(a) In any civil action, in any probate appeal, or in any administrative appeal where the judicial authority finds it reasonably probable that evidence outside the record will be required, any party may serve in accordance with Sections 10-12 through 10-17 written interrogatories, which may be in electronic format, upon any other party to be answered by the party served. Written interrogatories may be served upon any party without leave of the judicial authority at any time after the return day. Except as provided in subsection (d) or where the interrogatories are served electronically as provided in Section 10-13 and in a format that allows the recipient to electronically insert the answers in the transmitted document, the party serving interrogatories shall leave sufficient space following each interrogatory in which the party to whom the interrogatories are directed can insert the answer. In the event that an answer requires more space than that provided on interrogatories that were not served electronically and in a format that allows the recipient to electronically insert the answers in the transmitted document, the answer shall be continued on a separate sheet of paper which shall be attached to the completed answers.
Section 13-6.Interrogatories; In General
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule opens interrogatory practice in Connecticut, letting any party serve written interrogatories on any other party after the return day without leave of court, subject to form and frequency limits in certain categories of cases.
Full Text of Section 13-6
(b) Interrogatories may relate to any matters which can be inquired into under Sections 13-2 through 13-5, and the answers may be used at trial to the extent permitted by the rules of evidence. In all personal injury actions alleging liability based on the operation or ownership of a motor vehicle or alleging liability based on the ownership, maintenance or control of real property, or in actions claiming a loss of consortium or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage benefits, the interrogatories shall be limited to those set forth in Forms 201, 202, 203, 208, 210, 212, 213 and/or 214 of the rules of practice, unless upon motion, the judicial authority determines that such interrogatories are inappropriate or inadequate in the particular action. These forms are set forth in the Appendix of Forms in this volume. Unless the judicial authority orders otherwise, the frequency of use of interrogatories in all actions except those for which interrogatories have been set forth in Forms 201, 202, 203, 208, 210, 212, 213, 214, 218, 220 and/or 221 of the rules of practice is not limited.
(c) In all actions alleging medical negligence, the interrogatories shall be limited to: (1) those set forth in Forms 218, 220, and 221 of the rules of practice and contained in the Appendix of Forms in this volume to which no objections shall be allowed and (2) twenty additional interrogatories as of right, which may not contain subparts. The party to whom the additional twenty as of right interrogatories are directed may file specific, individual objections to each additional as of right interrogatory.
(d) The standard interrogatories in civil actions, including standard and as of right additional interrogatories in medical negligence actions, are intended to address discovery needs in most cases in which their use is mandated, but they do not preclude any party from moving for permission to serve such additional discovery as may be necessary in any particular case as contemplated by Section 13-2.
(e) In lieu of serving the interrogatories set forth in Forms 201, 202, 203, 208, 210, 212, 213, 214, 218, 220, and/or 221 of the rules of practice on a party who is represented by counsel, the moving party may serve on such party a notice of interrogatories, which shall not include the actual interrogatories to be answered, but shall instead set forth the number of the Practice Book form containing such interrogatories and the name of the party to whom the interrogatories are directed. The party to whom such notice is directed shall in his or her response set forth each interrogatory immediately followed by that party’s answer thereto.
(f) The party serving interrogatories or the notice of interrogatories shall not file them with the court.
(g) Unless leave of court is granted, the instructions to Forms 201 through 203 are to be used for all nonstandard interrogatories.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 223.) (Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000; amended Aug. 24, 2001, to take effect Jan. 1, 2002; amended June 30, 2008, to take effect Jan. 1, 2009; amended June 14, 2013, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014; amended June 24, 2016, to take effect Jan. 1, 2017; amended June 23, 2017, to take effect Jan. 1, 2018; amended June 11, 2021, to take effect Jan. 1, 2022.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 13-6(a) authorizes any party in a civil action, probate appeal, or qualifying administrative appeal to serve written interrogatories — which may be electronic — on any other party at any time after the return day, without needing the judicial authority’s permission. The serving party must leave enough space after each interrogatory for the answer, unless the interrogatories are served electronically in a format letting the recipient insert answers directly; when an answer needs more room on a non-electronic set, it continues on an attached sheet. Subsection (b) ties the scope of permissible interrogatories to what can be inquired into under Sections 13-2 through 13-5, and it requires the use of specific numbered Practice Book forms in certain categories — personal injury actions involving a motor vehicle or real property, and actions for loss of consortium or uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits — unless the judicial authority finds those forms inappropriate or inadequate for the particular case. Outside the form-designated categories, the frequency of interrogatory use is unlimited unless the judicial authority orders otherwise.
Subsection (c) limits medical negligence actions to the standard forms plus twenty additional interrogatories as of right, which may not contain subparts, and allows objections only to those additional twenty. Subsection (d) clarifies that the standard and as-of-right interrogatories address most cases but do not stop a party from moving for permission to serve extra discovery under Section 13-2. Subsection (e) lets a party, instead of serving the actual form interrogatories on a represented party, serve a notice identifying the form number and directed party, with the responding party required to set out each interrogatory followed by its answer. Subsection (f) bars filing interrogatories or notices with the court, and subsection (g) requires the instructions to Forms 201 through 203 for nonstandard interrogatories absent leave of court.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a party serve interrogatories in a Connecticut civil case?
Section 13-6(a) allows any party to serve written interrogatories on any other party at any time after the return day, without needing leave of the judicial authority.
Are there limits on the interrogatories used in car accident or premises cases?
Yes. Section 13-6(b) requires interrogatories in personal injury actions involving a motor vehicle or real property, and in loss of consortium or uninsured/underinsured motorist actions, to come from specified Practice Book forms unless the judicial authority finds those forms inappropriate or inadequate.
How many extra interrogatories are allowed in a medical negligence case?
Section 13-6(c) permits twenty additional interrogatories as of right, beyond the standard forms, and those additional interrogatories may not contain subparts.
Do interrogatories get filed with the court?
No. Section 13-6(f) states that the party serving interrogatories or a notice of interrogatories shall not file them with the court.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 13-6). 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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