The defendant in the answer shall specially deny such allegations of the complaint as the defendant intends to controvert, admitting the truth of the other allegations, unless the defendant intends in good faith to controvert all the allegations, in which case he or she may deny them generally. Any defendant who intends to controvert the right of the plaintiff to sue as executor, or as trustee, or in any other representative capacity, or as a corporation, or to controvert the execution or delivery of any written instrument or recognizance sued upon, shall deny the same in the answer specifically.
Section 10-46.The Answer; General and Special Denial
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceA defendant's answer must specifically deny the allegations it disputes and admit the rest, though a defendant contesting everything in good faith may deny generally, except certain matters that must always be denied specifically.
Full Text of Section 10-46
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 160.)
Plain-English Summary
This section sets the basic structure for an answer in Connecticut civil practice. The defendant must specially deny the allegations of the complaint that the defendant intends to controvert, and admit the truth of the rest. If the defendant intends in good faith to controvert all the allegations, the defendant may deny them generally instead.
Certain matters cannot be handled by a general denial. Any defendant who intends to controvert the plaintiff’s right to sue as an executor, trustee, or in another representative capacity, or as a corporation, or who intends to controvert the execution or delivery of a written instrument or recognizance sued upon, must deny that matter specifically in the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a special denial and a general denial?
A special denial disputes specific allegations while admitting the truth of the others; a general denial disputes all the allegations at once, and is available only when the defendant intends in good faith to controvert all of them.
Can a defendant always use a general denial?
Only when the defendant, in good faith, intends to controvert all the allegations of the complaint.
Are there allegations that can never be denied generally?
Yes. A defendant contesting the plaintiff’s right to sue as executor, trustee, or in another representative capacity or as a corporation, or contesting the execution or delivery of a written instrument or recognizance sued upon, must deny those matters specifically.
What happens to allegations the defendant does not deny?
Under a special denial, any allegation the defendant does not specially deny is admitted as true.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 10-46). 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
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