The chief court administrator shall, from time to time, determine for each clerk’s office the hours that it shall be open, provided that each clerk’s office shall be open at least five days a week except during weeks which include a legal holiday. The chief court administrator may increase the hours of the clerk’s office for the purpose of the acceptance of bonds or for other limited purposes for one or more court locations. If the last day for filing any matter in the clerk’s office falls on a day on which such office is not open as thus provided or is closed pursuant to authorization by the administrative judge in consultation with the chief court administrator or the chief court administrator due to the existence of special circumstances, then the last day for filing shall be the next business day upon which such office is open. Except as provided below, a document that is electronically received by the clerk’s office for filing after 5 p.m. on a day on which the clerk’s office is open or that is electronically received by the clerk’s office for filing at any time on a day on which the clerk’s office is closed, shall be deemed filed on the next business day upon which such office is open. If a party is unable to electronically file a document because the court’s electronic filing system is nonoperational for thirty consecutive minutes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or for any period of time from 3 to 5 p.m. of the day on which the electronic filing is attempted, and such day is the last day for filing the document, the document shall be deemed to be timely filed if received by the clerk’s office on the next business day the electronic system is operational. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 405.)
Section 7-17.Clerks’ Offices
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThe chief court administrator sets each clerk's office hours, requires offices to open at least five days a week outside holiday weeks, and this section spells out how filing deadlines work when an office is closed or the e-filing system fails.
Full Text of Section 7-17
Amendment History
(Amended June 24, 2002, to take effect Jan. 1, 2003; amended June 21, 2004, to take effect July 13, 2004; amended June 21, 2010, to take effect Jan. 1, 2011; amended June 24, 2016, to take effect July 12, 2016; amended June 12, 2025, to take effect Jan. 1, 2026.) HISTORY—2026: In the fourth sentence, ‘‘o’clock in the afternoon’’ was deleted and replaced with ‘‘p.m.’’ Additionally, prior to 2026, the fifth sentence read: ‘‘If a party is unable to electronically file a document because the court’s electronic filing system is nonoperational for thirty consecutive minutes from 9 o’clock in the forenoon to 3 o’clock in the afternoon or for any period of time from 3 o’clock to 5 o’clock in the afternoon of the day on which the electronic filing is attempted, and such day is the last day for filing the document, the document shall be deemed to be timely filed if received by the clerk’s office on the next business day the electronic system is operational.’’
Rules Committee Commentary
Plain-English Summary
The chief court administrator determines the hours each clerk’s office is open, though every office must be open at least five days a week except during weeks that include a legal holiday. The chief court administrator may extend hours at one or more locations for accepting bonds or other limited purposes.
If a filing deadline falls on a day the clerk’s office is closed — whether by the regular schedule or by special closure authorized by the administrative judge or chief court administrator — the deadline moves to the next business day the office is open. A document filed electronically after 5 p.m. on a day the office is open, or at any time on a day it is closed, counts as filed the next business day the office is open. If the electronic filing system is down for thirty consecutive minutes between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., or for any period between 3 and 5 p.m., on the last day for filing, the document is treated as timely if it is filed the next business day the system works again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days a week must a Connecticut clerk's office be open?
At least five days a week, except during weeks that include a legal holiday.
What happens if a filing deadline falls on a day the clerk's office is closed?
The deadline moves to the next business day on which the office is open.
What if the e-filing system crashes on my filing deadline?
If it is nonoperational for thirty consecutive minutes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or for any period from 3 to 5 p.m., the filing is deemed timely if made the next business day the system works.
Does a document filed electronically after 5 p.m. count as filed that day?
No, it is deemed filed on the next business day the clerk’s office is open.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 7-17). 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: clerk office hours Connecticute-filing deadline extension CTfiling deadline office closedelectronic filing system down deadline
COMMENTARY—2026: The changes to this section were made to update the use of time conventions and to make such use consistent with the other rules.