Connecticut Small Claims Court: $5,000 Limit, Fees and How to File

In Connecticut, you can sue for up to $5,000 in small claims court, or up to $15,000 for certain home improvement and new home construction disputes. Both limits are set by Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 51-15(d), which limits small claims to "actions claiming money damages not in excess of five thousand dollars, except such procedure shall not be applicable to actions of libel and slander."

Small claims cases are part of the Superior Court. Most are heard remotely and decided by a magistrate, and there is no appeal. This guide follows a Connecticut case in the order you will live it, from serving the papers to collecting a judgment. For other states, see our guide to small claims court by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-07. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers small claims in the Connecticut Superior Court under C.G.S. § 51-15(d) and the Judicial Branch's small claims procedures (booklet JDP-CV-45, revised March 2026). It does not cover evictions (summary process), regular civil cases on the Superior Court's regular docket, or small claims in other states.

Connecticut small claims limit: $5,000 (and $15,000 for home improvement)

The general limit is $5,000 in money damages (C.G.S. § 51-15(d)(1)). The limit has been $5,000 since Public Act 05-42, which raised it from $3,500 effective October 1, 2005. A small claims case can only ask for money; it cannot be used for libel or slander.

Two kinds of claims work differently:

For the security deposit claim, the statute allows the award "notwithstanding that the amount of such damages and costs, in the aggregate, exceeds the jurisdictional monetary limit." Deposit rules themselves are covered in our guide to Connecticut landlord-tenant laws.

If your claim is worth more than the limit

The Judicial Branch says claims over the limit do not belong in small claims. The $5,000 limit applies to both the amount claimed and the amount the court may award (140 Conn. App. 514, noted in the official annotation to § 51-15), and it includes any attorney's fees and other collection costs you claim, though not interest and costs (Practice Book § 24-2). A larger claim can be filed on the regular civil docket instead (Practice Book § 24-3). The court materials we reviewed do not say whether you may cut a larger claim down to $5,000 to fit, or what happens to the rest. Because that could cost you the difference, ask the clerk or a lawyer before you reduce a claim to fit.

Is the limit changing?

We found no 2025 or 2026 change to § 51-15. The official statute page's history for the section ends with 2021 public acts, and the court's booklet revised in March 2026 still lists $5,000 and $15,000. We did not review bills pending in the General Assembly.

What you can sue for and who can be sued

Small claims is for money only. The Judicial Branch lists libel, slander, damage to reputation and name calling as claims you cannot bring in small claims.

• Out-of-state plaintiffs. An individual or business from another state can file a small claims case in Connecticut.
• Out-of-state individuals as defendants. The court's booklet says you can sue a person who lives out of state "only if that person owns property in the state of Connecticut."
• Out-of-state businesses as defendants. A business organization from another state can be sued, but it must be served by a proper officer, such as a state marshal.

Every claim must also be filed within the legal deadline for that type of claim. See our guide to the Connecticut statute of limitations.

Filing fees

These figures come from the Judicial Branch's court fee list, revised effective September 21, 2023. Service costs are separate and you pay them up front. If a state marshal serves the papers, C.G.S. § 52-261 caps the service fee at $50 for each process served, plus mileage at the rate the state sets for its employees and certain other charges. If you win, the entry fee and service costs can be added to the judgment.

If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it. Under C.G.S. § 52-259b, in any civil matter the court must waive court fees for a party it finds indigent and unable to pay, and the state then pays the cost of service of process. A person who receives public assistance, or whose income after taxes, mandatory wage deductions and child care expenses is 125% or less of the federal poverty level, is presumed indigent. Ask the clerk for the fee waiver application.

Do you need a lawyer?

No. The court's booklet says: "Although attorneys may represent you in small claims court, the process is designed for non-attorneys." Individuals may represent themselves. Under Practice Book § 24-6, a business can be represented by one of its partners, by an officer, manager or local manager of a corporation, or by an employee of an unincorporated business that is not a partnership. A consumer collection agency or someone acting under a power of attorney cannot act as a representative, and only a lawyer may be paid to represent a party.

If you need an interpreter, request one through the clerk as soon as possible.

Settling before the hearing

The court materials we reviewed do not require a demand letter before you file. The court may offer a remote settlement conference with a mediation specialist, and the Judicial Branch runs an online dispute resolution program for small claims.

