How to file an Appearance in a Connecticut eviction case

The deadline

An Appearance in an eviction case is due within 2 days after the Return Date. Weekends and court holidays are not counted. The Return Date is printed on your summons; it is not a hearing date, it is the date deadlines are counted from. If the deadline has passed, file as soon as you can. If the landlord has already asked the court for a default judgment, filing your Appearance quickly still matters; ask the clerk about the status of your case when you file.

Before you file, check these 3 things

• Your name is written exactly as it appears on the summons. If the summons misspells your name, use the spelling on the summons followed by your correct name.
• The docket number and court address match your summons.
• Your mailing address is one where you will actually receive mail for the next several months.

Filing at the clerk's office

Take or mail the signed Appearance to the clerk's office at the court listed on your summons. There is no fee to file an Appearance. 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 through the Judicial Branch's E-Services system at eservices.jud.ct.gov. Enroll to create a User ID and password, activate your account through the emailed link, then request electronic access to your case, which the clerk approves because the landlord started the case, not you. Choose your User ID carefully; it cannot be changed and appears on every document you file. 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 to the landlord, or to the landlord's attorney if one is on the case. Fill in the certification section before you file, stating when and how you delivered it.

What happens next

Filing an Appearance protects you from a default for failure to appear, but it is only step one. You still need to respond to the complaint with an Answer, which has its own short deadline. The court will mail notices to the address on your Appearance, so keep it current with the clerk.

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.