How to file small claims in Connecticut

Sue for up to $5,000 in the Small Claims (Superior Court); filing fee around $95.

Connecticut small claims run up to $5,000 (no cap for security deposits) in Superior Court, and the decision cannot be appealed.

• Dollar limit: $5,000 — $5,000 generally; no limit for security-deposit claims.
• Filing fee: $95 — About $95 plus a small service/marshal cost.
• Where to file: Small Claims (Superior Court)
• Lawyers at the hearing: allowed

1. Confirm your claim is at or under the dollar limit and within the statute of limitations for your claim type.
2. Send a written demand letter first — most courts expect it, and it often gets you paid without filing.
3. Get the correct filing form (often a "Statement of Claim" or "Plaintiff's Claim") from the Small Claims session clerk or the court's website.
4. File the form with the Small Claims session for the county where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened, and pay the filing fee.
5. Arrange service of process so the defendant is officially notified (by the sheriff, certified mail, or a process server, per local rules).
6. Gather your evidence — contract, texts, photos, receipts, the demand letter — and bring organized copies to your hearing.
7. Show up on your court date and present your case; if you win, ask the judge how to collect the judgment.
8. Connecticut small-claims judgments cannot be appealed; security-deposit claims have no dollar cap.

What are you suing for?

• Suing for unpaid loan in Connecticut: 6 years to file
• Suing for security deposit in Connecticut: 6 years to file
• Suing for property damage in Connecticut: 2 years to file
• Suing for unpaid rent in Connecticut: 6 years to file
• Suing for contractor dispute in Connecticut: 3 years to file

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15. Reviewed 2026-06-17 (verify with the court clerk).

Nearby states: New York ($10,000) · Rhode Island ($5,000) · Massachusetts ($7,000).

General legal information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by county and court; consult a licensed attorney or your court clerk.

Updated July 2026