Sec. 46b-66. (Formerly Sec. 46-49). Review of agreements; incorporation into decree. Arbitration.
Sec. 46b-66. (Formerly Sec. 46-49). Review of agreements; incorporation into
decree. Arbitration. (a) In any case under this chapter where the parties have submitted
to the court an agreement concerning the custody, care, education, visitation, maintenance or support of any of their children or concerning alimony or the disposition of
property, the court shall inquire into the financial resources and actual needs of the
spouses and their respective fitness to have physical custody of or rights of visitation
with any minor child, in order to determine whether the agreement of the spouses is fair
and equitable under all the circumstances. If the court finds the agreement fair and
equitable, it shall become part of the court file, and if the agreement is in writing, it shall
be incorporated by reference into the order or decree of the court. If the court finds the
agreement is not fair and equitable, it shall make such orders as to finances and custody
as the circumstances require. If the agreement is in writing and provides for the care,
education, maintenance or support of a child beyond the age of eighteen, it may also be
incorporated or otherwise made a part of any such order and shall be enforceable to the
same extent as any other provision of such order or decree, notwithstanding the provisions of section 1-1d.
(b) Agreements providing for the care, education, maintenance or support of a child
beyond the age of eighteen entered into on or after July 1, 2001, shall be modifiable to
the same extent as any other provision of any order or decree in accordance with section
46b-86.
(c) The provisions of chapter 909 shall be applicable to any agreement to arbitrate
in an action for dissolution of marriage under this chapter, provided (1) an arbitration
pursuant to such agreement may proceed only after the court has made a thorough inquiry
and is satisfied that (A) each party entered into such agreement voluntarily and without
coercion, and (B) such agreement is fair and equitable under the circumstances, and (2)
such agreement and an arbitration pursuant to such agreement shall not include issues
related to child support, visitation and custody. An arbitration award in such action shall
be confirmed, modified or vacated in accordance with the provisions of chapter 909.
(1972, P.A. 164, S. 1; P.A. 73-373, S. 18; P.A. 74-169, S. 11, 18; P.A. 77-488, S. 1; P.A. 78-230, S. 34, 54; P.A. 01-135, S. 1, 3; P.A. 05-258, S. 1; P.A. 06-196, S. 171.)
History: P.A. 73-373 deleted provision which allowed court to continue, modify, set aside, etc. final orders re custody,
visitation, etc. "upon a showing of a material change in the circumstances of either party or of their children"; P.A. 74-169 amended section to remove requirement that agreements be written but to specify that, if written, they are to be
incorporated by reference in court orders or decrees; P.A. 77-488 added provision re written agreements providing for
care, education, etc. of a child beyond the age of 18; P.A. 78-230 restated provisions; Sec. 46-49 transferred to Sec. 46b-66 in 1979; P.A. 01-135 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re modifiable agreements for
the care, education, maintenance and support of child beyond the age of 18 entered into on or after July 1, 2001, effective
July 1, 2001; P.A. 05-258 added Subsec. (c) re arbitration agreement and award; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in
Subsec. (c), effective June 7, 2006.
Annotations to former section 46-49:
Parties to divorce proceeding may submit to court an agreement concerning education of any of their children and such
agreement may be incorporated by reference in order or decree of court. 33 CS 213, 215.
Annotations to present section:
Cited. 177 C. 47. Failure of referee to conduct a searching inquiry into acceptability of a divorce settlement does
not subject judgment to collateral attack as miscarriage of justice. Id., 173. Operates prospectively, cannot be applied
retroactively. Id., 327. Cited. 183 C. 35. Cited. 184 C. 558. Cited. 185 C. 156; Id., 573. Cited. 186 C. 773. Because agreement
was concealed from the trial court and was thus contrary to public policy it was void and unenforceable. 187 C. 315.
Because, as a result of the agreement, both parties filed misleading and inaccurate financial affidavits, and because trial
court should have ordered a new hearing on the financial and property division issues, a new trial was ordered on those
issues. Id. Cited. 188 C. 98. Cited. 190 C. 674. Cited. 194 C. 312. Cited. 195 C. 491. Cited. 196 C. 260. Cited. 200 C. 202.
Cited. 201 C. 50. Cited. 214 C. 99. Cited. 217 C. 394. Cited. 220 C. 212. Cited. 228 C. 85. Cited. 231 C. 168. Cited. 235
C. 45. Cited. 237 C. 481. Trial court does not have authority to modify an agreement concerning child support that has
been incorporated by reference into court decree dissolving a marriage in absence of a written agreement between parties
permitting such modification. 262 C. 355. Trial court has jurisdiction over motions for postmajority child support modifications. 266 C. 649.
Cited. 1 CA 578. Fraudulent nondisclosure discussed. 2 CA 179; Id., 239. Cited. 3 CA 423. Cited. 6 CA 271. Cited.
11 CA 268. Cited. 13 CA 355. Cited. 19 CA 146; Id., 161. Cited. 24 CA 343. Cited. 25 CA 210. Cited. 28 CA 208. Cited.
29 CA 369. Cited. 34 CA 462; judgment reversed, see 232 C. 750; Id., 785; judgment reversed, see 235 C. 45. Cited. 35
CA 421. Cited. 43 CA 575. Trial court lacked jurisdiction to enforce parties' oral stipulation concerning payment of
postmajority support because agreement was not reduced to writing as required by statute. 47 CA 354. Court lacks jurisdiction to modify postmajority support where no written agreement to modify. 48 CA 409. Section provides court with
jurisdiction to incorporate a separation agreement into its order or decree if upon review it finds the agreement fair and
equitable under the circumstances. 60 CA 337. Trial court did not abuse its discretion by incorporating an agreement
requiring additional five-year post-judgment payment of life insurance premiums. 83 CA 478. Settlement offer could not
be binding agreement without court's independent evaluation of agreement for fairness and equity. 91 CA 579.
Cited. 35 CS 237. Cited. 44 CS 431. Written agreements for support of adult children may be incorporated by reference
into dissolution decree or may be the subject of orders of court and are enforceable through contempt proceedings. 49 CS 238.
Subsec. (a):
Specifically grants court authority to incorporate by reference into its judgment of dissolution a fair and equitable
separation agreement concerning several enumerated items, including disposition of property, thereby making it an order
or decree of the court. 84 CA 415. Without separate evaluation by court to determine whether settlement agreement was
fair and equitable, it could not become a settlement agreement as to the parties regarding their marital property, and court
was free to distribute the property in a manner it determined was fair and equitable. 91 CA 579.