Kathryn Bissonnette

I joined the firm in 2017 and have been practicing since 2012, always with a focus in family law. My caseload involves the representation of individuals who are facing the end of their marriage and are dealing with such divorce-related issues as the division of assets and debts, alimony, child support, child custody and visitation. I also have experience mediating and litigating custody disputes for non-married parties, and have handled cases that involve the rights of grandparents and other third parties in custody cases.

I have an extensive background representing the best interest of children in Connecticut's family courts and have sought to extend that background into private practice. Through this work I have helped parents navigate the court system while always looking out for the children caught in the middle of the conflict. Because of this, I understand the dynamics and intricacies of the family court process. My goal is to provide realistic expectations to parents, while minimizing the impact the court process has on their children. I am always hoping to reduce conflict instead of inflate it.

Another area of my practice consists of handling child protection matters, where the Department of Children and Families has become involved. I have appeared in various juvenile courts throughout the state for the purpose of protecting a parent’s right to raise their children. I have worked with many cases where substance abuse or mental health issues have been the deciding factor in a custody determination. I have helped the parents in these situations to regain control and get themselves back into the lives of their children.

While I handle traditional litigation cases, I am also specially trained in both mediation and collaborative divorce and have served as special master in the Tolland Superior Court. I am a Board Member for the Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce and a member of the Collaborative Divorce Lawyers Association of Greater Hartford. In 2018, I was selected as a SuperLawyers’ Rising Star.