Section 24-23.—Procedure

Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026

In one sentenceThis rule requires small claims witnesses to be sworn but gives the judicial authority broad discretion to run the hearing in whatever order and manner best gets at the facts and produces a just result under the applicable law.

Full Text of Section 24-23

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Witnesses shall be sworn; but the judicial authority shall conduct the hearing in such order and form and with such methods of proof as it deems best suited to discover the facts and to determine the justice of the case in accordance with substantive law.

End

Amendment History

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 575.)

Plain-English Summary

Small claims hearings aren't bound by the formal rules of evidence and procedure used in regular civil trials. Witnesses must still take an oath before testifying, but beyond that the judicial authority can conduct the hearing however it sees fit — choosing the order of proof and the methods used to bring out the facts — as long as the result reflects the substantive law that governs the claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do witnesses have to be sworn in at a Connecticut small claims hearing?

Yes, all witnesses must be sworn before testifying.

Are the rules of evidence followed in small claims court?

The judge has discretion to run the hearing in whatever order and manner best uncovers the facts, rather than following the formal procedure used in regular civil trials.

Who decides how a small claims hearing is run?

The judicial authority decides the order and format of the hearing and the methods used to determine the facts, so long as the outcome follows the substantive law.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 24-23). 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 hearing procedure CTsmall claims evidence rules Connecticuthow small claims trial workssworn testimony small claims court