How long do I have to file a notice of appeal in Connecticut?

Generally 20 days from the date notice of the judgment or decision is given. If notice is given in open court, the period begins that day; if given only by mail or electronic delivery, it begins the day the trial court clerk sends notice to counsel of record; in a civil jury case, it begins when the verdict is accepted (Practice Book Sec. 63-1(a)-(b)).

Does the Connecticut appeal deadline run from entry of judgment or from when notice is given?

From when notice is given, not from entry. Practice Book Sec. 63-1(a)-(b) starts the 20-day period on the day notice is given in open court, or on the day the clerk sends notice by mail or electronic delivery, whichever applies; a civil jury case instead starts the clock when the verdict is accepted.

Where do I file a Connecticut notice of appeal?

With the Appellate Clerk, not the trial court clerk, through Judicial Branch E-Services. A filer exempt from e-filing mails or delivers the paper appeal form and fee receipt to the Office of the Appellate Clerk in Hartford (Practice Book Sec. 63-3; Sec. 60-7; Sec. 60-8).

Is there an official Connecticut notice of appeal form?

Yes. The Judicial Branch's e-filing system generates the official Appeal form, JD-SC-33, directly from the filer's answers, and there is no free-text alternative for e-filers. Paper filers complete the same JD-SC-33 form by hand, using the instructions in form JD-SC-34.

Can I appeal a Connecticut small claims judgment?

No. Small claims judgments are final and conclusive in Connecticut; there is no appeal (Practice Book Sec. 24-28). Either party may instead file a motion to open in the same small claims session, for lack of actual notice or, within four months of the judgment, for other sufficient cause (Practice Book Sec. 24-31).

How much does it cost to file a Connecticut notice of appeal?

A filing fee is charged to enter the appeal, and the appeal form must be accompanied by a receipt showing the fee was paid or proof of a fee waiver (Practice Book Sec. 60-7); confirm the current fee with the clerk. No cost bond is required to file, and an indigent party may apply to the trial court for a waiver of fees within the time for taking the appeal (Practice Book Sec. 60-9; Sec. 63-6).

Connecticut Notice of Appeal

Q: Can a Connecticut trial judge extend the notice of appeal deadline?

Yes, which is unusual. The judge who tried the case may extend the filing deadline by up to 20 additional days, unless the deadline is set by a statute the legislature intended as a limit on the court's subject-matter jurisdiction. The extension motion is filed with the trial court clerk, not the Appellate Clerk (Practice Book Sec. 66-1(a)).

Q: Does filing a Connecticut notice of appeal stop the other side from collecting the judgment?

Not by itself. The stay comes from Practice Book Sec. 61-11(a): except where otherwise provided by statute or other law, enforcement is automatically stayed, with no bond required, until the appeal period expires and, if an appeal is timely filed, until the final determination of the cause. Excluded matters include attorney-discipline matters, most juvenile matters, most administrative appeals, and certain family or civil-protective-order matters (Sec. 61-11(b)-(c)); in those and other excluded cases, a party must ask the trial court for a discretionary stay (Sec. 61-12).

Connecticut files the appeal with the Appellate Clerk rather than the trial court, and is one of the few states where the trial judge may extend the deadline, by no more than 20 days and not where a statute sets it as a jurisdictional limit (Practice Book Sec. 66-1(a)).

Find out where you stand in Connecticut

Where are you in the appeal?

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Introduction

In Connecticut, an appeal must be filed within 20 days of the date notice of the judgment or decision is given. If notice is given in open court, the 20 days begins that day; if notice is given only by mail or electronic delivery, the period begins the day the clerk of the trial court sends notice to counsel of record; in a civil jury case, the period begins when the verdict is accepted (Practice Book Sec. 63-1(a)-(b)). A motion filed within the appeal period that, if granted, would render the judgment, decision, or verdict ineffective creates a new 20-day period starting the day notice of the ruling on that motion is given. Practice Book Sec. 63-1(c)(1) lists, without limitation, motions to open or set aside the judgment, for a new trial, to set aside the verdict, for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, to reargue the judgment or decision, for collateral source reduction, additur, or remittitur, and any motion to alter the terms of the judgment. A motion for clarification or articulation, or a motion to reargue another such motion, does not create a new period. Unlike most states, Connecticut lets the trial judge extend the filing deadline by up to 20 additional days, unless the deadline is set by a statute the legislature intended as a limit on the court's subject-matter jurisdiction; the extension motion is filed with the trial court clerk (Practice Book Sec. 66-1(a)). The appeal itself is filed with the Appellate Clerk through Judicial Branch E-Services, not with the trial court clerk (Practice Book Sec. 63-3). Filing the appeal does not by itself stop enforcement; the stay comes from Practice Book Sec. 61-11(a), which, except where otherwise provided by statute or other law, automatically stays enforcement with no bond required until the appeal period expires and, if an appeal is timely filed, until the final determination of the cause. Excluded matters include attorney-discipline matters, most juvenile matters, most administrative appeals, and certain family or civil-protective-order matters (Sec. 61-11(b)-(c)); in those and other excluded cases, a party must seek a discretionary stay from the trial court (Sec. 61-12). There is no appeal from a small claims judgment in Connecticut; small claims judgments are final and conclusive except for a motion to open filed in the same small claims session (Practice Book Sec. 24-28; Sec. 24-31). An appeal reviews the trial court record for legal error; it is not a new trial. Criminal, administrative-agency, federal, and interlocutory appeals follow different procedures and are not covered here. Attorney review is available before you file.

