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Get My Connecticut Forms — $19Filing a small claims case in Connecticut means using Connecticut's own forms and following its court's procedure. This guide covers the core documents a typical case uses, the claim limit, and where to get the official Connecticut forms — without paying for something your court provides free.
The short version: file your claim in Superior Court, Small Claims Session, serve the defendant, and prepare your evidence for the hearing. You can claim up to $5,000. Get the official forms free from Connecticut Judicial Branch - Small Claims Forms.
What Forms Do You Need in Connecticut?
Form names and numbers differ by state, but a Connecticut small claims case generally uses the same core documents:
📄 Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit, JD-CV-40
The document that opens your case — it names the parties, the amount you're claiming, and the basis of the claim. Get the current version from Connecticut Judicial Branch - Small Claims Forms.
📬 Serving the defendant
Plaintiff pays the cost of service (state marshal or proper officer); may e-file via the Judicial Branch.
💵 Fee waiver
Application for Waiver of Fees/Payment of Costs (civil/housing/small claims), JD-CV-120 Ask the clerk for the current fee-waiver form.
⚖️ Default judgment
If the defendant is properly served but doesn't respond or appear, you can ask the court to enter a judgment in your favor by default.
Where to Get Official Connecticut Forms
Connecticut small claims forms are free from the official sources below. Always use the current official version, and confirm any local (county/court) variations before you file.
- Connecticut court forms — Connecticut Judicial Branch - Small Claims Forms
- Official source — jud.ct.gov
- Official source — jud.ct.gov
- Your local courthouse or clerk — the clerk can provide the current forms and tell you which ones your court requires.
Connecticut Small Claims Limit & Fees
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court, Small Claims Session |
| Claim limit | $5,000 |
| Filing fee | An entry fee is required at filing (may be added to judgment); exact standard small-claims entry-fee amount not confirmed from official excerpt. |
| Fee waiver | Application for Waiver of Fees/Payment of Costs (civil/housing/small claims), JD-CV-120 |
$5,000 general; up to $15,000 for home improvement contracts; no cap for return of a residential security deposit. Limits and fees change over time and can vary by county — confirm the current figures with your Connecticut court before you file.
Before you file, run the numbers. Now that you know the Connecticut limit, three free tools answer the questions that come next: is the claim still in time (statute of limitations checker), is suing worth it once you count the fee and your time (worth-it calculator), and what will the whole thing cost (cost-to-sue estimator)? Many disputes settle before any of this, once the other side gets a written demand letter.
"Claim for Trial List" in Connecticut: Not a Small Claims Form
People filing in Connecticut often search for a Claim for Trial List and expect it to be part of a small claims case. It is not, and looking for it in the small claims form set will only cost you time.
The Judicial Branch's small claims form list does not contain a form by that name. Claiming a case for the trial list belongs to the regular civil docket, where the current form is JD-CV-011, Certificate of Closed Pleadings — filed once the pleadings are closed to place a civil case in line for trial. A small claims case does not use it, because the small claims session sets your hearing date when you file.
The one situation where it becomes relevant: if your small claims case is moved out of the small claims session. A defendant can ask to transfer a small claims case to the regular docket using JD-CV-158, Small Claims — Motion to Transfer to the Regular Docket, supported by JD-CV-170. If that motion is granted, your case stops being a small claims case and follows ordinary civil procedure — which is where closing the pleadings and claiming the case for trial comes in.
So if you are filing a straightforward small claims case, the form you need is the JD-CV-40 Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit described above — nothing more. Check the current versions on the Judicial Branch's official small claims form list, which is the authoritative index of what a Connecticut small claims case actually uses.
Connecticut Small Claims Forms: FAQ
❓ What forms do I need to file a small claims case in Connecticut?
A Connecticut small claims case is filed in Superior Court, Small Claims Session. You generally need a claim/complaint form to open the case, a way to serve the defendant with proof of service, and — if you can't afford the fee — a fee-waiver form. Form names and numbers are set by the court, so download the current official versions from Connecticut Judicial Branch - Small Claims Forms before you file.
❓ How much can you sue for in Connecticut small claims court?
In Connecticut you can claim up to $5,000. If your claim is larger, you can usually reduce it to the limit to stay in small claims or file in a higher court instead.
❓ Where do I get official Connecticut small claims forms?
From your state court — Connecticut's judiciary publishes the official forms, and the Superior Court, Small Claims Session clerk can provide the current versions and tell you which ones your court requires. Court-issued forms are free; you only pay the filing fee.
❓ Do you need a lawyer for small claims court in Connecticut?
No. Small claims court is designed for people to represent themselves without an attorney, and Connecticut is no exception. The forms and procedure are simplified so you can file, serve, and present your own case.
Generate Your Connecticut Small Claims Forms
Answer a few plain-English questions and SmallClaimsHelper drafts your completed Connecticut claim and a judge script — ready to review and file for $19.
Start My Claim — $19Treat this as general guidance rather than legal advice. In Connecticut, small claims forms, fees, and dollar limits shift over time and differ by county, so use the latest official forms and check with your local court before filing.