Disclaimer: The information on this web
page is provided as a service and a convenience by the Connecticut Judicial
Branch. It is not intended as legal advice to any person. If you have
questions about the use of these forms, your legal rights, or particular
issues in your case, it is strongly recommended that you talk to an
attorney.
Due to the changing nature of the law, the forms and
information found on this web site will change from time to time. It is up
to you to follow the current procedures and to file the correct, up-to-date
forms. Each court location has a Clerk's Office and many locations also have
a Court Service Center office that
can give you help and information about court procedures. Please note,
however, that Clerk's Office and Court Service Center personnel cannot
provide you with legal advice.
These instructions are to help you file a civil lawsuit. Legal words
and court documents can be confusing. The more you know about the
procedure to file a lawsuit, the more comfortable you will be when you
fill out the papers you need to start your civil lawsuit. These
instructions will give you some useful information and instruction on
filling out the paperwork you need to start your lawsuit.
Every case is different and these instructions are to be used as a guide only; if you
think you need more help you may want to get an attorney. You can also
go to a
Court Service Center office or
contact the
Connecticut Network for
Legal Aid
or find additional information at the
Law Libraries . Court Staff
can help you understand the legal process, and while they may give you
procedural information, they cannot give you legal advice.
To start a civil lawsuit you have to first fill out a:
And attach to the Summons:
-
Your legal Complaint (This must be written by you, the Plaintiff)
Once you have filled out this paperwork, you must deliver it to the Superior
Court Clerk's Office. The Clerk will sign the summons, and return the
signed original and complaint to you.
After the paperwork has been
signed by the Clerk, the original summons and complaint must be given to
a State Marshal who will serve the party or parties being sued (the
defendant(s). The Clerk's office or the Court Service Center can give
you a
list of State
Marshals
. The State Marshal will charge you a fee for delivering the
paperwork. If you do not think you can afford to pay the fee, you may
ask the court to pay the fee for you. The form you must use is the
Application for
Waiver of Fees form (JD-CV-120)
(PDF). You must file this form for the
court to review before you bring the paperwork to the State Marshal.
You may also use the Application for Waiver of Fees form (JD-CV-120) if
you do not think you can afford to pay the fee that is required to file
your lawsuit in court. You can use a single Application form to ask the
court to excuse you from paying the filing fee and the marshal's fee.
After the State Marshal has delivered the paperwork to the defendant(s),
the original paperwork must be returned to the Clerk's Office along with
the required filing fee or with an Application for Waiver of Fees that
has been
granted by the court.