Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceSpells out the procedure for declaratory judgment actions, covering pleading form, joinder of coercive relief, counterclaims, required notice to interested persons, and the limits on who a declaration can bind.
(a)Procedure in actions seeking a declaratory judgment shall be as follows:
(1)The form and practice prescribed for civil actions shall be followed.
(2)The prayer for relief shall state with precision the declaratory judgment desired and no claim for consequential relief need be made.
(3)Actions claiming coercive relief may also be accompanied by a claim for a declaratory judgment, either as an alternative remedy or as an independent remedy.
(4)Subject to the provisions of Sections 10-21 through 10-24, causes of action for other relief may be joined in complaints seeking declaratory judgments.
(5)The defendant in any appropriate action may seek a declaratory judgment by a counterclaim.
(6)Issues of fact necessary to the determination of the cause may be submitted to the jury as in other actions.
(b)All persons who have an interest in the subject matter of the requested declaratory judgment that is direct, immediate and adverse to the interest of one or more of the plaintiffs or defendants in the action shall be made parties to the action or shall be given reasonable notice thereof. If the proceeding involves the validity of a municipal ordinance, persons interested in the subject matter of the declaratory judgment shall include such municipality, and if the proceeding involves the validity of a state statute, such persons shall include the attorney general. The party seeking the declaratory judgment shall append to its complaint or counterclaim a certificate stating that all such interested persons have been joined as parties to the action or have been given reasonable notice thereof. If notice was given, the certificate shall list the names, if known, of all such persons, the nature of their interest and the manner of notice.
(c)Except as provided in Sections 10-39 and 10-44, no declaratory judgment action shall be defeated by the nonjoinder of parties or the failure to give notice to interested persons. The exclusive remedy for nonjoinder or failure to give notice to interested persons is by motion to strike as provided in Sections 10-39 and 10-44.
(d)Except as otherwise provided by law, no declaration shall be binding against any persons not joined as parties. If it appears to the court that the rights of nonparties will be prejudiced by its declaration, it shall order entry of judgment in such form as to affect only the parties to the action.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 391.) (Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000.)
Plain-English Summary
Declaratory judgment actions follow the form and practice prescribed for civil actions generally. The prayer for relief must state with precision the declaratory judgment sought, and no claim for consequential relief is required. A party seeking coercive relief may also seek a declaratory judgment, either as an alternative or independent remedy, and other causes of action may be joined subject to Sections 10-21 through 10-24. A defendant may seek a declaratory judgment through a counterclaim, and factual issues necessary to the case may go to a jury as in other actions.
All persons with a direct, immediate, and adverse interest in the subject matter must be made parties or given reasonable notice. If the action involves the validity of a municipal ordinance, the municipality is an interested person; if it involves a state statute, the attorney general is included. The party seeking the judgment must append a certificate confirming that interested persons have been joined or notified, listing names, interests, and manner of notice where notice was given. Except as provided in Sections 10-39 and 10-44, an action can’t be defeated by nonjoinder or failure to notify — the exclusive remedy is a motion to strike under those sections. And except as otherwise provided by law, a declaration doesn’t bind anyone who wasn’t joined as a party; if nonparties’ rights would be prejudiced, the court limits the judgment to affect only the parties to the action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a declaratory judgment complaint need to request other relief too?
No. The prayer for relief must state with precision the declaratory judgment desired, and no claim for consequential relief needs to be made.
Can a defendant seek a declaratory judgment?
Yes, a defendant in any appropriate action may seek a declaratory judgment by counterclaim.
Who must be given notice in a declaratory judgment action?
All persons with a direct, immediate, and adverse interest in the subject matter must be joined as parties or given reasonable notice, including the municipality if a municipal ordinance’s validity is at issue, or the attorney general if a state statute’s validity is at issue.
What happens if the action fails to join or notify an interested person?
The action isn’t automatically defeated by nonjoinder or failure to notify; the exclusive remedy is a motion to strike under Sections 10-39 and 10-44.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-56). 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:declaratory judgment procedure Connecticutwho must be notified declaratory judgment CTdeclaratory judgment counterclaimjoining parties declaratory judgment actionConnecticut Practice Book 17-56