiv. (7) and
deleted former Subdiv. (16) re offenses committed by minor children against their parents; Sec. 51-182c temporarily
renumbered as Sec. 51-330 and ultimately transferred to Sec. 46b-1 in 1979, see note to Sec. 51-182c; P.A. 86-337 substituted reference to Sec. 46b-15 for reference to Sec. 46b-38; P.A. 03-19 made technical changes, effective May 12, 2003.
See Sec. 45a-99 re concurrent jurisdiction of Probate Court in matters concerning change of name.
See Secs. 45a-736, 45a-737 re change of name of adopted persons.
See Sec. 46b-41 re definition of "complaint".
See Sec. 46b-63 re jurisdiction of Superior Court to restore former wife's birth name or former name following decree
dissolving marriage.
See Sec. 52-11 re jurisdiction of Superior Court concerning complaints for change of name.
Cited. 185 C. 502.
Cited. 5 CA 95. Cited. 41 CA 163.
Superior Court does have jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a Probate Court change of name proceeding. 48 CS 647.
When the question presented is whether name of a minor child should be changed, the court, in line with its universal duty
to protect the interests of minors, must take into consideration whether the change of name will promote the child's best
welfare. Id.
Subdiv. (4):
Cited. 17 CA 627.
Subdiv. (6):
Cited. 17 CA 627.
Subdiv. (8):
Cited. 234 C. 51.
Cited. 8 CA 30.
Does not confer parents, acting as grandparents, whose son's parental rights have been terminated, the authorization
to bring a habeas corpus petition to seek custody of a grandchild. 47 CS 273.
Subdiv. (14):
Subpara. (c) cited. 247 C. 724.
Subdiv. (15):
Cited. 39 CS 66.
Subdiv. (17):
Cannot be used as basis for granting jurisdiction to Superior Court on matters involving foreign civil unions because
the text itself requires that children be involved, there is no rule of court that would define foreign civil unions as a family
matter, the legislative history of this section indicates that its intent was to provide for a court merger, and legislature, by
enacting Secs. 45a-727b and 46a-81r, has expressly stated that state does not endorse or authorize civil unions or any other
relationship between unmarried persons. 71 CA 372.