Section 4-5.Notice Required for Ex Parte Temporary Injunctions
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceBars a court from granting a temporary injunction without notice to the opposing party unless the applicant certifies that notice was given, that a good-faith effort to give notice failed, or that good cause excuses notice.
(a)No temporary injunction shall be granted without notice to each opposing party unless the applicant certifies one of the following to the court in writing:
(1)facts showing that within a reasonable time prior to presenting the application the applicant gave notice to each opposing party of the time when and the place where the application would be presented and provided a copy of the application; or
(2)the applicant in good faith attempted but was unable to give notice to an opposing party or parties, specifying the efforts made to contact such party or parties; or
(3)facts establishing good cause why the applicant should not be required to give notice to each opposing party.
(b)When an application for a temporary injunction is granted without notice or without a hearing, the court shall schedule an expeditious hearing as to whether the temporary injunction should remain in effect. Any temporary injunction which was granted without a hearing shall automatically expire thirty days following its issuance, unless the court, following a hearing, determines that said injunction should remain in effect.
(c)For purposes of this rule, notice to the opposing party means notice to the opposing party’s attorney if the applicant knows who the opposing party’s attorney is; if the applicant does not know who the opposing party’s attorney is, notice shall be given to the opposing party. If the temporary injunction is sought against the state of Connecticut, a city or town, or an officer or agency thereof, notice shall be given to the attorney general or to the city or town attorney or corporation counsel, as the case may be.
(d)This section shall not apply to applications for relief from physical abuse filed pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-15 or to motions for orders of temporary custody in juvenile matters filed pursuant to General Statutes § 46b-129.
Amendment History
(Adopted June 26, 2000, to take effect Jan. 1, 2001.)
Plain-English Summary
Temporary injunctions normally require notice to every opposing party. To skip that notice, the applicant must certify in writing one of three things to the court: that notice was given within a reasonable time before presenting the application, that the applicant tried in good faith but couldn’t reach the opposing party (and must specify what efforts were made), or that there’s good cause not to require notice at all.
When a court grants a temporary injunction without notice or without a hearing, it must schedule an expeditious hearing on whether the injunction should stay in effect. An injunction granted without a hearing automatically expires thirty days after issuance unless the court, after a hearing, decides it should continue. The section also defines what “notice” means — generally to the opposing party’s attorney if known, otherwise to the party directly, with special notice requirements when the state or a municipality is the target. It doesn’t apply to physical abuse relief applications or juvenile temporary custody motions filed under the statutes it names.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Connecticut court grant a temporary injunction without notifying the other side?
Only if the applicant certifies in writing that notice was given, that good-faith efforts to give notice failed, or that good cause excuses notice entirely.
How long does an ex parte temporary injunction last?
If granted without a hearing, it automatically expires thirty days after issuance unless the court holds a hearing and decides it should remain in effect.
Who gets notice under this rule — the party or their attorney?
Notice goes to the opposing party’s attorney if the applicant knows who that is; otherwise it goes to the opposing party directly.
Does this rule apply to relief-from-abuse or juvenile custody applications?
No. It doesn’t apply to physical abuse relief applications under General Statutes § 46b-15 or temporary custody motions in juvenile matters under § 46b-129.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 4-5). 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:ex parte temporary injunction Connecticutnotice requirement injunction CTtemporary injunction expiration thirty daysgood cause no notice injunction