St. Onge & BrouillardSt. Onge & Brouillard2026-07-17T08:26:44Zhttps://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1402621/2022/03/cropped-favicon-32x32.pngOn Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[3 disclosures to make before selling your home in Connecticut]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492682026-07-17T08:26:44Z2026-07-17T08:26:44ZProperty condition report
Connecticut law requires most home sellers to complete a Property Condition Disclosure Report. This form asks specific questions about the property. Sellers must answer truthfully about structural problems, water damage, pest issues and other defects.
Some sales are exempt from this requirement. These include foreclosures, estate sales and transfers between family members. However, most traditional home sales require this disclosure form. Failure to file this report or submitting false information may result in legal penalties.
Lead paint information
Homes built before 1978 require special attention. Under federal law, sellers must provide buyers with a lead paint disclosure. This informs buyers about any known lead paint in the home. Additionally, sellers must provide buyers with an EPA-approved pamphlet about lead hazards.
Buyers have 10-day period to test for lead if needed. This disclosure applies even if the seller does not know whether lead paint exists. When uncertain, sellers must still comply.
Environmental hazards
Environmental hazards are dangers in or around the home that can harm health. Connecticut sellers must disclose known environmental problems to buyers. Common hazards include radon gas, asbestos, mold and underground oil tanks. Sellers who have tested for these issues must also share the results with buyers.
Underground oil tanks present particular risks in Connecticut. Many older homes have buried heating oil tanks that can leak and contaminate surrounding soil. While Connecticut law requires disclosure of an underground oil tank's presence, state law does not mandate its testing or removal as a condition of sale. However, buyers' mortgage lenders or local town ordinances frequently require it.
Completing disclosures before the sale
Meeting disclosure requirements is a critical part of selling a home in Connecticut. Hiding problems does not make them disappear. Buyers will likely discover issues during their home inspection. Undisclosed defects can kill a sale or lead to lawsuits after closing. Transparency prevents problems down the road and helps sales close smoothly.]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[Paternity in divorce: What couples should know]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492662026-07-10T07:01:27Z2026-07-10T07:01:27ZRealities of parental laws in Connecticut
Under the Connecticut Parentage Act (CPA), family courts often look beyond strict biology to focus on realities of parenting. Here are some of the key factors you should know about paternity disputes, including:
Marital presumption: If a mother is married when a child is conceived or born, the husband is automatically presumed to be the legal father under state law. The marital presumption is strong even if the husband is not the biological parent.
DNA testing: Either spouse can request a court-ordered DNA test to prove paternity. If the test disproves a genetic link, the husband could be relieved of child support.
The de facto parent rule: Even if a DNA test disproves that the husband is not the biological father, the court might still deem him as a legal parent under CPA’s de facto parent provisions if he has acted as the child’s father for years and formed a meaningful bond.
Waiting until a divorce is finalized to raise paternity can be incredibly difficult. The final divorce judgment could decide legal parentage permanently. Therefore, making proactive legal decisions during this period is vital.
Taking the right steps
Facing a paternity dispute while going through a tough divorce can be an overwhelming and complex process. If you are facing a similar hurdle to protect the relationship with your children and your financial future, seeking the help of a skilled family law attorney could be highly beneficial.]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[How to prove a parent-like relationship as a grandparent]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492632026-06-24T15:10:25Z2026-06-30T15:08:40ZIf you have helped raise your grandchild like a parent, you hope to be a constant presence in their life. However, it can be heartbreaking to face the possibility of never seeing them again when their family dynamics shift.
While Connecticut law does allow some grandparents to ask for visitation, your relationship must meet certain legal requirements. Understanding these thresholds is crucial to protect your parental role and connection with your grandchild.
Defining a parent-like relationship
In Connecticut, courts look for a relationship that has transitioned from occasional visitor to functional parent. Key factors that a judge may examine include the following:
Length and nature of your bond with your grandchild
Daily involvement with childcare tasks
Your eligibility for seeking visitation
Financial contributions to your grandchild’s needs
Even after you establish a deep, historic relationship, you also need to legally prove that denying visitation would cause emotional and mental distress to your grandchild. Connecticut courts have this secondary requirement to help ensure that parental authority is only overridden in extraordinary circumstances.A testimony from a child psychologist or mental health expert can help you prove that you are fit to parent your grandchild and that visitation is in their best interests. If your grandkid is around 12 to 13 years old and can independently express similar wishes, the court may also consider their input when making the final decision.
