Want it filled in for you? Answer a few plain-English questions and get a completed draft of the JD-CV-40 Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit — every field filled in from your answers, ready to copy onto the official form — plus a script for the hearing and an evidence checklist. Checking is free; $19 for the completed documents.
Check if your Connecticut claim qualifiesThe Connecticut Small Claims Form
📄 JD-CV-40 Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit
The form that opens your case. Download it free from jud.ct.gov.
Connecticut Limit, Fee and Filing Rules
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court, Small Claims Session |
| Claim limit | $5,000 |
| Limit: Home improvement or new-home construction by a registered contractor (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d)(2)) | $15,000 |
| Claim form | JD-CV-40 Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit |
| Filing fee | $95 |
| Serving the defendant | Plaintiff mails writ (priority mail w/ certificate) or state marshal — service precedes docketing (confirm the current service rules with the clerk) |
| Law that sets the limit | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d) |
| Court data verified | October 6, 2026 |
Filing Deadlines in Connecticut
How long the law gives you to file. When the clock starts depends on the claim, so do not leave it late: a claim filed after the deadline can be dismissed however strong it is.
| Type of claim | Time to file | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Written contract | 6 years | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576(a) |
| Oral / verbal agreement | 3 years | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-581(a) |
| Damage to property | 2 years | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| Personal injury | 2 years | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| Unpaid debt or account | 6 years | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-576(a) |
Not sure which type yours is? The statute of limitations lookup covers more claim types.
Being Sued in Connecticut Instead?
Do you file an answer? You must file an answer, or a motion to transfer, by the answer date printed on the papers. If you miss it, you can be defaulted. (Conn. Practice Book § 24-16(a))
If they owe you money: File a written setoff or counterclaim within the small-claims limit on or before the answer date. (Conn. Practice Book § 24-19)
The been-sued deadline lookup covers what happens if you do nothing.
Where to Get the Official Connecticut Forms
Court forms are free from the official sources below. Use the current version from your court.
- Official claim form — jud.ct.gov
- Official source — jud.ct.gov
- Official source — jud.ct.gov
- The law itself — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d)
- The clerk of the Superior Court, Small Claims Session — can give you the current form and tell you whether your court adds any local paperwork.
“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.
Source: jud.ct.gov, checked October 7, 2026. Confirm with the court before you rely on it.
How does Connecticut compare? See the small claims limits and filing fees for every state.
Connecticut Small Claims Forms: FAQ
❓ What form do I file to start a small claims case in Connecticut?
The form that opens the case is the JD-CV-40 Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit. The official source is jud.ct.gov. Court-issued forms are free; you pay only the filing fee.
❓ How much can you sue for in Connecticut small claims court?
In Connecticut you can claim up to $5,000 in the Superior Court, Small Claims Session. Different limits apply in some cases: Home improvement or new-home construction by a registered contractor (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d)(2)), $15,000. If your claim is larger, you can usually reduce it to the limit or file in a higher court instead.
❓ How much does it cost to file small claims in Connecticut?
The filing fee is $95. Serving the defendant usually costs extra.
❓ Can you fill in the Connecticut small claims form for me?
Yes. Answer a few plain-English questions and we produce a completed draft of the JD-CV-40 Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit, with every field filled in from your answers, ready to copy onto the official form and file. It comes with a script for the hearing and an evidence checklist.
Want it filled in for you?
A few plain-English questions about your Connecticut case, then review and file. Checking is free; $19 for the completed documents.
Check if your Connecticut claim qualifiesGeneral information, not legal advice. SmallClaimsHelper prepares documents; it is not a law firm.