Files in any actions concerning title to land which are terminated by a final judgment affecting any right, title or interest in real property shall be retained for forty years in the office of the clerk of the court location in which the judgment is rendered and thereafter may be transferred to the state library pursuant to Section 7-15 (b) or to the Judicial Branch record center.
Section 7-12.—Actions Affecting the Title to Land
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceFiles from lawsuits that decide who owns or has rights in real property stay with the clerk for forty years before they can move to the state library or the Judicial Branch record center.
Full Text of Section 7-12
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 403D.)
Plain-English Summary
This section covers files from actions concerning title to land — lawsuits that end in a final judgment affecting a right, title, or interest in real property. Those files stay in the office of the clerk where the judgment was entered for forty years. After that period, the clerk may transfer them to the state library under Section 7-15 (b) or to the Judicial Branch record center.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Connecticut keep land title case files?
Forty years from the date of the final judgment, kept in the clerk’s office where the judgment was rendered.
What happens to a title-to-land file after forty years?
The clerk may transfer it to the state library under Section 7-15 (b) or to the Judicial Branch record center.
Does this apply to every real estate lawsuit?
It applies to actions that end in a final judgment affecting a right, title, or interest in real property.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 7-12). 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: land title case retention CTreal property judgment file storageforty year file retention Connecticuttitle to land lawsuit records