Small claims court in Connecticut (2026)
In Connecticut you can sue for up to $5,000 in small claims. Court: Small claims session of the Superior Court. Lawyers: allowed. Appeal: no appeal. For a broken written agreement you generally have 6 years to sue. Last checked .
Connecticut small claims at a glance
- Most you can sue for
- $5,000
- Court
- Small claims session of the Superior Court
- Filing fee
- $95
- Lawyers
- Allowed
- Appeal
- No appeal
Can you sue in Connecticut small claims?
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Connecticut small claims limit
$5,000
Enter the amount to compare it with the limit.
The rule: Money damages up to $5,000. Up to $15,000 for claims about home improvement by a registered contractor or new home construction. A tenant suing to recover a security deposit may be awarded double damages and costs even if that exceeds $5,000. Not available for libel or slander.
Deadline to sue (general rule)
6 years for this kind of claim in Connecticut. Enter the date it happened to see the last day.
Written, simple or implied contracts and accounts: 6 years. Oral contracts: 3 years. Injury to a person or to property caused by negligence: 2 years from when the injury is sustained or discovered, but no more than 3 years from the act. Other torts: 3 years from the act (C.G.S. 52-577). Sale of goods falls under UCC article 2 (title 42a).
Lawyers: Lawyers may represent either side.
Appeal: Small claims judgments cannot be appealed. To keep a right of appeal, a party must transfer the case to the regular docket.
Filing fee: $95 entry (filing) fee statewide; a counterclaim is also $95. A motion to transfer to the regular docket costs $125. If you win, the fee and service costs are added to the judgment.
The deadline shown is the general statute of limitations counted from the date you entered. The real deadline can be later (for example when the problem was discovered later or the other side left the state) or earlier (a contract can shorten it, and claims against a government agency often need a written notice first, on a much shorter clock). If you are close to it, file now or ask a legal aid office. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Where to file and how much
- Court. Small claims are handled by the Superior Court, usually decided by magistrates. Individuals may file where they live, where the defendant lives or does business, or where the transaction or injury happened; businesses may file where the defendant lives or does business or where the transaction or injury happened. Landlord-tenant matters go to the housing session.
- Limit. Money damages up to $5,000. Up to $15,000 for claims about home improvement by a registered contractor or new home construction. A tenant suing to recover a security deposit may be awarded double damages and costs even if that exceeds $5,000. Not available for libel or slander.
- Filing fee. $95 entry (filing) fee statewide; a counterclaim is also $95. A motion to transfer to the regular docket costs $125. If you win, the fee and service costs are added to the judgment.
Who can sue and who can speak in court
- No attorney is needed, but attorneys may represent parties. A business may appear through a partner, or an officer, manager or local manager of a corporation, or an employee of an unincorporated business. A consumer collection agency or someone acting under a power of attorney cannot act as representative. Assignees may sue but must document the chain of ownership of the debt.
- Before you file. The official sources reviewed do not require a demand for payment before filing.
- Jury and moving the case. No jury trials in small claims. On or before the answer date a defendant may move to transfer the case to the regular docket ($125) if a counterclaim exceeds the limit, a clearly described defense exists, or the case has been claimed for a jury trial.
How long you have to sue in Connecticut
The general statute of limitations, counted from the day the agreement was broken or the damage happened. Written, simple or implied contracts and accounts: 6 years. Oral contracts: 3 years. Injury to a person or to property caused by negligence: 2 years from when the injury is sustained or discovered, but no more than 3 years from the act. Other torts: 3 years from the act (C.G.S. 52-577). Sale of goods falls under UCC article 2 (title 42a).
| Kind of claim | Time to sue |
|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years |
| Oral (spoken) agreement | 3 years |
| Damage to property | 2 years |
| Personal injury | 2 years |
Law: C.G.S. 52-576, 52-581, 52-584, 52-577
After the hearing: appeals and collecting
- Who can appeal
- Neither side can appeal a small claims judgment.
- Deadline
- Small claims judgments cannot be appealed. To keep a right of appeal, a party must transfer the case to the regular docket.
- Collecting the money
- The court does not collect. The winner applies to the clerk for an execution served by a state marshal: wage execution (JD-CV-3), property execution (JD-CV-5) or bank execution (JD-CV-24), $105 each; a judgment lien can be recorded on real estate. A judgment can be enforced for up to 10 years from the date of judgment.
Good to know in Connecticut
- The plaintiff must serve the writ (JD-CV-40) on each defendant by priority or certified mail, courier, or state marshal; out-of-state businesses must be served by a proper officer.
- An out-of-state individual defendant can be sued only if they own property in Connecticut.
- After full payment, a Satisfaction of Judgment (JD-CV-164) must be filed within 90 days.
Official help and forms
- Connecticut courts: small claims self-help
- Connecticut small claims forms
- Write a demand letter before you file (free, stays in your browser)
Sources
- Small Claims FAQ (State of Connecticut Judicial Branch) (read October 18, 2026)
- JDP-CV-45 How Small Claims Court Works (Rev. 3/26) (read October 18, 2026)
- Connecticut Practice Book, chapter 24 (Small Claims) (read October 18, 2026)
- C.G.S. chapter 870, sec. 51-15 (Connecticut General Assembly) (read October 18, 2026)
- C.G.S. chapter 926, limitation of actions (Connecticut General Assembly) (read October 18, 2026)
Court information, not legal advice. Limits and fees change — confirm with the court before you file. How we check: methodology.
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