(a) Every pleading and other paper of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in the attorney’s individual name. A party who is not represented Sec. Redacted from Court Records in Civil and Family Matters Authority by an attorney shall sign his or her pleadings and other papers. The name of the attorney or party who signs such document shall be legibly typed or printed beneath the signature.
Section 4-2.Signing of Pleading
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRequires every pleading to be signed by the attorney of record or the self-represented party, explains what that signature certifies, and lets an attorney help prepare a document without signing or entering an appearance.
Full Text of Section 4-2
(b) The signing of any pleading, motion, objection or request shall constitute a certificate that the signer has read such document, that to the best of the signer’s knowledge, information and belief there is good ground to support it, that it is not interposed for delay, and that the signer has complied with the requirements of Section 4-7 regarding personal identifying information. Each pleading and every other court-filed document signed by an attorney or party shall set forth the signer’s telephone number and mailing address.
(c) An attorney may assist a client in preparing a pleading, motion or other document to be signed and filed in court by the client. In such cases, the attorney shall insert the notation ‘‘prepared with assistance of counsel’’ on any pleading, motion or document prepared by the attorney. The attorney is not required to sign the pleading, motion or document and the filing of such a pleading, motion or document shall not constitute an appearance by the attorney.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 119.) (Amended June 22, 2009, to take effect Jan. 1, 2010; amended June 14, 2013, to take effect Oct. 1, 2013.)
Plain-English Summary
A pleading or other paper filed by a party with a lawyer must be signed by at least one attorney of record, in that attorney’s own name. A self-represented party signs their own papers. Either way, the signer’s name must also be legibly typed or printed under the signature, along with a telephone number and mailing address.
Signing isn’t just a formality. It certifies that the signer has read the document, believes in good faith that there’s good ground to support it, isn’t filing it to cause delay, and has complied with the personal identifying information rule in Section 4-7. The section also lets an attorney help a client prepare a document the client will sign and file personally — the attorney marks it “prepared with assistance of counsel,” doesn’t have to sign it, and doing so doesn’t count as entering an appearance in the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to sign a pleading in Connecticut?
An attorney of record signs for a represented party; a self-represented party signs their own pleadings and papers.
What does signing a pleading certify?
It certifies the signer read the document, believes in good faith there is good ground to support it, isn’t filing it for delay, and has complied with the personal identifying information rule in Section 4-7.
Can a lawyer help write a pleading without signing it?
Yes. An attorney may assist a self-represented client in preparing a document, mark it “prepared with assistance of counsel,” and skip signing it — doing so does not create an appearance for that attorney.
What contact information must appear on a signed pleading?
The signer’s telephone number and mailing address must be included on every pleading and court-filed document.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 4-2). 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: signing pleadings Connecticutprepared with assistance of counselself-represented party signature requirementattorney certification pleading CT