Small Claims Complaint

CONNECTICUT SMALL CLAIMS COMPLAINT PREPARATION WORKSHEET

NOT THE OFFICIAL FORM

Do not file this worksheet or attach it as a substitute complaint. Transfer
the approved information to the current Small Claims Writ and Notice of
Suit, Form JD-CV-40. Obtain a fresh copy from the Judicial Branch because
official forms can change.

• Current Form JD-CV-40
• Connecticut Small Claims forms and information

1. Eligibility and Amount Gate

Select the route only after checking the current form and statute:

• ☐ Ordinary money-damages claim: amount claimed does not exceed $5,000.

• ☐ Qualifying home-improvement or new-home-construction claim: reviewer
  confirmed the statutory $15,000 route and the contractor/certificate
  requirements that apply to it.

• ☐ Residential security-deposit return claim: reviewer confirmed whether
  the statutory security-deposit exception affects the potential award.

• ☐ Interest and costs are separately identified and supported.

• ☐ This is not a libel or slander action.
• ☐ The requested remedy is money damages; a different court route is needed
  for nonmonetary relief.

Reviewer notes and current authority: [DETAILS]

2. Current Form Control

Related official documents identified by the current JD-CV-40 instructions:

• ☐ Instructions to Defendant, JD-CV-121
• ☐ How to Serve (Deliver to Defendant), JD-CV-122
• ☐ Statement of Service (Delivery), JD-CV-123, for each defendant
• ☐ Continuation of Parties, JD-CV-67, if needed
• ☐ Other current court-required form: [FORM]

3. Court-Location Worksheet

Apply the location instructions printed on the current JD-CV-40; do not use a
generic “judicial district” sentence.

• Claim type: [LANDLORD/TENANT / INDIVIDUAL / BUSINESS ENTITY / OTHER]
• Plaintiff residence: [TOWN / STATE]
• Defendant residence: [TOWN / STATE]
• Defendant business location: [TOWN / STATE]
• Transaction or injury location: [TOWN / STATE]
• Rental property location, if applicable: [TOWN]

• Out-of-state individual owns Connecticut real or personal property:
  [DETAILS / NOT APPLICABLE]

• Selected court address from current official instructions: [ADDRESS]

• Reviewer explanation: [DETAILS]

4. Case-Type Code

Use the current list printed on JD-CV-40 and select only one code.

• Selected code: [CODE]
• Current description: [DESCRIPTION]
• Why it fits: [DETAILS]

Do not copy a code from an older saved form.

5. Plaintiff Information

Use the complete legal name. Add JD-CV-67 when the current form cannot hold
all parties.

Attorney information, if any:

• Name: [NAME]
• Firm and address: [DETAILS]
• Juris number: [NUMBER]
• Telephone and email: [DETAILS]

6. Defendant Identity and Address Verification

Use a separate row for every defendant. Confirm the legal name, entity type,
service recipient, and current address before serving.

JD-CV-40 asks how the defendant's address was verified during the preceding
six months. Record the facts before selecting a form checkbox.

Conflicting or uncertain address information: [DETAILS]

7. Limitation-Period Review

The official form warns that time limits differ by claim. Do not use a generic
deadline. For a consumer-debt claim, complete the explanation requested in
Section 8 of the current JD-CV-40.

Consumer-debt explanation for the official form: [FACTS AND CURRENT AUTHORITY]

8. Amount Claimed

Follow the current JD-CV-40 amount fields. Do not include the filing fee in
the amount-claimed box.

Amount to enter in Section 10: $[AMOUNT]

Eligibility cap and exception rechecked: [DETAILS]

9. Reason for Claim — Section 11 Draft

Write short, dated facts. Identify the agreement, event, performance, breach
or injury, amount, credits, and requested calculation. Do not paste contract
boilerplate or unsupported legal conclusions.

Draft

1. On [DATE], [PARTIES] [ENTERED AGREEMENT / TRANSACTION / EVENT].
2. Plaintiff did or provided: [FACTS].
3. Defendant did or failed to do: [FACTS].
4. Notice, invoice, demand, or opportunity to respond: [FACTS / DATE].
5. Principal calculation: [SHOW WORK].
6. Credits, payments, offsets, or mitigation: [SHOW WORK].
7. Interest or special-damages basis, if requested: [CURRENT AUTHORITY / MATH].
8. Plaintiff requests money damages of $[AMOUNT], plus only those separate
   items selected and explained on the current official form.

Additional page needed: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Every attachment must be a copy; preserve originals for the hearing.

10. Evidence File

• ☐ Contract, lease, invoice, estimate, receipt, or account record
• ☐ Payment and credit history
• ☐ Demand or notice and delivery proof
• ☐ Photographs, messages, or correspondence
• ☐ Damage or interest calculation
• ☐ Entity or address verification
• ☐ Other: [FILE]

Redaction or confidential-information issue: [DETAILS]

11. Oath and Signature

Do not sign in advance. The current JD-CV-40 requires the signer to sign in
front of the person taking the oath, who must also sign.

• Signer and capacity: [NAME / TITLE]
• Oath administered by: [COURT CLERK / NOTARY / COMMISSIONER OF SUPERIOR COURT]
• Planned signing date and location: [DETAILS]
• Identity or authority document needed: [DETAILS]

12. Service Before Filing

Use the current JD-CV-122 instructions and the correct route for each
defendant. The current JD-CV-40 instructions require delivery of the completed
writ, JD-CV-121, and all documents to be filed before the filing packet is
submitted to the court.

Special service issue, including an out-of-state entity or insurer:
[DETAILS / NONE]

Do not invent a certificate of service. Complete the current JD-CV-123 for
each defendant using the actual delivery facts.

13. Filing Packet

• ☐ Current original JD-CV-40 completed and sworn
• ☐ JD-CV-67 attached if needed
• ☐ Copies of supporting documents attached
• ☐ Original supporting documents retained, not filed
• ☐ Service completed before filing
• ☐ Separate JD-CV-123 completed for each defendant
• ☐ Delivery confirmation or other required proof attached
• ☐ Correct current entry fee or approved waiver document included
• ☐ Copy of the complete packet retained
• ☐ Filing location and method rechecked

Filing date: [DATE]

Court receipt or docket number: [NUMBER]

14. After Filing

Track actual court notices rather than predicting dates.

If an individual defendant does not answer, follow the current court
instructions concerning any military affidavit before seeking review for a
default judgment.

15. Final Review

• Current form version and official instructions checked: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Correct small-claims route and cap confirmed: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Court location and case code confirmed: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Every party's legal name and address confirmed: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Limitation period reviewed claim by claim: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Amount, interest, costs, and any exception calculated separately: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Section 11 facts and copies of evidence reviewed: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Oath and signature procedure arranged: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Current service instructions followed before filing: ☐ Yes ☐ No
• Filing packet and post-filing tracking reviewed: ☐ Yes ☐ No

Reviewer: [NAME / ROLE]

Date: [DATE]

Notes: [DETAILS]

Official Sources

• Connecticut General Statutes § 51-15
• Current Form JD-CV-40
• Connecticut Judicial Branch Small Claims FAQ