Sec. 51-344. Judicial districts established.
Sec. 51-344. Judicial districts established. For purposes of establishing venue, the Superior Court shall consist of the following judicial districts:
(1) The judicial district of Ansonia-Milford, consisting of the towns of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Milford, Orange, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton and West Haven;
(2) The judicial district of Danbury, consisting of the towns of Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield and Sherman;
(3) The judicial district of Bridgeport, consisting of the towns of Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull;
(4) The judicial district of Hartford, consisting of the towns of Bloomfield, East Granby, East Hartford, East Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury, Hartford, Manchester, Marlborough, South Windsor, Suffield, West Hartford, Windsor and Windsor Locks;
(5) The judicial district of Litchfield, consisting of the towns of Avon, Barkhamsted, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Burlington, Canaan, Canton, Colebrook, Cornwall, Farmington, Goshen, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, Kent, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, New Milford, Norfolk, North Canaan, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Simsbury, Thomaston, Torrington, Warren, Washington and Winchester;
(6) The judicial district of Middlesex, consisting of the towns of Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland and Westbrook;
(7) The judicial district of New Britain, consisting of the towns of Berlin, Bristol, New Britain, Newington, Plainville, Plymouth, Rocky Hill, Southington and Wethersfield;
(8) The judicial district of New Haven, consisting of the towns of Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, East Haven, Guilford, Hamden, Madison, Meriden, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Wallingford and Woodbridge;
(9) The judicial district of New London, consisting of the towns of Bozrah, Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Lyme, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Old Lyme, Preston, Salem, Sprague, Stonington, Voluntown and Waterford;
(10) The judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk, consisting of the towns of Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport and Wilton;
(11) The judicial district of Tolland, consisting of the towns of Andover, Bolton, Columbia, Coventry, Ellington, Hebron, Mansfield, Somers, Stafford, Tolland, Union, Vernon and Willington;
(12) The judicial district of Waterbury, consisting of the towns of Middlebury, Naugatuck, Prospect, Southbury, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury; and
(13) The judicial district of Windham, consisting of the towns of Ashford, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Chaplin, Eastford, Hampton, Killingly, Plainfield, Pomfret, Putnam, Scotland, Sterling, Thompson, Windham and Woodstock.
(P.A. 77-576, S. 3, 65; P.A. 79-185; 79-631, S. 110, 111; P.A. 80-201, S. 5, 9; P.A. 81-241, S. 2; 81-303; P.A. 82-248, S. 152; P.A. 83-587, S. 61, 96; P.A. 85-239, S. 1, 6; P.A. 88-230, S. 7, 12; P.A. 89-141, S. 1, 2, 7; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, S. 60, 61, 70; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-435, S. 92, 95; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; P.A. 97-16, S. 1, 2; P.A. 98-81, S. 13, 20; P.A. 23-46, S. 26; P.A. 25-91, S. 15.)
History: P.A. 79-185 transferred Thomaston from judicial district of Waterbury to judicial district of Litchfield; P.A. 79-631 changed effective date of P.A. 79-185 from October 1, 1979, to September 1, 1979; P.A. 80-201 added Subdiv. (12) establishing judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk and deleted its member towns from judicial district of Fairfield in Subdiv. (1); P.A. 81-241 transferred Hartland from the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain to the judicial district of Litchfield; P.A. 81-303 amended Subdiv. (12) concerning the Stamford-Norwalk judicial district by deleting the provision that venue for prosecutions of capital felonies, class A, B or C felonies and unclassified felonies punishable by a sentence of 10 years or more shall be in the Fairfield judicial district; P.A. 82-248 alphabetized the judicial districts and the towns within each district; P.A. 83-587 made a technical amendment; P.A. 85-239 transferred Bethlehem from the Waterbury judicial district to the Litchfield judicial district; P.A. 88-230 established the judicial district of New Britain consisting of the towns of