Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 901 - Damages, Costs and Fees
Section 52-259. - *(See end of section for amended version and effective date.) Court fees.

(a) There shall be paid to the clerks for entering each appeal or writ of error to the Supreme Court, or entering each appeal to the Appellate Court, as the case may be, two hundred fifty dollars, and for each civil cause in the Superior Court, three hundred sixty dollars, except (1) two hundred thirty dollars for entering each case in the Superior Court in which the sole claim for relief is damages and the amount, legal interest or property in demand is less than two thousand five hundred dollars; (2) one hundred seventy-five dollars for summary process and landlord and tenant actions; (3) there shall be no entry fee for making an application to the Superior Court for relief under section 46b-15 or 46b-16a, or for making an application to modify or extend an order issued pursuant to section 46b-15 or 46b-16a; and (4) there shall be no entry fee for a civil action brought under section 53a-28a; and (5) there shall be no entry fee for a petition brought under subsection (f) of section 42a-9-518 and section 47-31a. If the amount, legal interest or property in demand by the plaintiff is alleged to be less than two thousand five hundred dollars, a new entry fee of seventy-five dollars shall be charged if the plaintiff amends his or her complaint to state that such demand is not less than two thousand five hundred dollars.

(b) The fee for the entry of a small claims case and for filing a counterclaim in a small claims case shall be ninety-five dollars. If a motion is filed to transfer a small claims case to the regular docket, the moving party shall pay a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars.
(c) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court by any party who requests that a matter be designated as a complex litigation case the sum of three hundred thirty-five dollars, to be paid at the time the request is filed.
(d) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court by any party who requests a finding of fact by a judge of such court to be used on appeal the sum of twenty-five dollars, to be paid at the time the request is filed.
(e) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of seventy-five dollars for a petition for certification to the Supreme Court and Appellate Court.
(f) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court for the appointment of a commissioner of the Superior Court, two dollars; for recording the commission and oath of a notary public or certifying under seal to the official character of any magistrate, ten dollars; for issuing a certificate that an attorney is in good standing, ten dollars; for certifying under seal, two dollars; for exemplifying, twenty dollars; for making all necessary records and certificates of naturalization, the fees allowed under the provisions of the United States statutes for such services; and for making copies, one dollar per page. Any fee set forth in this subsection shall be payable in accordance with subsection (m) of this section.
(g) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court for a copy of a judgment file a fee of twenty-five dollars, inclusive of the fees for certification and copying, for a certified copy and a fee of fifteen dollars, inclusive of the fee for copying, for a copy which is not certified; and for a copy of a certificate of judgment in a foreclosure action, as provided by the rules of practice and procedure, twenty-five dollars, inclusive of the fees for certification and copying. Any fee set forth in this subsection shall be payable in accordance with subsection (m) of this section.
(h) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of one hundred eighty dollars at the time any application for a prejudgment remedy is filed.
(i) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of six hundred twenty dollars at the time any motion to be admitted as attorney pro hac vice is filed.
(j) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of two hundred five dollars at the time any counterclaim, cross complaint, apportionment complaint or third party complaint is filed.
(k) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of three hundred fifty dollars at the time any application for a dissolution of lien upon the substitution of a bond with surety is filed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 49-37, subsection (b) of section 49-55a, subsection (a) of section 49-61, subsection (a) of section 49-92b or subsection (b) of section 49-92h.
(l) A fee of twenty dollars for any check issued to the court in payment of any fee which is returned as uncollectible by the bank on which it is drawn may be imposed.
(m) Any recording or copying performed under subsection (f) or (g) of this section may be done by photograph, microfilm, as defined in section 51-36, computerized image or other process which accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for so reproducing the original. The fees required under subsections (f) and (g) of this section for recording and copying shall be payable regardless of the method by which the recording and copying is done.
(n) The tax imposed under chapter 219 shall not be imposed upon any fee charged under the provisions of this section.
(1949 Rev., S. 3604; 1955, S. 1972d; November, 1955, S. N195; 1957, P.A. 57, S. 1; 385, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 199; 544; 670, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 628, S. 3; P.A. 74-183, S. 158, 291; P.A. 75-530, S. 4, 35; P.A. 76-368, S. 6, 9; 76-436, S. 560, 681; P.A. 77-347, S. 9, 11; 77-497, S. 3, 7; 77-576, S. 62, 65; 77-604, S. 61, 70, 84; P.A. 78-379, S. 18, 27; P.A. 79-574; P.A. 80-387, S. 1; P.A. 81-129, S. 2; 81-472, S. 92, 159; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4, S. 26, 32; 81-6, S. 2, 4; P.A. 82-325, S. 3, 6, 7; P.A. 83-196; 83-577, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 11, 82; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 8; P.A. 85-548, S. 5; P.A. 88-103, S. 1, 4; P.A. 89-219, S. 4, 10; 89-251, S. 189, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 76, 117; P.A. 93-396, S. 7; P.A. 94-135, S. 3; P.A. 95-176, S. 4; P.A. 97-309, S. 13, 23; 97-322, S. 7, 9; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 104; P.A. 03-2, S. 43; 03-278, S. 102; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 13; P.A. 09-152, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 135; P.A. 10-43, S. 17; P.A. 12-89, S. 2, 9; P.A. 13-194, S. 13, 14; P.A. 14-217, S. 260; P.A. 15-85, S. 15; P.A. 16-26, S. 3; 16-105, S. 7; P.A. 17-99, S. 17, 49.)
