Section 25-56.Production of Documents at Hearing or Trial
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis section lets a party demand documents for a hearing no later than five days before it, and provides that a failure to produce lets the requesting party use its own copies without authenticating them, or brings sanctions.
(a)At the trial management conference prior to the commencement of an evidentiary hearing or trial, but in no event later than five days before the scheduled hearing date, either party may serve on the other a request for production of documents and tangible things, in a manner consistent with Sections 13-9 through 13-11. Service may be made in the same manner as a subpoena or consistent with Sections 10-12 through 10-14.
(b)If a party fails to produce the requested documents and items, the party filing the request shall be permitted to introduce into evidence such copies as that party might have, without having to authenticate the copies offered.
(c)If a party fails to produce the requested documents and items and the requesting party does not have copies to offer into evidence, the judicial authority may impose such sanctions on the nonproducing party as the judicial authority deems appropriate pursuant to Section 13-14 and as are available to the judicial authority for the enforcement of subpoenas.
End
Amendment History
(P.B. 1998.)
Plain-English Summary
At the trial management conference before an evidentiary hearing or trial, and in no event later than five days before the scheduled hearing date, either party may serve a request for production of documents and tangible things. Service may be made as a subpoena is served, or under the ordinary service provisions.
The consequences of ignoring such a request are unusual and effective. If the documents are not produced, the requesting party may put its own copies into evidence without having to authenticate them — the party who withheld the originals cannot then complain that the copies are unproven.
And if the requesting party has no copies to offer, the court may impose whatever sanctions it deems appropriate under the general noncompliance rule and those available for enforcing subpoenas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How late can I request documents for a Connecticut family trial?
At the trial management conference before the hearing or trial, but in no event later than five days before the scheduled hearing date.
What if the other side does not produce them?
You may introduce into evidence such copies as you have, without having to authenticate them. If you have no copies, the court may impose sanctions.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 25-56). 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
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