Berlin, Bristol, Burlington, New Britain, Plainville, Plymouth and Southington by transferring said towns from the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain which was renamed the judicial district of Hartford and transferred Cromwell from the judicial district of Middlesex to the judicial district of Hartford, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 89-141 transferred West Haven from the New Haven judicial district to the Ansonia-Milford judicial district; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, Sec. 60 amended Subdiv. (4) by removing Cromwell from the judicial district of Hartford and amended Subdiv. (6) by adding Cromwell to the judicial district of Middlesex, effective September 1, 1993 and further amended Subdiv. (4) in Sec. 61 by adding Cromwell to the judicial district of Hartford and amended Subdiv. (6) by deleting Cromwell from the judicial district of Middlesex effective September 1, 1994, in effect postponing transfer of Cromwell from judicial district of Middlesex for one year; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-435 repealed provisions enacted by May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-11, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-16 removed Cromwell from Hartford judicial district and included Cromwell in Middlesex judicial district, effective September 1, 1998; P.A. 98-81 amended Subdiv. (4) by removing Newington, Rocky Hill and Wethersfield from judicial district of Hartford and amended Subdiv. (7) by adding those same towns to judicial district of New Britain, effective September 1, 1998; P.A. 23-46 amended Subdiv. (3) by replacing judicial district of Fairfield with judicial district of Bridgeport, effective January 1, 2024; P.A. 25-91 amended Subdivs. (4) and (5) by transferring Avon, Canton, Farmington, Granby and Simsbury from judicial district of Hartford to judicial district of Litchfield and amended Subdivs. (5) and (7) by transferring Burlington from judicial district of New Britain to judicial district of Litchfield.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-344b. Term “judicial district of New Britain” substituted for “judicial district of Hartford”, when. Whenever the term “judicial district of Hartford” is used or referred to in the following sections of the general statutes, the term “judicial district of New Britain” shall be substituted in lieu thereof: Subsection (b) of section 3-70a, sections 3-71a and 4-164, subsection (c) of section 4-183, subdivision (4) of subsection (g) of section 10-153e, subparagraph (C) of subdivision (4) of subsection (e) of section 10a-109n, sections 12-3a, 12-89, 12-103, 12-208, 12-237, 12-242hh, 12-242ii, 12-242kk, 12-268l, 12-307, 12-312, 12-330m, 12-405k, 12-422, 12-448, 12-454, 12-463, 12-489, 12-522, 12-554, 12-586g and 12-597, subsection (b) of section 12-638i, sections 12-730, 14-57, 14-66, 14-195, 14-324, 14-331 and 19a-85, subsection (f) of section 19a-332e, sections 20-156, 20-247, 20-307, 20-373, 20-583 and 21a-55, subsection (e) of section 22-7, sections 22-320d and 22-386, subsection (e) of section 22a-6b, section 22a-30, subsection (a) of section 22a-34, subsection (b) of section 22a-34, section 22a-182a, subsection (f) of section 22a-225, sections 22a-227, 22a-344, 22a-374 and 22a-408, subsection (f) of section 25-32e, section 29-158, subsection (f) of section 29-161z, sections 36b-30 and 36b-76, subsection (f) of section 38a-41, section 38a-52, subsection (c) of section 38a-150, sections 38a-185, 38a-209 and 38a-225, subdivision (3) of section 38a-226b, sections 38a-241, 38a-337 and 38a-657, subsection (c) of section 38a-774, section 38a-776, subsection (c) of section 38a-817 and section 38a-994.
(P.A. 99-215, S. 24, 29; P.A. 00-196, S. 48; P.A. 08-73, S. 14; P.A. 10-179, S. 118; P.A. 25-168, S. 157.)
History: P.A. 99-215 effective June 29, 1999; P.A. 00-196 made technical changes; P.A. 08-73 replaced reference to Sec. 29-161z(e) with reference to Sec. 29-161z(f); P.A. 10-179 deleted reference to Sec. 19a-653(d); P.A. 25-168 deleted reference to Sec. 22a-449g, effective June 30, 2025.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |
Sec. 51-345. (Formerly Sec. 52-42). Venue in civil actions and housing matters. Return of civil process. (a) Actions in general. Except as provided in section 51-348 and subsections (b) to (h), inclusive, of this section, all civil process shall be made returnable to a judicial district, as follows:
(1) If all of the parties reside outside this state, to the judicial district where (A) the injury occurred, (B) the transaction occurred, or (C) the property is located or lawfully attached.
