(a) Judgment files in civil, criminal, family and juvenile cases shall be prepared when: (1) an appeal is taken; (2) a party requests in writing that the judgment be incorporated into a judgment file; (3) a judgment has been entered involving the granting of a dissolution of marriage or civil union, a legal separation, an annulment, injunctive relief, or title to property (including actions to quiet title but excluding actions of foreclosure), except in those instances where judgment is entered in such cases pursuant to Section 14-3 and no appeal has been taken from the judicial authority’s judgment; (4) a judgment has been entered in a juvenile matter involving allegations that a child has been neglected, abused, or uncared for, or involving termination of parental rights or commitment of a child from a family with service needs; (5) in criminal cases, sentence review is requested; or (6) ordered by the judicial authority.
Section 6-3.—Preparation; When; By Whom; Filing
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis rule lists the situations that trigger preparation of a Connecticut judgment file, says who prepares it in each type of case, and sets a sixty-day filing deadline for judgment files in family cases.
Full Text of Section 6-3
(b) Unless otherwise ordered by the judicial authority, the judgment file in juvenile cases shall be prepared by the clerk and in all other cases, in the clerk’s discretion, by counsel or the clerk. As to judgments of foreclosure, the clerk’s office shall prepare a certificate of judgment in accordance with a form prescribed by the chief court administrator only when requested in the event of a redemption. In those cases in which a plaintiff has secured a judgment of foreclosure under authority of General Statutes § 49-17, when requested, the clerk shall prepare a decree of foreclosure in accordance with a form prescribed by the chief court administrator.
(c) Judgment files in family cases shall be filed within sixty days of judgment.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 337.) (Amended June 26, 2006, to take effect Jan. 1, 2007; amended June 15, 2012, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013; amended June 13, 2014, to take effect Jan. 1, 2015; amended June 13, 2019, to take effect Jan. 1, 2020.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 6-3 explains when a judgment file has to be prepared at all. Subsection (a) lists the triggers: an appeal is taken; a party asks in writing for the judgment to be put into a judgment file; the judgment grants a dissolution of marriage or civil union, a legal separation, an annulment, injunctive relief, or title to property (including quiet title actions, but not foreclosures); a juvenile judgment involves neglect, abuse, uncared-for findings, termination of parental rights, or commitment of a child from a family with service needs; a criminal defendant requests sentence review; or the judicial authority orders one prepared. Judgments entered under Section 14-3 without an appeal are excluded even if they fall in the dissolution/property category.
Subsection (b) assigns the preparation work. In juvenile cases the clerk prepares the judgment file unless the judicial authority orders otherwise; in every other case, the clerk decides whether counsel or the clerk prepares it. Foreclosure judgments work differently — the clerk’s office prepares a certificate of judgment on a prescribed form only if someone requests it because of a redemption, and where a plaintiff has a foreclosure judgment under General Statutes § 49-17, the clerk prepares a decree of foreclosure on a prescribed form when requested. Subsection (c) sets the clock for family cases: the judgment file must be filed within sixty days of judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must a judgment file be prepared in a Connecticut case?
Section 6-3(a) requires one when an appeal is taken, a party requests it in writing, the judgment involves dissolution, legal separation, annulment, injunctive relief, or title to property, certain juvenile findings are made, criminal sentence review is requested, or the judicial authority orders it.
Who prepares the judgment file in a Connecticut case?
The clerk prepares it in juvenile cases unless the judicial authority orders otherwise; in other cases the clerk decides whether counsel or the clerk will prepare it.
Is a judgment file required in a foreclosure case?
Foreclosure judgments are excluded from the general triggers, but the clerk’s office will prepare a certificate of judgment, or a decree of foreclosure under General Statutes § 49-17, on request when there is a redemption.
How long do you have to file a judgment file in a family case?
Section 6-3(c) requires judgment files in family cases to be filed within sixty days of judgment.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 6-3). 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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