CT SB01155

Changes spousal property rights language from gender-specific to gender-neutral terminology, eliminating distinctions between husband and wife regarding separate property, contracts, and liability for debts.

Modifies legal separation procedures to allow either party to petition for conversion to dissolution of marriage without automatic dismissal, while restricting courts from changing property or alimony awards upon conversion except as provided in modification sections.

Expands arbitration in divorce cases to include child support and education-related issues (previously excluded), subject to consistency with child support guidelines.

Establishes a formula for calculating alimony awards: 30% of higher-income spouse's annual gross income minus 20% of lower-income spouse's annual gross income, with a cap ensuring lower-income spouse receives no more than 40% of combined income; applies only when combined income does not exceed $1 million and is neither mandatory nor presumptive.

Requires courts to justify alimony awards in writing, consider tax consequences of orders, and allows modification of child support based on substantial deviation from guidelines with a rebuttable presumption that deviations under 15% are not substantial.