Key Things to Know

1
The appeal is due within 20 days of the date notice of the judgment or decision is given: that day if given in open court, or the day the trial court clerk sends notice to counsel of record if given only by mail or electronic delivery, or the day the verdict is accepted in a civil jury case (Practice Book Sec. 63-1(a)-(b)).
2
A motion filed within the appeal period that, if granted, would render the judgment, decision, or verdict ineffective creates a new 20-day period from the day notice of the ruling on that motion is given, including motions to open or set aside the judgment, for a new trial, to set aside the verdict, for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, to reargue, for collateral source reduction, additur, or remittitur, or to alter the terms of the judgment; a motion for clarification or articulation does not (Practice Book Sec. 63-1(c)(1)).
3
Unlike most states, the trial judge may extend the filing deadline by up to 20 additional days, unless the deadline is set by a statute the legislature intended as jurisdictional; the extension motion is filed with the trial court clerk, not the Appellate Clerk (Practice Book Sec. 66-1(a)).
4
The appeal is filed with the Appellate Clerk through Judicial Branch E-Services, not with the trial court clerk. Filers exempt from e-filing mail or deliver the paper form and fee receipt to the Office of the Appellate Clerk in Hartford (Practice Book Sec. 63-3; Sec. 60-7; Sec. 60-8).
5
The Judicial Branch's e-filing system generates the official Appeal form, JD-SC-33, directly from the filer's answers, and paper filers use the same JD-SC-33 form by hand; instructions are in form JD-SC-34. Within 10 days after filing, the appellant must also file a preliminary statement of the issues, a clerk appendix designation, a transcript certificate or order confirmation, and a docketing statement (Practice Book Sec. 63-3; Sec. 63-4(a)).
6
A filing fee is charged to enter the appeal, and the appeal form must be accompanied by a receipt showing the fee was paid or proof of a fee waiver; confirm the current fee with the clerk. No cost bond is required to file, though the court may later order security for costs on motion, and an indigent party may apply to the trial court for a fee waiver (Practice Book Sec. 60-7; Sec. 60-9; Sec. 63-6).
7
There is no appeal from a small claims judgment in Connecticut. Small claims judgments are final and conclusive except for a motion to open filed in the same small claims session, for lack of actual notice or, within four months of judgment, for other sufficient cause (Practice Book Sec. 24-28; Sec. 24-31).

Key decisions before you file

Before you file a Notice of Appeal in Connecticut, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Notice of Appeal guide walks through them.

Open the Notice of Appeal guide

Customize your Notice of Appeal Template with DocDraft

NOTE: Connecticut's e-filing system generates the official Appeal form, JD-SC-33 ("Appeal / Joint Appeal / Cross Appeal"), directly from the filer's answers, and paper filers exempt from e-filing complete the same JD-SC-33 form by hand. That official form controls. This is a working draft of the information the form asks for, not a substitute for it.

[APPELLATE COURT OR SUPREME COURT] OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT

[TRIAL COURT NAME], JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF [JUDICIAL DISTRICT] DOCKET NO(S). [ALL TRIAL COURT DOCKET NUMBERS]

[PLAINTIFF NAME] [Plaintiff/Appellant or Appellee] v. [DEFENDANT NAME] [Defendant/Appellant or Appellee]

WORKING DRAFT FOR APPEAL FORM JD-SC-33

TO THE APPELLATE CLERK:

[NAME OF PARTY FILING THIS APPEAL], the [PLAINTIFF OR DEFENDANT] in the above-captioned case, appeals to the [APPELLATE COURT OR SUPREME COURT] from the judgment or decision of the Honorable [TRIAL COURT JUDGE NAME], rendered on [DATE OF JUDGMENT OR DECISION], consisting of [THE ACTION THAT CONSTITUTES THE APPEALABLE JUDGMENT OR DECISION]. Judgment was rendered for [PARTY OR PARTIES FOR WHOM JUDGMENT WAS RENDERED].

[IF APPLICABLE: The statutory basis for appeal to the Supreme Court is: [STATUTORY BASIS FOR APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT].]

This appeal is filed within twenty days of the date notice of the judgment or decision was given, as Practice Book Sec. 63-1(a)-(b) requires. [IF APPLICABLE: A motion that, if granted, would have rendered the judgment, decision, or verdict ineffective was filed within the appeal period and remained pending until notice of the ruling on that motion was given on [DATE NOTICE OF THE RULING WAS GIVEN], so this appeal is timely within twenty days of that date under Practice Book Sec. 63-1(c)(1).] [IF APPLICABLE: The trial court extended the time to file this appeal to [EXTENDED DEADLINE DATE] under Practice Book Sec. 66-1(a).]

