If any file or pleading be mislaid, lost or destroyed the clerk may permit the original duplicate or a sworn copy to be substituted therefor in the files, and such substitution shall be certified by the clerk thereon.
Section 7-8.Lost File or Pleading
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceIf a court file or pleading is mislaid, lost, or destroyed, the clerk may substitute the original duplicate or a sworn copy in its place and certify the substitution on the file.
Full Text of Section 7-8
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 402.)
Plain-English Summary
Court papers sometimes go missing. When a file or pleading has been mislaid, lost, or destroyed, this section lets the clerk fill the gap with a substitute — either the original duplicate of the document or a sworn copy of it.
The clerk certifies the substitution directly on the file, so the record shows what happened and confirms the replacement document stands in for the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a pleading in my case is lost?
The clerk may substitute the original duplicate or a sworn copy of the pleading in the file in its place.
Does the clerk need to note that a document was replaced?
Yes, the clerk certifies the substitution on the file so the replacement is documented.
Can any copy of a lost document be used as a substitute?
The rule allows either the original duplicate or a sworn copy to be substituted for the lost or destroyed document.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 7-8). 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: lost court file Connecticutreplacing a destroyed pleadingsworn copy substitute for lost documentmissing court record procedure