(a) When any claim made in a complaint, cross complaint, special defense, or other pleading is grounded on a statute, the statute shall be specifically identified by its number.
Section 10-3.Allegations Based on Statutory Grounds; Foreign Law
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceA pleading that relies on a statute must cite that statute by number, and a party who intends to raise the law of another jurisdiction must give notice of it in the pleadings or in another reasonable written form.
Full Text of Section 10-3
(b) A party to an action who intends to raise an issue concerning the law of any jurisdiction or governmental unit thereof outside this state shall give notice in his or her pleadings or other reasonable written notice.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 109A.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 10-3 has two parts. Subsection (a) requires that when a claim in a complaint, cross complaint, special defense, or other pleading rests on a statute, the pleading must specifically identify that statute by its number rather than describing it in general terms.
Subsection (b) covers claims that turn on the law of another jurisdiction. A party who intends to raise an issue about the law of a state, country, or other governmental unit outside Connecticut must give notice of that intent, either in the pleadings themselves or through other reasonable written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Connecticut pleading have to cite the specific statute number it relies on?
Yes. Section 10-3(a) requires that any claim grounded on a statute identify that statute specifically by its number.
What notice is required to raise the law of another state in a Connecticut case?
Section 10-3(b) requires a party who intends to raise an issue about the law of another jurisdiction to give notice in the pleadings or through other reasonable written notice.
Does the notice under Section 10-3(b) have to be in the pleading itself?
No. The rule allows the notice to appear in the pleadings or as other reasonable written notice, so it does not have to be embedded in the pleading itself.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 10-3). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: citing statute number in pleading CTforeign law notice requirementpleading grounded on statute Connecticutraising law of another jurisdiction