(a) If the defendant in a summary process action does not appear within two days after the return day and a motion for judgment for failure to appear and the notice to quit signed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney and endorsed, with his or her doings thereon, by the proper officer or indifferent person who served such notice to quit is filed with the clerk, the judicial authority shall, not later than the first court day after the filing of such motion, enter judgment that the plaintiff recover possession or occupancy of the premises with costs, and execution shall issue subject to the statutory provisions.
Section 17-30.Summary Process; Default and Judgment for Failure To Appear or Plead
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceSets out how a Connecticut summary process (eviction) court enters judgment for the landlord when the tenant fails to appear or fails to plead within the required deadlines.
Full Text of Section 17-30
(b) If the defendant in a summary process action appears but does not plead within two days after the return day or within three days after the filing of the preceding pleading or motion, the plaintiff may file a motion for judgment for failure to plead, served in accordance with Sections 10-12 through days after receipt of such motion by the clerk, the judicial authority shall forthwith enter judgment that the plaintiff recover possession or occupancy with costs.
(c) In summary process actions, a motion for judgment by default that is sent to the court either electronically or is hand-delivered to the court shall be deemed to be filed on the third business day following such delivery unless the party filing the motion for judgment by default certifies that the motion has also been sent electronically or hand-delivered on the same day to all opposing parties or their counsel.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 362A.) (Amended June 26, 2000, to take effect Jan. 1, 2001; amended June 20, 2005, to take effect Jan. 1, 2006; amended June 12, 2015, to take effect Jan. 1, 2016.)
Plain-English Summary
Under subsection (a), if the defendant in a summary process action does not appear within two days after the return day, the judicial authority must enter judgment for the plaintiff to recover possession or occupancy, with costs, once the plaintiff files a motion for judgment for failure to appear along with the notice to quit signed by the plaintiff and endorsed by the officer or indifferent person who served it. Judgment must be entered no later than the first court day after the motion is filed, and execution issues subject to statutory provisions.
Subsection (b) covers a defendant who appears but fails to plead within two days after the return day, or within three days after the preceding pleading or motion is filed, allowing the plaintiff to move for judgment for failure to plead, served under Sections 10-12 through 10-14—prompting the judicial authority to enter judgment for possession or occupancy with costs. Subsection (c) addresses timing for motions sent or hand-delivered to the court: such a motion is deemed filed on the third business day after delivery unless the filer certifies it was also sent or delivered to all opposing parties that same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can a landlord get a default judgment in a Connecticut eviction case?
If the tenant does not appear within two days after the return day, the judicial authority must enter judgment for possession no later than the first court day after the plaintiff files the motion for judgment for failure to appear.
What if the tenant appears but never files an answer?
Under subsection (b), if the tenant appears but fails to plead within two days after the return day or three days after the last pleading or motion, the plaintiff can move for judgment for failure to plead, and the judicial authority enters judgment for possession with costs.
What paperwork does the landlord need to file for a default based on failure to appear?
The plaintiff must file a motion for judgment for failure to appear along with the notice to quit, signed by the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney and endorsed by the officer or indifferent person who served it.
When is an electronically filed or hand-delivered motion for judgment by default considered filed?
It is deemed filed on the third business day after delivery, unless the filer certifies the motion was also sent or delivered to all opposing parties or their counsel that same day.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-30). 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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