(2) If the defendant is not a resident, to the judicial district where the attached property is located.
(3) If either or both the plaintiff or the defendant are residents of this state, to the judicial district where either the plaintiff or the defendant resides, except:
(A) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Manchester, East Windsor, South Windsor or Enfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Tolland.
(B) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Plymouth, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of New Britain or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(C) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Bethany, Milford, West Haven or Woodbridge, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of New Haven or the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford.
(D) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Southbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(E) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport or Wilton, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk or the judicial district of Bridgeport.
(F) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Watertown or Woodbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Waterbury or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(G) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Avon or Simsbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(H) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Newington, Rocky Hill or Wethersfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of New Britain, except for actions where venue is in the geographical area as provided in section 51-348 or in rules of court.
(I) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Cromwell, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Middlesex.
(J) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of New Milford, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Danbury or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(K) If either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Windham or Ashford, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Windham or the judicial district of Tolland.
(b) Actions involving land. In all actions involving the title to land, for trespass to land and to foreclose or redeem mortgages or liens upon real property, civil process shall be made returnable to the judicial district where the real property is located, either entirely or in part, except:
(1) If the land is located in the town of Manchester, East Windsor, South Windsor or Enfield and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Manchester, East Windsor, South Windsor or Enfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Tolland.
(2) If the land is located in the town of Plymouth and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Plymouth, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of New Britain or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(3) If the land is located in the town of Bethany, Milford, West Haven or Woodbridge and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Bethany, Milford, West Haven or Woodbridge, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of New Haven or the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford.
(4) If the land is located in the town of Southbury and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Southbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(5) If the land is located in the town of Weston, Westport or Wilton and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in any one of these towns, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk or the judicial district of Bridgeport.
(6) If the land is located in the town of Watertown or Woodbury and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Watertown or Woodbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Waterbury or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(7) If the land is located in the town of Avon or Simsbury and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Avon or Simsbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(8) If the land is located in the town of Newington, Rocky Hill or Wethersfield and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of Newington, Rocky Hill or Wethersfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of New Britain, except for actions where venue is in the geographical area as provided in section 51-348 or in rules of court.
(9) If the land is located in the town of New Milford and either the plaintiff or the defendant resides in the town of New Milford, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Danbury or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(c) Actions by a domestic or foreign business organization. In all actions by a domestic or foreign business organization, except actions made returnable under subsection (b), (d) or (g) of this section, civil process shall be made returnable as follows:
(1) If the plaintiff is a domestic business organization and the defendant is a resident, either (A) to the judicial district where the plaintiff has an office or place of business, or (B) to the judicial district where the defendant resides, except:
(i) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Manchester, East Windsor, South Windsor or Enfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Tolland.
(ii) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Plymouth, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of New Britain or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(iii) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Bethany, Milford, West Haven or Woodbridge, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of New Haven or the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford.
(iv) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Southbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(v) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport or Wilton, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk or the judicial district of Bridgeport.
(vi) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Watertown or Woodbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Waterbury or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(vii) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Avon or Simsbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(viii) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Newington, Rocky Hill or Wethersfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of New Britain, except for actions where venue is in the geographical area as provided in section 51-348 or in rules of court.
(ix) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Cromwell, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Middlesex.
(x) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of New Milford, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Danbury or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(xi) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Windham or Ashford, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Windham or the judicial district of Tolland.
(2) If the plaintiff is a domestic business organization and the defendant is a domestic or foreign business organization, to the judicial district where (A) the plaintiff has an office or place of business, (B) the injury occurred, (C) the transaction occurred, or (D) the property is located or lawfully attached, except:
(i) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Manchester, East Windsor, South Windsor or Enfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Tolland.
(ii) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Plymouth, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of New Britain or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(iii) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Bethany, Milford, West Haven or Woodbridge, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of New Haven or the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford.
(iv) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Southbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(v) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport or Wilton, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk or the judicial district of Bridgeport.
(vi) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Watertown or Woodbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Waterbury or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(vii) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Avon or Simsbury, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(viii) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Newington, Rocky Hill or Wethersfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of New Britain, except for actions where venue is in the geographical area as provided in section 51-348 or in rules of court.