Building a strong case for visitation
Securing visitation rights requires showing the depth of your relationship and the harm your grandchild could experience without ongoing contact. Seeking legal guidance can help you gather the right evidence to show why your bond with your grandchild matters.]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[Why do young drivers crash more often?]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492592026-06-19T19:13:06Z2026-06-19T19:13:06ZStatistics make it clear that young drivers are more likely to be involved in serious accidents. Per mile driven, teenage drivers have the highest fatal crash rate of any age bracket.Although it is true that every individual accident is unique, there are some general reasons why this happens. It can be helpful for young drivers to understand them so they can proactively work to be safe, and other drivers also need to be aware of the risks they face from those around them on the road.
Making risky decisions
In some cases, the issue is that young drivers are more likely to make risky decisions, such as speeding, distracted driving or even impaired driving. Many of them do not wear seatbelts consistently, which can contribute to the high fatal car accident rate.There are also factors that can contribute to the likelihood of a crash in any individual case. Accidents are more likely with nighttime driving or weekend driving, for instance, and having other teen passengers in the car can raise the odds of an accident.
Lack of experience
Overall, teens are just more likely to make mistakes because they lack experience as drivers. They are still learning and developing the skills that they need to operate a vehicle safely.This sometimes means that teenagers will make mistakes or fail to recognize hazardous situations. An example could be a teenager who is driving far too fast for road conditions in inclement weather, simply because they do not fully understand the danger that creates for them and those around them.
Do you deserve compensation after an accident?
If you have been involved in an accident caused by a teen driver, and you or a loved one suffered serious injuries, it is important to look into all of your legal options to seek compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills and more.
]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[How mediation can help parents during custody disputes]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492462026-06-04T10:18:13Z2026-06-04T10:18:13ZMediation is a cooperative process
Spouses must communicate with one another and discuss their wishes as they work toward a compromise. The need to communicate calmly and work together can reduce the level of conflict between the spouses. They can maintain a more amicable dynamic when they work together as co-parents instead of fighting against one another during divorce litigation. By cooperating with one another, they reduced how many conflicts their children witness and can potentially decrease the stress the divorce causes for the children.
Mediation enhances privacy
Parents have an opportunity to discuss deeply private matters in a confidential setting during mediation, which can allow for a more nuanced and appropriate final custody arrangement. They also retain control over the terms set. When spouses litigate, a judge decides what is in the children's best interests. When spouses settle custody disputes through mediation, they have the final say in the specific terms set for the family.
Suggesting mediation as a means of resolving custody disagreements can be helpful for divorcing parents. Parents who take control of custody negotiations through mediation may ultimately feel more satisfied with the terms that they mutually set.]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[Protecting children from an attractive nuisance]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492382026-05-23T08:00:12Z2026-05-23T08:00:12ZAn attractive nuisance is something that is inherently dangerous on a person’s property, especially if it is attractive to children. It also typically needs to be man-made, so something like a lake or a river usually would not qualify.
One example could be an in-ground pool built on a person’s property. Young children may find the pool intriguing and may even trespass onto the property to get to it. But they may not fully understand the danger they face, and there could be a drowning accident.Another example is an old refrigerator left sitting unattended on the property. If a child climbs inside, older model refrigerators often cannot be opened from the inside, so the child could become trapped.
Taking additional steps
If a property owner identifies something that qualifies as an attractive nuisance, they often need to take additional steps to keep children safe. Posting no trespassing signs can help, but even that is often not enough. Children do not understand property lines, and young children may not be able to read.With a pool, the property owner may need to put a fence around it. The fence should have a gate that locks automatically. This simple setup can be enough to keep a child from getting to the pool or being injured. It also helps show that the homeowner did everything they could to try to protect the local children, even if there is still an accident.For parents of children who have been injured on someone else’s property, understanding the attractive nuisance doctrine is very important, and it can help to work with an experienced personal injury attorney.
]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[3 questions about real estate easements]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492362026-05-11T18:52:14Z2026-05-11T18:52:14ZReal estate easements can sometimes lead to property use and access disputes. It is also important to consider how they work during a transaction, when a property is being purchased or sold.
Every situation is unique, and easements can be used for many different purposes. But below are three questions to help shed some understanding on the topic at this crucial time.
Does an easement pass from one owner to the next?
Yes, in some cases. An easement appurtenant, for example, is the type that “runs with the land.” Even if that land is sold to a new property owner, the easement is part of the property itself and still needs to be upheld after the transaction.
Can someone else permanently occupy the land?
No, an easement generally gives another party the ability to access the land, such as when two people have a shared driveway. But that third party is not allowed to permanently occupy the real estate, and they cannot make any significant alterations, such as building structures on the land.
Why are easements used?
