A landlord kept your deposit, a contractor walked off the job, a dry cleaner ruined your coat. In Connecticut you can sue for up to $5,000 in the Small Claims Session of the Superior Court, without hiring a lawyer. Check your case below, then follow six steps.
Answer a few questions. The result updates as you type.
Connecticut doesn't require a demand letter before filing, but asking for payment in writing first is a good idea. A short, dated demand letter is the best proof. Use the generator below and keep a copy.
Where you live, where the defendant lives or does business, or where the deal or injury happened. Landlord-tenant cases go to the housing session where the property is. Businesses can't file where they themselves are located unless it fits one of the other places.
Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit. After the answer date, a magistrate reviews the file and either decides it or sets a hearing. This can take a few months.
$95 to file, the same for any amount. A counterclaim also costs $95. Service by a state marshal costs extra; service by mail costs only postage. If you can't afford it, ask for a fee waiver: Application for Waiver of Fees (form JD-FM-75).
You serve the papers yourself by certified mail (return receipt), priority mail or a national courier with delivery confirmation, or by a state marshal. Out-of-state businesses must be served by a marshal. Then file a Statement of Service (JD-CV-123). Return the writ to court within one month after service. The clerk sets the answer date and mails the answer form to the defendant.
Bring receipts, photos, texts, the contract and your demand letter, with three copies of each. The court doesn't collect for you. Ask for an execution ($105) so a state marshal can take wages, bank accounts or other property, or record a judgment lien on real estate. Executions can be used for 10 years.
Want every detail? The full filing guide walks you through all 7 stages, from finding the defendant's legal name to collecting your money, with a checklist.
Open the filing guideFill in the details, then download the letter as a PDF or Word file, or copy the text. Send it by certified mail or email so you can prove the date.
Miss this date and the court will dismiss your case, however strong it is. Some deadlines start later if the harm was discovered later.
| Type of claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Broken written contract (lease, invoice, signed agreement) | 6 years |
| Broken verbal agreement | 3 years |
| Damaged property | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
| Fraud | 3 years |
| Libel or slander | 2 years |
| Claims against a government agency | To sue the State of Connecticut for money, you usually must first file a claim with the Office of the Claims Commissioner within 1 year. |
Optional. You can file and appear without a lawyer, and most people do. Magistrates, who are lawyers appointed by the court, hear most cases.
You can sue for up to $5,000 plus interest and costs. Claims about a home improvement contract can go up to $15,000. A tenant suing for a security deposit can get double the deposit even if that's over $5,000. Otherwise, you can give up the amount above the limit, or file a regular civil case where the rules are stricter.
Neither side can appeal a small claims decision. If a defendant wants a jury or a regular trial, they must ask to move the case to the regular docket before the answer date ($125 fee).
The Judicial Branch provides interpreters for court proceedings. Ask the clerk ahead of time.