(ix) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Cromwell, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Middlesex.
(x) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of New Milford, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Danbury or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(xi) If the plaintiff has an office or place of business in the town of Windham or Ashford, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Windham or the judicial district of Tolland.
(3) If the plaintiff is a foreign business organization and the defendant is a resident, to the judicial district where the defendant resides.
(4) If the plaintiff is a foreign business organization and the defendant is a domestic or foreign business organization, to the judicial district where (A) the injury occurred, (B) the transaction occurred, or (C) the property is located or lawfully attached.
(d) Actions involving consumer transactions. In all actions involving consumer transactions, civil process shall be made returnable to the judicial district where the consumer resides or where the transaction occurred. For the purposes of this subsection, “consumer transaction” means a transaction in which a natural person obligates himself or herself to pay for goods sold or leased, services rendered or moneys loaned for personal, family or household purposes.
(e) Actions for partition or sale. In all actions for the partition or sale of any property, civil process shall be made returnable to the judicial district where the parties, or one of them, reside; but, if none of them resides in this state, then to the judicial district where all or a part of the property is located.
(f) Actions by nonresident fiduciary. In all actions by a nonresident executor, trustee under a will or administrator, civil process shall be made returnable to the same judicial district as would be proper if the plaintiff resided in the town where the Probate Court which granted administration is held.
(g) Small claims matters. Venue for small claims matters shall be at Superior Court facilities designated by the Chief Court Administrator to hear such matters. In small claims matters, civil process shall be made returnable to the Superior Court facility designated by the Chief Court Administrator to serve the small claims area where the plaintiff resides, where the defendant resides or is doing business or where the transaction or injury occurred. If the plaintiff is a domestic or foreign business organization, civil process shall be made returnable to a Superior Court facility designated by the Chief Court Administrator to serve the small claims area where the defendant resides or is doing business or where the transaction or injury occurred.
(h) Housing matters. (1) In all actions involving housing matters, as defined in section 47a-68, civil process shall be made returnable to the judicial district where the premises are located, except that actions described in subdivision (6) of section 47a-68 shall be heard in the geographical area where the premises are located unless otherwise provided in subsection (d) of section 51-348.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection concerning the judicial district to which civil process shall be made returnable:
(A) If the premises are located in Newington, Rocky Hill or Wethersfield, the action may be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of New Britain.
(B) If the premises are located in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour or Shelton, the action shall be made returnable to the judicial district of Ansonia-Milford. After the filing of the action, the plaintiff or the defendant may request a change in venue to the judicial district of New Haven or the judicial district of Waterbury.
(C) If the premises are located in Milford, Orange or West Haven, the action shall be made returnable to the judicial district of New Haven.
(D) If the premises are located in Avon or Simsbury, the action shall be made returnable at the option of the plaintiff to either the judicial district of Hartford or the judicial district of Litchfield.
(1949 Rev., S. 7747; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 37; 1972, P.A. 165, S. 9; June, 1972, P.A. 1, S. 20; P.A. 74-183, S. 79, 291; P.A. 75-406, S. 2, 11; 75-578, S. 14; P.A. 76-65; 76-380; S. 10, 12; 76-436, S. 122, 681; P.A. 77-396; 77-576, S. 4, 65; P.A. 78-280, S. 97, 127; P.A. 80-173; 80-201, S. 6, 9; P.A. 81-241, S. 1; P.A. 82-248, S. 153; P.A. 83-96, S. 1, 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-25, S. 6, 9; P.A. 85-239, S. 2, 3, 6; P.A. 88-230, S. 8, 12; P.A. 89-138, S. 1-3; 89-141, S. 3, 4, 7; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 91-42, S. 1-3; P.A. 93-142, S. 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; P.A. 97-40, S. 9, 10, 18; P.A. 98-81, S. 14, 20; P.A. 00-191, S. 8, 16; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 58, 131; P.A. 02-132, S. 75; P.A. 04-127, S. 9; P.A. 17-99, S. 11; P.A. 19-32, S. 18; P.A. 23-46, S. 27; P.A. 24-108, S. 38, 39; P.A. 25-91, S. 16.)
