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SMALL
CLAIMS COURT
The material provided on the
211 eLibrary is for informational purposes
only. It is not intended to be and should not
be construed as legal advice.
The following includes excerpts
from State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Small
Claims FAQ: http://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 $5000
- You do not need an attorney
- Magistrates (specially
appointed lawyers) hear the cases
WHAT ISSUES BELONG IN SMALL
CLAIMS COURT?
- unpaid debts or back rent
- broken or damaged property
- doctor/hospital bills for
treatment of personal injuries;
- issues valued up to a maximum
of $5000.
- breach of written or verbal
contract
WHAT ISSUES DO NOT BELONG IN
SMALL CLAIMS COURT?
- damage to your reputation
- name calling
- anything you value at more than
$5000
- libel or slander
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
- If the claim is based on a
verbal agreement, you have 3 years to file.
- If the claim is based on a
written contract, you have 6 years to file.
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 Connecticut Judicial Branch,
where to file a claim.
IF YOU ARE THE 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/kq
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: January2011
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