Commencing on the return day of the writ, summons and complaint in civil actions, pleadings, including motions and requests addressed to the pleadings, shall advance within thirty days from the return day, and any subsequent pleadings, motions and requests shall advance at least one step within each successive period of thirty days from the preceding pleading or the filing of the decision of the judicial authority thereon if one is required, except that in summary process actions the time period shall be three days and in actions to foreclose a mortgage on real estate the time period shall be fifteen days. The filing of interrogatories or requests for discovery shall not suspend the time requirements of this section unless upon motion of either party the judicial authority shall find that there is good cause to suspend such time requirements.
Section 10-8.Time To Plead
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceCivil pleadings must advance within thirty days of the return day and every thirty days after that, except summary process cases move every three days and mortgage foreclosures every fifteen days, and filing discovery requests does not by itself pause these deadlines.
Full Text of Section 10-8
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 114.) (Amended June 14, 2013, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 10-8 sets the pace at which pleadings must move forward in a Connecticut civil action. Starting on the return day of the writ, summons, and complaint, pleadings — including motions and requests addressed to the pleadings — must advance within thirty days of the return day. Every subsequent pleading, motion, or request must then advance at least one step within each successive thirty-day period, measured from the preceding pleading or from the filing of the court’s decision on it, if a decision is required.
Two case types move faster: summary process actions must advance every three days, and actions to foreclose a mortgage on real estate must advance every fifteen days. Filing interrogatories or other discovery requests does not by itself suspend these time requirements; a party must move the court and show good cause before the deadlines are suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a party have to plead after the return day in Connecticut?
Section 10-8 requires pleadings to advance within thirty days of the return day, and then at least one step within each successive thirty-day period after that.
Are the pleading deadlines different for summary process or foreclosure cases?
Yes. Summary process actions must advance every three days, and mortgage foreclosure actions must advance every fifteen days, instead of the standard thirty-day period.
Does filing discovery requests pause the deadline to plead?
No, not automatically. Section 10-8 says filing interrogatories or discovery requests does not suspend the time requirements unless a party moves the court and the judicial authority finds good cause to suspend them.
What happens if a party misses the thirty-day deadline to advance pleadings?
Section 10-8 sets the time requirement itself; related sections such as Section 10-18 address the consequences, like nonsuit or default, for a party who fails to plead as the rules require.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 10-8). 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: time to plead Connecticutthirty day pleading deadline CTsummary process pleading deadlineforeclosure pleading time periodhow long to answer complaint Connecticut