Where to file

The Judicial Branch's small claims FAQ sets out where a case belongs:

• If you are an individual, file in the court for the town where you live, where the defendant lives or has its business, or where the transaction or injury happened.
• If you are a business, file where the defendant lives or does business, or where the transaction or injury happened.
• Landlord-tenant small claims go to the housing session for the area where the property is, or to the judicial district if there is no housing session there.

Serving the defendant (before you file)

Connecticut does it in a different order from many states: you serve the defendant first, then file. The papers served are the Small Claims Writ and Notice of Suit (form JD-CV-40, which must be notarized), the Instructions to Defendant (JD-CV-121) and any attachments.

You can serve a Connecticut defendant by:

• priority mail with delivery confirmation,
• certified mail, return receipt requested,
• a nationally recognized courier with delivery confirmation, or
• a proper officer, such as a state marshal.

An out-of-state business must be served by a proper officer. After service, file the writ with a Statement of Service (JD-CV-123). The booklet's deadline: "The Writ and Notice of Suit and Statement of Service must be filed with the court no later than one month after the date of service."

If you are the defendant

You must file an Answer (form JD-CV-040A1) "on or before the Answer Date." The answer date is a filing deadline, not a court date, so do not come to court that day.

If you do not answer, you may lose by default. Before a default judgment, the plaintiff must file an affidavit about whether you are in the military. That requirement also comes from federal law: under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3931, a court must require the plaintiff's affidavit on military status before entering judgment against a defendant who has not appeared.

Counterclaims, juries and transfer to the regular docket

A counterclaim costs $95 and must be filed on or before the answer date (or after a motion to open is granted). Do not fax an answer that contains a counterclaim.

There is no jury in small claims. On or before the answer date, a defendant (or a plaintiff facing a counterclaim) can file a motion to transfer the case to the regular docket ($125, plus a $440 jury fee if a jury is claimed) when:

• the counterclaim is more than the small claims limit,
• the moving party files an affidavit that specifically describes a good defense, or
• the case is properly claimed for a jury.

If one of these conditions is met, the court must grant the transfer without a hearing (Practice Book § 24-21).

Transfer matters because the regular docket keeps the right to appeal that small claims does not have. It also carries a cost risk for a defendant: if a defendant moves the case to the regular docket and the plaintiff then wins, the court may order the defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs and reasonable attorney's fees (C.G.S. § 52-251a).

The hearing

Small claims hearings are held remotely, by internet or phone, unless the court instructs otherwise. The booklet says: "Small claims cases are generally heard and decided by Magistrates, who are lawyers appointed by the Chief Court Administrator." A judge or judge trial referee sometimes hears them, and a commissioner can hear a case if the parties agree.

What to expect:

• Evidence goes in before the hearing. Follow the court's instructions for submitting documents and photos in advance.
• Witnesses. To compel a witness, have a state marshal serve a subpoena at least 18 hours before the hearing.
• Simple rules. The rules of evidence are simplified for small claims.
• No record. Hearings are not recorded and there is no transcript.
• Decision by mail. "The magistrate has 45 days to make a decision," and the written decision is mailed to the parties.

Appeals: there are none

"You may not appeal any judgment in small claims court," the Judicial Branch booklet says, and its FAQ repeats that there is no right to appeal. The only way to keep appeal rights is to move the case to the regular docket on or before the answer date, as described above.

Undoing a default judgment

If you lost because you did not answer or appear, you can file a Motion to Open (form JD-CV-51) with a $75 fee. The court's booklet says "You generally have 4 months from the date of judgment to file a motion to open," which reflects Practice Book § 24-31. That 4-month limit is not the whole rule: the court may also open a judgment for lack of actual notice to a party, and may open a default judgment within 4 months after an execution was levied. If a motion to open for lack of actual notice is granted, a motion to transfer to the regular docket must be filed within 15 days after notice of that ruling was sent (Practice Book § 24-21).

