Guides
You got an eviction judgment: your three options
General information about Connecticut court procedure, not legal advice.
A judgment of possession means the court has ruled the landlord can regain the home. It does not mean removal happens that day, and it does not always mean the case is over. Connecticut gives you a short automatic window and three tools, each with its own deadline and its own guide. This page helps you see which one fits where you are.
First: the automatic window
For 5 days after judgment, not counting Sundays and legal holidays, no execution can issue. Saturdays count. This window exists so you have time to act, and the three options below all live inside or just after it, so the dates matter more than anything else on this page.
Option 1: Ask for more time to move
Application for Stay of Execution (form JD-HM-21). If you are not challenging the judgment and need time to relocate, the stay application asks the court to pause the execution. It must be filed within 5 days of the judgment; if the fifth day falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. There is no filing fee. The court weighs the circumstances and can require payments for the time you stay.
These two 5 day windows are counted differently. Confirm both dates with the clerk's office.
Option 2: Ask the court to undo the judgment
Motion to Open Judgment (form JD-HM-42). If the judgment entered because you missed a deadline or a court date, the motion to open asks the court to set it aside and let you be heard. It must be filed within 4 months from the date notice of the judgment was sent, and it must state both the reason you were prevented from appearing or pleading and the defense you would have raised.
Option 3: Object to the execution itself
Affidavit and Objection to Execution (form JD-HM-26). If an execution should not issue, or did not follow the rules, the objection puts those facts before the court. This is the tool for problems with the execution rather than with the judgment.
These options overlap
The deadlines run at the same time, and each has its own clock. The 5 day stay window closes first. The 4 month window to open a default judgment runs the longest. If more than one of these fits your situation, read both guides and note both deadlines before deciding what to file first.
Deadlines are computed from the information you have. Confirm dates with the clerk's office.
If you are not named on the court papers
If you live in the home but were never named in the case, the tools above are not your starting point. Connecticut has a separate filing, the Claim of Exemption (form JD-HM-3), for occupants the judgment should not bind. It must be filed before an execution issues, and the court holds a prompt hearing. Our guide on the Claim of Exemption walks through it.
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.
ProSay is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ProSay is a self-help document preparation service.