*Note: On and after July 1, 2023, this section, as amended by section 51 of public act 22-26, is to read as follows:
“Sec. 52-259. Court fees. (a) There shall be paid to the clerks for entering each appeal or writ of error to the Supreme Court, or entering each appeal to the Appellate Court, as the case may be, two hundred fifty dollars, and for each civil cause in the Superior Court, three hundred sixty dollars, except (1) two hundred thirty dollars for entering each case in the Superior Court in which the sole claim for relief is damages and the amount, legal interest or property in demand is less than two thousand five hundred dollars; (2) one hundred seventy-five dollars for summary process and landlord and tenant actions; (3) there shall be no entry fee for making an application to the Superior Court for relief under section 46b-15 or 46b-16a, or for making an application to modify or extend an order issued pursuant to section 46b-15 or 46b-16a; (4) there shall be no entry fee for a civil action brought under section 53a-28a; and (5) there shall be no entry fee for a petition brought under subsection (f) of section 42a-9-518 and section 47-31a. If the amount, legal interest or property in demand by the plaintiff is alleged to be less than two thousand five hundred dollars, a new entry fee of seventy-five dollars shall be charged if the plaintiff amends his or her complaint to state that such demand is not less than two thousand five hundred dollars.
(b) The fee for the entry of a small claims case and for filing a counterclaim in a small claims case shall be ninety-five dollars. If a motion is filed to transfer a small claims case to the regular docket, the moving party shall pay a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars.
(c) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court by any party who requests that a matter be designated as a complex litigation case the sum of three hundred thirty-five dollars, to be paid at the time the request is filed.
(d) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court by any party who requests a finding of fact by a judge of such court to be used on appeal the sum of twenty-five dollars, to be paid at the time the request is filed.
(e) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of seventy-five dollars for a petition for certification to the Supreme Court and Appellate Court.
(f) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court for the appointment of a commissioner of the Superior Court, two dollars; for recording the commission and oath of a notary public or certifying under seal to the official character of any magistrate, ten dollars; for issuing a certificate that an attorney is in good standing, ten dollars; for certifying under seal, two dollars; for exemplifying, twenty dollars; for making all necessary records and certificates of naturalization, the fees allowed under the provisions of the United States statutes for such services; and for making copies, one dollar per page. Any fee set forth in this subsection shall be payable in accordance with subsection (n) of this section.
(g) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court for a copy of a judgment file a fee of twenty-five dollars, inclusive of the fees for certification and copying, for a certified copy and a fee of fifteen dollars, inclusive of the fee for copying, for a copy which is not certified; and for a copy of a certificate of judgment in a foreclosure action, as provided by the rules of practice and procedure, twenty-five dollars, inclusive of the fees for certification and copying. Any fee set forth in this subsection shall be payable in accordance with subsection (n) of this section.
(h) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of one hundred eighty dollars at the time any application for a prejudgment remedy is filed.
(i) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of six hundred twenty dollars at the time any motion to be admitted as attorney pro hac vice is filed.
(j) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of two hundred five dollars at the time any counterclaim, cross complaint, apportionment complaint or third party complaint is filed.
(k) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of three hundred fifty dollars at the time any application for a dissolution of lien upon the substitution of a bond with surety is filed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 49-37, subsection (b) of section 49-55a, subsection (a) of section 49-61, subsection (a) of section 49-92b or subsection (b) of section 49-92h.
(l) There shall be paid to the clerk of the Superior Court a fee of one hundred dollars at the time of the request for the issuance of a foreign subpoena pursuant to section 52-657.
(m) A fee of twenty dollars for any check issued to the court in payment of any fee which is returned as uncollectible by the bank on which it is drawn may be imposed.
(n) Any recording or copying performed under subsection (f) or (g) of this section may be done by photograph, microfilm, as defined in section 51-36, computerized image or other process which accurately reproduces or forms a durable medium for so reproducing the original. The fees required under subsections (f) and (g) of this section for recording and copying shall be payable regardless of the method by which the recording and copying is done.
(o) The tax imposed under chapter 219 shall not be imposed upon any fee charged under the provisions of this section.”
