Small Claims Court
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The following includes excerpts from State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Small Claims FAQ: https://www.jud.ct.gov/faq/smallclaims.html
What are Small Claims Courts?
- Small claims courts in Connecticut are a part of the Superior Court system
- Small claims must be for amounts up to a maximum $5,000
- You do not need an attorney
- Magistrates (specially appointed lawyers) hear the cases
What Issues Belong in Small Claims Court?
- unpaid claims or back rent
- broken or damaged property
- doctor/hospital bills for medical treatment;
- issues valued up to a maximum up to $5,000 or in the case of a home improvement contract, money damages are limited up to $15,000.
- breach of written or verbal contract
What Issues Do Not Belong in Small Claims Court?
- damage to your reputation
- name calling
- claims valued at more than $5000
- libel or slander
Filing a Claim
- If the defendant is a business, you must find out if it’s a corporation or a partnership and who the agent is who gets served.
- Call the Connecticut Secretary of State to find out if it is a corporation and to get the address.
- If it is not a corporation, contact the town clerk’s office where the company is located to get the name of the business owner.
- Your claim must be filed where you live, where the defendant lives or does business, or where the transaction or injury occurred.
- If your claim involves a landlord-tenant dispute, you must file at the court location where the property is situated or at the Centralized Small Claims Office. To find out which small claims facility serves your town, see the Connecticut Judicial Branch website, Where to file a Small Claims Matter.
If You are a Defendant:
- If you deny the claim, you must file an answer by the answer date explaining why you don’t owe money to the plaintiffs. Supply copies of any documents to the court and to each plaintiff.
- If you contend that the plaintiff owes you money, you can file a counterclaim in your answer, along with reasons. Specify the amount and label it “counterclaim.”
To Find Providers in Connecticut’s Community Resources Database:
Search by service name: Small Claims Courts
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SOURCE: State of Connecticut Judicial Branch
PREPARED BY: 211/ch
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: February2024