CERTIFICATION

The undersigned certifies that a copy of the appeal as filed will immediately be delivered to all counsel of record under Practice Book Sec. 62-7(c), as Practice Book Sec. 63-3 requires. [IF APPLICABLE: The undersigned further certifies that the trial court granted a waiver of fees under Practice Book Sec. 63-6, and no filing fee accompanies this appeal.]

Respectfully submitted,

[SIGNATURE] [NAME OF PARTY OR ATTORNEY OF RECORD] [ADDRESS] [CITY, CONNECTICUT ZIP] [PHONE] [EMAIL] JURIS NO. [JURIS NUMBER, IF AN ATTORNEY]

The appellant understands that within 10 days after this appeal is filed, a preliminary statement of the issues (JD-SC-038), a designation of the proposed clerk appendix contents (JD-SC-039), a certificate that no transcript is necessary or a transcript order confirmation (JD-SC-040), and a docketing statement (JD-SC-041) must also be filed with the Appellate Clerk, as Practice Book Sec. 63-4(a) requires. Filing this appeal does not by itself stop enforcement of the judgment being appealed; any stay comes from Practice Book Sec. 61-11(a), which applies except where otherwise provided by statute or other law and does not reach the matters Sec. 61-11(b)-(c) excludes, where a stay must instead be requested from the trial court under Sec. 61-12.

Connecticut Requirements for Notice of Appeal

20-Day Deadline From Notice of Judgment
An appeal must be filed within 20 days of the date notice of the judgment or decision is given, starting that day if given in open court, the day the clerk sends notice if given by mail or electronic delivery, or the day the verdict is accepted in a civil jury case (Practice Book Sec. 63-1(a)-(b)).
Tolling Motions Create a New 20-Day Period
A motion filed within the appeal period that, if granted, would render the judgment, decision, or verdict ineffective creates a new 20-day period from the day notice of the ruling on it is given; clarification, articulation, or reargument-of-another-such-motion filings do not (Practice Book Sec. 63-1(c)(1)).
Trial Judge May Extend the Deadline
The trial judge may extend the filing deadline by up to 20 additional days, unless the deadline is set by a statute the legislature intended as a jurisdictional limit; the extension motion is filed with the trial court clerk (Practice Book Sec. 66-1(a)).
Filed With the Appellate Clerk
The appeal is filed with the Appellate Clerk through Judicial Branch E-Services, not with the trial court clerk; filers exempt from e-filing mail or deliver the paper form to the Office of the Appellate Clerk (Practice Book Sec. 63-3; Sec. 60-7; Sec. 60-8).
JD-SC-33 Official Appeal Form
The e-filing system generates the official Appeal form, JD-SC-33, from the filer's answers with no free-text alternative; paper filers complete the same form by hand using the JD-SC-34 instructions.
Post-Filing Deadlines Within 10 Days
Within 10 days after filing, the appellant must also file a preliminary statement of the issues (JD-SC-038), a clerk appendix designation (JD-SC-039), a transcript certificate or order confirmation (JD-SC-040), and a docketing statement (JD-SC-041) (Practice Book Sec. 63-4(a)).
Automatic Stay of Enforcement
Except where otherwise provided by statute or other law, enforcement is automatically stayed with no bond required until the appeal period expires and, if an appeal is timely filed, until final determination; excluded matters include attorney-discipline, most juvenile, most administrative, and certain family or protective-order matters, where a discretionary stay must be sought (Practice Book Sec. 61-11; Sec. 61-12).
No Appeal From a Small Claims Judgment
Small claims judgments are final and conclusive; there is no appeal. Either party may instead file a motion to open in the same small claims session, for lack of actual notice or, within four months of judgment, for other sufficient cause (Practice Book Sec. 24-28; Sec. 24-31).
Filing Fee to Enter the Appeal
A filing fee is charged to enter the appeal, with a fee receipt or proof of waiver accompanying the appeal form; confirm the current fee with the clerk. No cost bond is required, and an indigent party may apply for a fee waiver (Practice Book Sec. 60-7; Sec. 60-9; Sec. 63-6).

Find out where you stand in Connecticut

Introduction

Key Things to Know

Key decisions before you file

Customize your Notice of Appeal Template with DocDraft

Connecticut Requirements for Notice of Appeal

20-Day Deadline From Notice of Judgment

Tolling Motions Create a New 20-Day Period

Trial Judge May Extend the Deadline

Filed With the Appellate Clerk

JD-SC-33 Official Appeal Form

Post-Filing Deadlines Within 10 Days

Automatic Stay of Enforcement

No Appeal From a Small Claims Judgment

Filing Fee to Enter the Appeal

Frequently Asked Questions