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Small Claims Court Limits in Connecticut

In Connecticut, small claims covers money claims up to $5,000 ($15,000 for certain home improvement and new home construction claims), the filing fee is $95, and attorneys may file and handle small claims cases.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Connecticut at a glance

Maximum claim
$5,000
Up to $15,000 for claims against certified home improvement or new home construction contractors.
Filing fee
$95
Moving to transfer a case to the regular docket costs $125.
Lawyers allowed
Yes
A lawyer is not required.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Connecticut

What is the small claims court limit in Connecticut?

Maximum claim in Connecticut: $5,000. Up to $15,000 for claims against certified home improvement or new home construction contractors.

How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Connecticut?

Filing fee in Connecticut: $95. Moving to transfer a case to the regular docket costs $125.

Can you bring a lawyer to small claims court in Connecticut?

Yes. Lawyers allowed in Connecticut: yes. A lawyer is not required.

Where do the Connecticut small claims court limits come from?

The rules above come from Conn. Gen. Stat. 51-15 and Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-259. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Before filing, send the other side a written demand that states what is owed, why, and a deadline to pay. A clear demand letter sometimes settles the dispute without court, and some courts ask whether you tried to resolve the matter first.

Bring organized evidence to the hearing: contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, text messages and any written promise to pay. Prepare a short timeline of what happened. Judges in small claims court decide cases quickly, so a clear, document backed explanation helps.

Winning a judgment does not mean you are paid automatically. If the other side does not pay voluntarily, you may need to use collection tools such as wage garnishment, a bank levy or a lien, and each of those has its own forms, fees and rules.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.