Conn. Practice Book § 8-1 (2026)

Sec. 8-1. Process (Amended June 14, 2013, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014.) (a) Process in civil actions shall be a writ of summons or attachment, describing the parties, the court to which it is returnable and the time and place of appearance, and shall be accompa- nied by the plaintiff’s complaint. Such writ may run into any judicial district or geographical area and shall be signed by a Commissioner of the Superior Court or a judge or clerk of the court to which it is returnable. Except in those actions and proceedings indicated below, the writ of summons shall be on a form substantially in compliance with the following Judicial Branch forms prescribed by the chief court administrator: Form JD-FM-3 in family actions, Form JD-HM-32 in summary process actions, and Form JD-CV-1 in other civil actions, as such forms shall from time to time be amended. Any person proceeding without the assistance of counsel shall sign the complaint and present the complaint and proposed writ of sum- mons to the clerk; the clerk shall review the pro- posed writ of summons and, unless it is defective as to form, shall sign it. (b) For administrative appeals brought pursuant to General Statutes § 4-183 et seq., process and service of process shall be made in accordance with General Statutes § 4-183 (c) and Practice Book Section 14-7A (a). (c) Form JD-FM-3, Form JD-HM-32, and Form JD-CV-1 shall not be used in the following actions and proceedings: (1) Applications for change of name. (2) Proceedings pertaining to arbitration. (3) Probate appeals. (4) Administrative appeals. (5) Verified petitions to adjudicate parentage. (6) Verified petitions for support orders. (7) Any actions or proceedings in which an attachment, garnishment or replevy is sought. 191 8-7. Request To Furnish Bond [Repealed] 8-8. Member of Community Defending To Give Bond [Repealed] 8-9. Bond by Nonresident in Realty Action [Repealed] 8-10. Surety Company Bond Acceptable 8-11. Action on Probate Bond; Endorsement of Writ [Repealed] 8-12. Renewal of Bond (8) Applications for custody. (9) Applications for visitation. (d) A plaintiff may, before service on a defend- ant, alter printed forms JD-FM-3, JD-HM-32, and JD-CV-1 in order to make them conform to any relevant amendments to the rules of practice or statutes. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 49.) (Amended June 28, 1999, to take effect Jan. 1, 2000; amended June 21, 2004, to take effect Jan. 1, 2005; amended June 14, 2013, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014; amended June 14, 2024, to take effect Jan. 1, 2025.) Sec. 8-2. Waiver of Court Fees and Costs (a) Prior to the commencement of an action, or at any time during its pendency, a party may file with the clerk of the court in which the action is pending, or in which the party intends to return a writ, summons and complaint, an application for waiver of fees payable to the court and for payment by the state of the costs of service of process. The application shall set forth the facts which are the basis of the claim for waiver and for payment by the state of any costs of service of process; a statement of the applicant’s current income, expenses, assets and liabilities; pertinent records of employment, gross earnings, gross wages and all other income; and the specific fees and costs of service of process sought to be waived or paid by the state and the amount of each. The application and any representations shall be supported by an affidavit of the applicant to the truth of the facts recited. (b) The clerk with whom such an application is filed shall refer it to the court of which he or she is clerk. If the court finds that a party is indigent and unable to pay a fee or fees payable to the court or to pay the cost of service of process, the

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