When a writ has been signed by an attorney at law admitted to practice in the courts of this state, such writ shall contain the attorney’s name, juris number, mailing address, telephone number, and email address, all of which shall be typed or printed on the writ, and the attorney’s appearance shall be entered for the plaintiff, unless such attorney by endorsement on the writ shall otherwise direct, or unless such attorney shall type or print on the writ the name, address, juris number, telephone number, and email address of the professional corporation or firm, of which such attorney shall be a member, entering its appearance for the plaintiff. The signature on the complaint of any person proceeding without the assistance of counsel pursuant to Section 8-1 shall be deemed to constitute the self-represented appearance of such party, who shall be required to type or print on the writ the party’s name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 64 (a).)
Section 3-1.Appearance for Plaintiff on Writ or Complaint in Civil and Family Cases
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRequires an attorney's writ or complaint to list the attorney's name, juris number, address, phone, and email, and sets rules for whether the appearance is entered for the attorney individually or for their firm.
Full Text of Section 3-1
Amendment History
(Amended June 11, 2021, to take effect Jan. 1, 2022.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 3-1 governs how a plaintiff’s appearance gets established at the start of a civil or family case. When an attorney signs the writ, the writ must show the attorney’s name, juris number, mailing address, telephone number, and email address, all typed or printed. By default, that automatically enters the attorney’s own appearance for the plaintiff.
The attorney can change that default in one of two ways: by endorsing the writ to direct otherwise, or by typing or printing the name, address, juris number, telephone number, and email address of the professional corporation or firm the attorney belongs to, which then enters its appearance for the plaintiff instead of the individual attorney. The section also covers self-represented plaintiffs: under Section 8-1, a self-represented party’s signature on the complaint counts as that party’s own appearance, and the party must type or print their name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address on the writ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information must appear on a Connecticut writ signed by an attorney?
The writ must show the attorney’s name, juris number, mailing address, telephone number, and email address, all typed or printed on the document.
Does signing the writ automatically enter the attorney’s appearance?
Yes, unless the attorney endorses the writ to direct otherwise or instead lists the firm or professional corporation’s information, which enters the firm’s appearance in place of the individual attorney’s.
How does a self-represented plaintiff enter an appearance?
Under Section 3-1, a self-represented party’s signature on the complaint counts as their appearance, and they must type or print their name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address on the writ.
Can a law firm appear instead of the individual attorney who signed the writ?
Yes. If the attorney types or prints the firm or professional corporation’s name, address, juris number, phone number, and email address on the writ, the firm’s appearance is entered for the plaintiff instead.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 3-1). 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: what must a Connecticut writ containattorney appearance for plaintiff CTjuris number on writ requirementself-represented party appearance requirementsfirm appearance instead of individual attorney