Sections 17-24 through 17-27 shall not be applicable to: (1) any action wherein any defendant against whom judgment is sought is in the military or naval service of the United States when judgment is rendered; or (2) any action brought under the small claims rules.
Section 17-23.Contract Actions To Pay a Definite Sum where There Is a Default for Failure To Appear; Limitations
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule limits the debt-collection default procedure in Sections 17-24 through 17-27 by excluding cases where a defendant is in the U.S. military or naval service when judgment is rendered, and by excluding small claims actions entirely.
Full Text of Section 17-23
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 356.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 17-23 defines the boundaries of the streamlined default procedure that follows in Sections 17-24 through 17-27. That procedure does not apply to any action where a defendant against whom judgment is sought is in the military or naval service of the United States at the time judgment is rendered. It also does not apply to any action brought under the small claims rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cases are excluded from the Sections 17-24 through 17-27 default procedure?
Actions where a defendant against whom judgment is sought is in the military or naval service of the United States when judgment is rendered, and any action brought under the small claims rules.
Does this mean military defendants never face default judgment under this chapter?
Section 17-23 only excludes such defendants from the specific procedure in Sections 17-24 through 17-27; Section 17-21 separately addresses military status affidavits, appointed counsel, and stays that apply to defaults generally.
Can a small claims case use the Section 17-25 debt-collection default process?
No. Section 17-23 states that Sections 17-24 through 17-27 do not apply to any action brought under the small claims rules.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-23). 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: small claims excluded default procedure CTmilitary service exclusion default judgmentscope of default judgment on debt rulessections 17-24 through 17-27 applicability