Easements are often used to grant access. As noted above, a shared driveway may be used, especially if one plot of land is cut off from the main road. But easements are also used by utility companies and some government entities. Utility providers may have an easement allowing them to work on the land when running lines for electrical services, for example.Easements can be complex, and disputes sometimes arise when parties do not agree on how they should apply. Those involved in such disputes must know what legal options they have.
]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[What does a safe following distance really look like?]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492342026-04-27T20:16:53Z2026-04-27T20:16:53ZIf you have ever had someone tailgate you, you know how stressful it can be. You feel like you are always very close to being involved in a car accident, even when you are driving safely.
There are some cases in which drivers will tailgate intentionally. A driver may be angry with the vehicle ahead of them, so they tailgate to demonstrate their frustration or to try to get that driver to speed up. But there are also many cases in which drivers tailgate unintentionally, as they are simply not aware of what a safe following distance looks like, and they think they are driving safely.
3 seconds of space
In most cases, in good weather conditions, the ideal following distance is about three seconds. There is a delay in reaction time, and it takes drivers about 1.5 seconds to begin applying the brakes after they recognize that traffic is slowing. So if a driver always has three seconds of space, they are going to have enough time to react and stop their vehicle before causing a rear-end accident.People will sometimes talk about measuring the physical distance, such as leaving a certain number of car lengths between vehicles. This can be useful, but counting off the seconds is often better because it means the physical distance automatically adjusts at higher speeds. A larger gap between vehicles is necessary at 55 miles per hour than it is at 25 miles per hour, so the same number of car lengths may not be effective — but three seconds typically is.
Have you been involved in a rear-end accident?
Even if you always avoid tailgating and maintain a safe following distance, other drivers could cause serious accidents leading to whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and much more. You may be able to seek financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages.
]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[Equitable distribution: What is it and why does it matter?]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492322026-04-14T13:47:41Z2026-04-14T13:47:41ZWhat equitable distribution means in Connecticut
In Connecticut, courts split your property using equitable distribution. This refers to a fair, but not necessarily equal, division of your assets during a divorce. A fair distribution can help financially vulnerable spouses maintain their pre-divorce lifestyle.
Connecticut follows an all-property approach when dividing assets. This means the court may divide any assets that either spouse owns. This includes assets you owned before marriage or received as gifts.
How do judges decide what is fair?
To determine fairness when dividing assets, courts examine each case individually. Many factors can affect the judge’s final ruling, including:
The duration of your marriage and the reasons for its dissolution
The age, health, education and ability to work of each spouse
The income, occupation and earning ability of each spouse
The ability of each spouse to acquire new assets or income
The assets and debts of each spouse
The contributions each spouse made to acquiring or maintaining assets
How a judge splits property is different for every marriage. For example, you might receive a larger share if you sacrificed your career to support your spouse’s. On the other hand, you might receive a smaller share if you earned more than your spouse throughout your marriage.
Moving forward after a divorce
Understanding Connecticut’s divorce process and the role equitable distribution plays can help you secure a fair share of property. This makes it easier to maintain a good standard of living after separating from your spouse. By staying informed, you can plan for the future and start anew after a divorce.]]>On Behalf of St. Onge & Brouillard<![CDATA[Common property title issues that can delay your closing]]>https://www.stongeandbrouillard.net/?p=492302026-03-24T03:03:13Z2026-03-24T03:03:13ZCommon reasons for title delays
A title search reveals the history of your property. Sometimes, this search uncovers errors from years ago that you did not know existed. In our region, several common issues tend to appear during the closing process:
Unreleased mortgages from previous owners that the town never recorded as paid
Boundary line disputes with neighbors regarding fences or driveways
Missing signatures from heirs in past probate cases
Errors in public records or incorrect legal descriptions
If you find a defect, do not panic. Most title issues are solvable through careful documentation and legal navigation. You should first check your original title insurance policy.
This insurance may provide legal defense or financial coverage for certain covered defects that existed before you purchased the property. Every policy has specific exclusions, so reviewing the details is a necessary step.
The process of clearing a title
Clearing a title involves proving that you are the sole owner and that no one else has a claim to the land. This often requires working with surveyors to verify boundaries or tracking down old bank records. In some cases, an attorney may file an action to settle title under Connecticut General Statutes. This legal step allows a court to officially determine the validity of competing interests in the property.
Seeking legal guidance
Understanding real estate law ensures that your property rights remain secure. If you encounter a complex boundary dispute or an old lien, a legal professional can help you find a path forward. Resolving these matters correctly the first time prevents future headaches for both you and the next owner.]]>