Collecting a Connecticut small claims judgment

Winning does not mean you will be paid, and the court does not collect the money for you. These are the tools the Judicial Branch describes:

• Payment orders. The court may order the loser to pay in installments, though not when the loser is a business or a landlord, who owe the full amount. The court can also stay execution for a time.
• Wage execution ($105). Requires a periodic payment order and a default on it. It is served by a state marshal.
• Property execution ($105). Reaches personal property, not real estate, and is served by a state marshal.
• Financial institution execution ($105). Reaches bank accounts and is served by a state marshal.
• Judgment lien on real estate. Recorded with the town clerk under C.G.S. § 52-380a. A small claims judgment lien expires 10 years after the judgment unless a foreclosure has begun.
• Finding assets. You can petition for an examination of the judgment debtor (JD-CV-054) with a subpoena, or send post-judgment interrogatories.

Post-judgment interest is added only if the court orders it, and the marshal computes it when the execution is served. "A judgment in small claims is valid for 10 years." Once you are paid in full, file a Notice of Satisfaction (JD-CV-164) within 90 days.

Some income and property is protected from collection. Federal law shields Social Security benefits (42 U.S.C. § 407(a)) and VA benefits (38 U.S.C. § 5301(a)(1)) from garnishment and levy, and Connecticut adds its own exemptions. See our guide to Connecticut debt collection laws for those protections.

When small claims is the wrong court

A claim against the federal government or a federal employee acting on the job for a negligent act is not a small claims case. Federal district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over those claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b)(1), and the claim must first be presented to the agency (28 U.S.C. § 2675(a)).

Official forms and self-help

• How Small Claims Court Works (JDP-CV-45), the Judicial Branch booklet, revised March 2026.
• Small Claims FAQ from the Connecticut Judicial Branch.
• Court fees, revised effective September 21, 2023.
• Law library small claims guide from the Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries.

Related

• Small claims court by state
• Connecticut statute of limitations
• Connecticut landlord-tenant laws
• Connecticut debt collection laws
• Massachusetts small claims court
• New York small claims court

Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about Connecticut small claims under C.G.S. § 51-15 and the other Connecticut and federal laws cited above, verified on 2026-10-07. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For help with your situation, contact the Superior Court clerk's office, a legal aid office, or a lawyer licensed in Connecticut.

Last updated: 2026-10-07.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the small claims limit in Connecticut?

$5,000 for most money claims under C.G.S. § 51-15(d)(1). Home improvement and new home construction claims against certificate-holding contractors can go up to $15,000 under § 51-15(d)(2).

Can I sue for more than $5,000 in small claims in Connecticut?

Only in the cases the statute lists: home improvement or new home construction claims up to $15,000, and tenant security deposit claims, where the double damages under C.G.S. § 47a-21(d) and costs can exceed $5,000. Other claims over $5,000 belong in a regular civil case.

Is the Connecticut small claims limit still $3,500?

No. Public Act 05-42 raised it from $3,500 to $5,000 effective October 1, 2005, and the court's March 2026 booklet still lists $5,000.

How much does it cost to file small claims in Connecticut?

The entry fee is $95. Service costs are extra, and if you win, the entry fee and service costs can be added to the judgment.

Can a lawyer represent me in small claims court in Connecticut?

Yes. The Judicial Branch says attorneys may represent parties, but the process is designed for people without lawyers, and individuals may represent themselves.

Can you appeal a small claims decision in Connecticut?

No. The Judicial Branch booklet says you may not appeal any judgment in small claims court. A defendant (or a plaintiff facing a counterclaim) can keep appeal rights only by moving to transfer the case to the regular docket on or before the answer date. If the defendant transfers and the plaintiff then wins, the court may order the defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs and reasonable attorney's fees (C.G.S. § 52-251a).

What happens if I miss my Connecticut small claims answer date?

You may lose by default once the plaintiff files a military-status affidavit. You can ask to undo a default with a Motion to Open, generally within 4 months of the judgment, for a $75 fee. Under Practice Book § 24-31 the court may also open a judgment for lack of actual notice, or open a default judgment within 4 months after an execution was levied.

Do I have to go to the courthouse for small claims in Connecticut?

Usually not. Small claims hearings are held remotely, by internet or phone, unless the court instructs otherwise.

How long is a Connecticut small claims judgment good for?

The Judicial Branch booklet says a small claims judgment is valid for 10 years, and a small claims judgment lien on real property expires 10 years after judgment unless a foreclosure has begun.