Costs shall be discretionary and may be granted to or against any party to the action.
Section 17-57.—Costs in Declaratory Judgment
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceIn a declaratory judgment action, the judicial authority has discretion to award costs to or against any party, rather than following the usual rule that costs follow the outcome.
Full Text of Section 17-57
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 392.)
Plain-English Summary
This rule addresses costs in declaratory judgment actions. Instead of a fixed rule that awards costs automatically to the winning party, the judicial authority decides whether costs are warranted and against whom. Costs may be granted to any party or against any party, at the court’s discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays costs in a Connecticut declaratory judgment action?
Costs are discretionary. The judicial authority decides whether to grant them and against which party, rather than applying an automatic rule tied to who prevails.
Can costs be awarded against the party who sought the declaratory judgment?
Yes. The rule allows costs to be granted to or against any party to the action, which includes the party who filed for the declaratory judgment.
Does winning a declaratory judgment guarantee an award of costs?
No. Because costs are discretionary under this rule, prevailing on the merits does not automatically entitle a party to costs.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 17-57). 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: costs in declaratory judgment action CTwho pays costs declaratory judgment Connecticutdiscretionary costs declaratory judgmentPractice Book 17-57