History: 1961 act referred to actions brought before circuit court rather than to those brought before justices of the peace; 1972 acts added references to actions brought before superior court, effective September 5, 1972; P.A. 74-183 excepted summary process actions from existing provisions, deleted references to actions brought before circuit court, reflecting transfer of its functions to common pleas court and added Subsec. (b) re small claims actions, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 75-406 added provision re venue in paternity actions in Subsec. (b); P.A. 75-578 added reference to actions brought before court of common pleas in judicial district of Ansonia-Milford in Subsec. (a); P.A. 76-65 specified venue in small claims actions in geographical area where defendant resides or does business or where transaction occurred rather than in geographical area where one of the parties resides or does business or where, if a foreign or domestic corporation, such corporation has office or place of business; P.A. 76-380 added exception re Secs. 51-348 and Subsec. (b) in Subsec. (a); P.A. 76-436 amended section to reflect transfer of all trial jurisdiction to superior court, deleting references to actions brought to common pleas court, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-396 added Subsec. (d) re venue for consumer transactions; P.A. 77-576 essentially replaced previous general provisions with specific and detailed provisions, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 rephrased Subsec. (d) for consistency with P.A. 77-576 amendments; Sec. 52-42 transferred to Sec. 51-345 in the 1977 Court Reorganization Supplement; P.A. 80-173 applied Subsec. (a)(3)(E) to residents of Bethany and Woodbridge; P.A. 80-201 added Subsecs. (a)(3)(H) and (b)(8) re actions returnable to judicial districts of Fairfield or Stamford-Norwalk; P.A. 81-241 amended Subsec. (a) by providing in Subdiv. (3)(A) that if the plaintiff or defendant lives in East Windsor or South Windsor, the action may be returned to the Hartford-New Britain or Tolland judicial district, and amended Subsec. (b) by providing in Subdiv. (1) that if the land is located in East Windsor or South Windsor and the plaintiff or defendant resides in either of those towns the action may be returned to the Hartford-New Britain or Tolland judicial district; P.A. 82-248 rephrased the section, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing real “estate” with real “property”, added Subsec. (e) concerning actions for partition or sale which was formerly Sec. 52-18 and added Subsec. (f) concerning actions by a nonresident fiduciary which is similar to former Sec. 52-21; P.A. 83-96 amended Subsecs. (a)(3)(A) and (b)(1) by adding the town of Enfield; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-25 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by deleting provisions re the option of the plaintiff to return the action to either the New Haven or Middlesex judicial district when either party resides in Wallingford or Meriden, and re the option of the plaintiff to return the action to either the New Haven or Waterbury judicial district when either party resides in Cheshire, and relettering the remaining subdivisions and subparagraphs as necessary; P.A. 85-239 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision permitting the plaintiff to return the action to either the Litchfield or Waterbury judicial district when either party resides in Thomaston, relettering Subdiv. (3)(F) as (3)(E), and adding new Subdiv. (3)(F) permitting the plaintiff to return the action to either the Waterbury or Litchfield judicial district when either party resides in Watertown or Woodbury, and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision permitting plaintiff to return the action to either the Litchfield or Waterbury judicial district if the land is located and either party resides in Thomaston, renumbering Subdiv. (6) as Subdiv. (5) and adding new Subdiv. (6) permitting the plaintiff to return the action to either the Waterbury or Litchfield judicial district if the land is located and either party resides in Watertown or Woodbury; P.A. 88-230 amended Subsecs. (a)(3)(A) and (b)(1) to change reference to the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain to the judicial district of Hartford, amended Subsecs. (a)(3)(B) and (b)(2) to change reference to the judicial district of Hartford-New Britain to the judicial district of New Britain, amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (3)(G) permitting the plaintiff to return action to either the Hartford or New Britain judicial district when either party resides in Avon, Canton, Farmington or Simsbury and Subdiv. (3)(H) permitting the plaintiff to return action to either the Hartford or New Britain judicial district when either party resides in Newington except when venue is in the geographical area, and amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (7) permitting the