Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 52 — CIVIL ACTIONS · Chapter 896 — Civil Process, Service and Time for Return
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-46a (2026)

Return of process

✓ current as of May 2026
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Process in civil actions returnable to the Supreme Court shall be returned to its clerk at least twenty days before the return day and, if returnable to the Superior Court, except process in summary process actions and petitions for parentage and support, to the clerk of such court at least six days before the return day.

(P.A. 76-436, S. 178, 681; P.A. 93-187, S. 6; P.A. 21-15, S. 143.)

History: P.A. 93-187 added “and petitions for paternity and support” after “summary process actions”; P.A. 21-15 replaced “paternity” with “parentage”, effective January 1, 2022.

Cited. 211 C. 431; 227 C. 848; 236 C. 330. Failure to return process in probate matter in accordance with section did not deprive Superior Court of jurisdiction over probate appeal. 289 C. 795.

Cited. 3 CA 566; 27 CA 590; 34 CA 579; 36 CA 635; judgment reversed, see 236 C. 330. Failure to comply with section's mandate renders proceeding voidable, rather than void, and subject to dismissal. 126 CA 314.

Cited. 39 CS 247.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 28 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1984–2024 · leading case: Coppola v. Coppola, 707 A.2d 281 (Conn. 1998).
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Coppola v. Coppola, 707 A.2d 281 (Conn. 1998). · cites it 13× “The dispositive issue in this certified appeal is whether, pursuant to General Statutes § 52-72, 1 the return date of civil process can be amended to *659 correct the plaintiffs failure to return the process at least six days before the return date as required by General…”
Rogozinski v. Am. Food Serv. Equip. Corp., 559 A.2d 1110 (Conn. 1989). · cites it 6× “The dispositive issue is whether the trial court erred in dismissing the plaintiffs’ action for failure to return process within the six day period required by General Statutes § 52-46a. Examination of the record discloses that the writ and summons bore a return date of April…”
Rana v. Ritacco, 672 A.2d 946 (Conn. 1996). · cites it 6× “” Rather, once an action has been brought by service of process on the defendant, a trial court may thereafter dismiss the action for failure to return the service of process within the mandated time period.”
Merrill v. NRT New England, Inc., 12 A.3d 575 (Conn. App. Ct. 2011). · cites it 9× “2 The plaintiff s counsel indicated that he changed the return date because the marshal did not return process to him until after the sixth day preceding July 22, 2008, making it impossible for counsel to file it with the court six days prior to the return date in accordance…”
Rios v. Ccmc Corp., 943 A.2d 544 (Conn. App. Ct. 2008). · cites it 4× “See General Statutes § 52-46a. That statute deals with the filing of the process with the clerk after the action has been commenced.”
Bergin v. Bergin, 3 Conn. App. 566 (Conn. App. Ct. 1986). · cites it 4× “As such, the requirement of General Statutes § 52-46a, 2 which states that process in civil actions returnable to the Superior Court must be returned at least six days before the return day, must be satisfied.”
Kucej v. Kucej, 642 A.2d 81 (Conn. App. Ct. 1994). · cites it 5× “As a result, the appellant must satisfy the requirements of General Statutes § 52-46a, 5 which states that process in civil actions *584 returnable to the Superior Court must be returned at least six days before the return date.”
Olympia Mortg. Corp. v. Klein, 763 A.2d 1055 (Conn. App. Ct. 2001). · cites it 4× “In Coppola , the court held that the return date of civil process could be amended to correct the plaintiffs failure to return the process at least six days before the return date as required by General Statutes § 52-46a. 6 Coppola v. Coppola, supra, 243 Conn.”
Heussner v. Hayes, 961 A.2d 365 (Conn. 2008). · cites it 5× “Heussner, was made to the wrong address; and the plaintiff had failed to return process in accordance with General Statutes § 52-46a. 6 The plaintiff opposed the motions and concurrently filed motions to amend process in the Superior Court, pursuant to General Statutes § 52-72,…”
Lostritto v. Cmty. Action Agency of New Haven, Inc., 848 A.2d 418 (Conn. 2004). · cites it 2× “2d 281 (1998) (“the return date determines howto compute the time for service of process; General Statutes § 52-46; the time for filing the writ with the court; General Statutes § 52-46a; the time for the defendant to file an appearance with the court; General Statutes § 52-84;…”
Rosario v. Hasak, 718 A.2d 505 (Conn. App. Ct. 1998). · cites it 6× “5 The trial court concluded that the plaintiff had failed to comply with the provisions of General Statutes § 52-46a. 6 In July, 1995, the plaintiff commenced a fourth action, identical in substance to the first three actions, alleging, again as argued in the third action, the…”
Glastonbury Volunteer Ambulance Ass'n v. Freedom of Info. Comm'n, 633 A.2d 305 (Conn. 1993). · cites it 2× “” General Statutes § 52-46a provides: “return of process.”
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