Section 3-2.Time To File Appearance

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

In one sentenceSets when a party's appearance should be filed in a Connecticut civil, family, criminal, or juvenile case, generally on or before the second day after the return day for civil and family matters.

Full Text of Section 3-2

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) After the writ has been filed the attorney for any party to any action, or any party himself or herself, may enter his or her appearance in writing with the clerk of the court location to which such action is returnable. Except where otherwise prescribed herein or by statute, an appearance for a party in a civil or family case should be filed on or before the second day following the return day. Appearances filed thereafter in such cases shall be accepted but an appearance for a party after the entry against such party of a nonsuit or judgment after default for failure to appear shall not affect the entry of the nonsuit or any judgment after default.

(b) An appearance in a criminal case or in a juvenile matter should be filed promptly but may be filed at any stage of the proceeding.

End

Amendment History

(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 64 (b); see also Secs. 66, 630, 1056.1.)

Plain-English Summary

Section 3-2 covers the timing of appearances once a writ has been filed. Any party’s attorney, or the party without one, may file a written appearance with the clerk of the court location where the action is returnable. For civil and family cases, unless another rule or statute says otherwise, the appearance should be filed on or before the second day following the return day.

An appearance filed after that deadline is still accepted, but filing late doesn’t undo a nonsuit or a judgment after default that was already entered against the party for failing to appear. Criminal and juvenile matters are treated differently: an appearance there should be filed promptly, but it may be filed at any stage of the proceeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a party’s appearance due in a Connecticut civil case?

It should be filed on or before the second day following the return day, unless another rule or statute sets a different deadline.

What happens if an appearance is filed late in a civil or family case?

A late appearance is still accepted, but it does not affect any nonsuit or judgment after default already entered against the party for failing to appear.

Is the appearance deadline different for criminal or juvenile cases?

Yes. An appearance in a criminal case or juvenile matter should be filed promptly, but it may be filed at any stage of the proceeding rather than by a fixed day tied to the return day.

Where is an appearance filed?

It is filed in writing with the clerk of the court location to which the action is returnable.

Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 3-2). 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: deadline to file appearance Connecticutsecond day after return day appearancelate appearance nonsuit default judgmentwhen to file appearance criminal juvenile case