How to Answer a Small Claims Lawsuit in Connecticut

What Answering Actually Means in Connecticut Small Claims

Getting served with a small claims lawsuit in Connecticut does not mean you need to show up at a courthouse and explain yourself to a judge. Not yet, at least. The first thing the court expects from you is a written answer on Form JD-CV-40A, filed with the clerk at the court address shown on your answer form before your Answer Date.

The clerk sets your Answer Date after receiving the writ and service documents, then sends you an answer form showing it. Under Practice Book § 24-12, the date is between 15 and 45 days after the writ is filed. Missing it can put you in default under § 24-25; depending on the claim, the court may enter judgment without a hearing or schedule a hearing to establish the amount.

Filing an answer is free. There is no court fee for disputing a claim. You only pay if you file a counterclaim ($95) or request a transfer to the regular civil docket ($125).

The Response Checkboxes on Form JD-CV-40A

The current answer form, JD-CV-40A1 (Rev. 1-26), gives you three response checkboxes and says to check all that apply:

Disagree with the claim. You dispute some or all of what the plaintiff says — the amount, the facts, or both. The form has space for a brief explanation of why you disagree. Keep it factual: "The work was incomplete and I paid for the portion completed" beats "This is unfair."

Admit that you owe part of the claim. State why you do not owe the full amount. The form says the court will schedule a hearing so the magistrate can determine what you owe.

Admit that you owe the claim but need more time to pay. You can propose payment amounts and timing. The current form says that if an individual does not propose a plan, the court will order $35 per week; if you request less and the plaintiff does not agree, a hearing will be scheduled. Business judgments and judgments against landlords for return of a security deposit are ordered paid in a lump sum.

There is no separate paid-in-full checkbox on the current form. If you already paid before the lawsuit, state that in the explanation for disagreeing with the claim and attach proof.

Most defendants who are contesting the case choose the first option — dispute. If you have a claim of your own against the plaintiff arising from the same situation, you can also file a counterclaim on the same form, though that carries a $95 filing fee.

How to File Your Answer

You can get your answer to the court in these ways:

E-file through Judicial Branch E-Services. Enroll on the Connecticut Judicial Branch portal, request electronic access to your case, and wait for the clerk to approve that request. E-filing gives you a confirmation. Your submission must go through before midnight on the Answer Date.

Mail it to the court. Use the address shown on your answer form. For centralized processing, the address is 80 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106. The form must arrive by the Answer Date — a postmark is not enough. If your deadline is close, mailing is risky.

Fax or hand-deliver it. Self-represented parties may fax or hand-deliver the form to the court. Use the fax number or address on your answer form. Do not fax an answer that includes a counterclaim.

Whichever method you choose, you must also send a copy of your completed answer to the plaintiff or their attorney. The court requires this.

What Happens After You File

If you dispute the claim or admit only part of it, the clerk schedules a hearing. Under Practice Book § 24-15, the hearing is set between 6 and 45 days after the Answer Date. Follow your hearing notice for participation instructions; a remote hearing may use Microsoft Teams.

If you request less than $35 per week and the plaintiff does not agree, the current answer form says a hearing will be scheduled. Read the court's answer form and hearing notices for the next step in your case.

The most important thing is getting your answer filed on time. Everything else — evidence, witnesses, your argument — comes later. The answer just keeps you in the game.

Our Connecticut Small Claims Response Guide walks through each option on Form JD-CV-40A with field-by-field instructions, plus worksheets for organizing your evidence before the hearing.

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