plaintiff to return action to either the Hartford or New Britain judicial district if the land is located and either party resides in Avon, Canton, Farmington or Simsbury and Subdiv. (8) permitting the plaintiff to return action to either the Hartford or New Britain judicial district if the land is located and either party resides in Newington except when venue is in the geographical area, all changes effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 89-138 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (3)(G) permitting plaintiff to return action to either Hartford-New Britain or Middlesex judicial district when either party resides in Cromwell, and amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (3)(I) permitting plaintiff to return action to either Hartford or Middlesex judicial district when either party resides in Cromwell; P.A. 89-141 amended Subsec. (a)(3)(C) by permitting the plaintiff to return the action to either the New Haven or Ansonia-Milford judicial district if either party resides in West Haven and amended Subsec. (b)(3) by permitting the plaintiff to return the action to either the New Haven or Ansonia-Milford judicial district if the land is located and either party resides in Bethany, West Haven or Woodbridge; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 91-42 amended Subsec. (b)(5) by deleting the plaintiff's option to return the action to either the judicial district of Stamford-Norwalk or Fairfield when the land is located in the town of Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk or Stamford; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-40 amended Subsec. (a) by expanding exception to Subsecs. (b) to (g), inclusive, amended Subsec. (c) by adding exception for Subsecs. (d) or (g) of this section, amended Subsec. (d) by changing “defendant” to “consumer” and added Subsec. (g) re return of civil process in small claims matters, effective September 1, 1997; P.A. 98-81 amended Subsec. (a)(3)(H) by adding “Rocky Hill or Wethersfield” and amended Subsec. (b)(8) by adding “Rocky Hill or Wethersfield”, effective May 22, 1998; P.A. 00-191 amended Subsec. (g) by adding provision re return of process where plaintiff is a corporation or limited liability company, effective September 1, 2000; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 amended Subsec. (g) to add provision that venue for small claims matters shall be at Superior Court facilities designated by the Chief Court Administrator to hear such matters, specify that civil process in small claims matters shall be made returnable to “the” Superior Court facility, rather than “a” Superior Court facility, designated by the Chief Court Administrator to serve the small claims area and delete requirement that the small claims area be “within the boundaries of the judicial district” where the plaintiff resides, the defendant resides or is doing business or the transaction or injury occurred, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 02-132 amended Subsec. (g) by deleting “within the boundaries of the judicial district” re small claims area and making technical changes, effective June 7, 2002; P.A. 04-127 added Subsec. (a)(3)(J) re return of process where plaintiff or defendant resides in town of New Milford and Subsec. (b)(9) re return of process where land is located in town of New Milford; P.A. 17-99 amended Subsec. (a)(3) by adding Subpara. (K) re if plaintiff or defendant resides in Windham or Ashford action may be made returnable to judicial district of Windham or Tolland, amended Subsec. (d) by making technical changes, and added Subsec. (h) re return of civil process in actions involving housing matters; P.A. 19-32 made technical changes; P.A. 23-46 amended Subsecs. (a)(3)(E) and (b)(5) by replacing judicial district of Fairfield with judicial district of Bridgeport, effective January 1, 2024; P.A. 24-108 substantially revised Subsec. (c) by replacing references to “domestic corporation” and “foreign corporation” with “domestic business organization” and “foreign business organization”, deleting references to “United States corporation” and adding exceptions to where civil process is returnable in Subsec. (c)(1) and (2), and amended Subsec. (g) by replacing “domestic corporation, a United States corporation, a foreign corporation or a limited liability company” with “domestic or foreign business organization”; P.A. 25-91 amended Subsecs. (a)(1)(G), (b)(7), (c)(1)(B)(vii) and (2)(D)(vii) by removing references to Canton and Farmington and substituting “judicial district of Litchfield” for “judicial district of New Britain”, amended Subsec. (h)(2)(A) removing references to Avon, Canton, Farmington and Simsbury and added Subsec. (h)(2)(D) re if premises are located in Avon or Simsbury action is returnable at option of plaintiff to either judicial district of Hartford or judicial district of Litchfield.
| (Return to Chapter Table of Contents) |
(Return to List of Chapters) |
(Return to List of Titles) |