How to file an Answer in a Connecticut eviction case

The deadline

An Answer in an eviction case is due within 2 days after the Return Date. Weekends and court holidays are not counted. If that date has already passed, file as soon as you can. If the landlord has filed a motion for judgment for failure to plead, the court can enter judgment against you 3 days after the clerk receives that motion, so time matters.

Before you file, check these 4 things

• You have filed an Appearance form with the court. If you have not, file it together with this Answer. Without an Appearance on file, the court does not know you are in the case.
• Your Answer is signed and dated.
• The docket number and court address on your Answer match your summons.
• You have made at least 2 copies: one to keep and one for the landlord.

Filing at the clerk's office

Take or mail the original signed Answer to the clerk's office at the court listed on your summons. There is no fee to file an Answer. If you mail it, it must arrive by the deadline, so hand delivery is safer when the deadline is close. Ask the clerk to stamp your copy with the date received.

Filing online instead

You can file your Answer online through the Judicial Branch's E-Services system at eservices.jud.ct.gov instead of going to the clerk's office. Enroll to create a User ID and password, activate your account through the link the system emails you, and then request electronic access to your case, which the clerk approves because the case was started by the landlord, not you. Choose your User ID carefully; it cannot be changed and it appears on every document you file. Once you have access, you upload your Answer as a PDF. If the deadline is today or tomorrow and you are not yet enrolled, paper filing at the clerk's office is the safer route.

Deliver a copy to the landlord

Mail or hand deliver a copy of your Answer to the landlord, or to the landlord's attorney if one has filed an appearance. The certification section at the end of your Answer states when and how you delivered the copy. Fill in the date and check the delivery method before you file.

What happens next

If you filed special defenses, the landlord must file a written reply to them. Then the clerk will schedule a trial date and mail you notice. On the trial date, you and the landlord will usually meet first with a housing mediator to see whether the case can be settled. If it does not settle, the judge hears the case. Keep your address current with the clerk so you do not miss the notice.

Where to get help

Connecticut's Court Service Centers offer free help for self-represented parties. The clerk's office can answer questions about procedure but cannot give legal advice. Legal aid organizations serve people who qualify, and tenants facing eviction may qualify for the state's Right to Counsel program. If you want legal advice, talk to a licensed Connecticut attorney.