(1949 Rev., S. 3604; 1955, S. 1972d; November, 1955, S. N195; 1957, P.A. 57, S. 1; 385, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 199; 544; 670, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 628, S. 3; P.A. 74-183, S. 158, 291; P.A. 75-530, S. 4, 35; P.A. 76-368, S. 6, 9; 76-436, S. 560, 681; P.A. 77-347, S. 9, 11; 77-497, S. 3, 7; 77-576, S. 62, 65; 77-604, S. 61, 70, 84; P.A. 78-379, S. 18, 27; P.A. 79-574; P.A. 80-387, S. 1; P.A. 81-129, S. 2; 81-472, S. 92, 159; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4, S. 26, 32; 81-6, S. 2, 4; P.A. 82-325, S. 3, 6, 7; P.A. 83-196; 83-577, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29, S. 11, 82; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 8; P.A. 85-548, S. 5; P.A. 88-103, S. 1, 4; P.A. 89-219, S. 4, 10; 89-251, S. 189, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6, S. 76, 117; P.A. 93-396, S. 7; P.A. 94-135, S. 3; P.A. 95-176, S. 4; P.A. 97-309, S. 13, 23; 97-322, S. 7, 9; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 104; P.A. 03-2, S. 43; 03-278, S. 102; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 13; P.A. 09-152, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 135; P.A. 10-43, S. 17; P.A. 12-89, S. 2, 9; P.A. 13-194, S. 13, 14; P.A. 14-217, S. 260; P.A. 15-85, S. 15; P.A. 16-26, S. 3; 16-105, S. 7; P.A. 17-99, S. 17, 49; P.A. 22-26, S. 51.)
History: 1959 acts added exception to charge for second judgment after judgment reopened for cases where reopening was for court error in prior judgment and where court reopened on own motion, added fee for foreclosure by sale, raised entry fee in supreme and superior courts from $16 to $22 and in court of common pleas from $16 to $20; 1967 act increased entry fee in supreme and superior courts to $45 and in common pleas court to $30, eliminated fees for recording judgments, taking recognizance or bond for prosecution or special bail, signing writs of habeas corpus, making records, taking bail bonds and furnishing copies and for orders of notice, and further provided for furnishing copy of judgment to parties without charge; P.A. 74-183 applied $45 fee paid to superior or supreme court clerks to appeals, reduced fee for entering civil cause in common pleas court from $30 to $20 and added provision re payment of record fee in appeals from common pleas court to superior court, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 75-530 clarified fee provisions, imposed $20 entry fee in appeals from common pleas court to superior court and deleted provision which had specified that there is no charge for one plain or certified copy of judgment to any party to the action, effective June 30, 1975; P.A. 76-368 raised fees for entering civil causes and entry fee in appeals from common pleas court to superior court by $5 each, effective July 1, 1976; P.A. 76-436 amended section to reflect transfer of common pleas court functions to superior court, deleting provisions previously applicable to actions in common pleas court, and added provisions re cases where entry fee is $20 and re new entry fee for amended addendum, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-347 raised new entry fee from $45 to $50 and substituted “ad damnum” for “addendum” in provision added by P.A. 76-436 and added provisions re fees for entry and transfer of small claims cases, effective July 1, 1978, through June 30, 1979; P.A. 77-497 restated provision re new entry fee to refer to amended complaint rather than amended ad damnum, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-576 raised all fees, except fee for entry of small claims case, record fees in appeals to superior court appellate session and various fees associated with documentation by $5, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-604 made technical correction; P.A. 78-379 reduced record fee in appeals to superior court appellate session from $30 to $25, correcting a mistake resulting from misreading of P.A. 77-576, and specified that tax imposed under Ch. 219 does not apply to fees charged under section, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-574 based fees on amount, legal interest or property in demand equally $2,500 rather than $7,500, effective October 1, 1979; P.A. 80-387 raised most fees, except those for appeals to superior court appellate session or for finding of fact or for various charges associated with documentation and except fee for entry of small claims case (raised from $6 to $8), by $5, effective October 1, 1980; P.A. 81-129 increased the fee for the entry of a small claims case from $8 to $10; P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4 raised fees for entering appeal to supreme court from $60 to $75, for entering appeal to superior court in exception from $35 to $45, for new entry fee in amended complaint from $60 to $75, for transfer of small claims case to regular docket from $35 to $45 and for entry of appeal in appellate session of superior court from $30 to $45; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-6 added Subsec. (b) re collection fees in non-AFDC support cases; P.A. 82-325 changed effective date of Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-6, S. 2 from January 27, 1982, to 60 days following effective date of regulations adopted to effectuate purposes of Subsec. (b) enacted by that act and revised effective date of certain sections of Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4 as well but without affecting this section; P.A. 83-196 amended Subsec. (b) by changing “shall impose” to “may impose”, deleting provisions re computation of amount of collection fee and adding provision that collection fee be in an amount necessary to meet the cost of providing support services and paid by person against whom the support order was issued; P.A. 83-577 raised fees for appeal to the supreme court from $75 to $100, for civil actions from $60 to $90, for civil actions where the sole claim is for damages and the amount in demand is less than $2,500 and summary process, landlord and tenant, paternity and support actions from $45 to $55, and for small claims cases from $10 to $20; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-29 added reference to appellate court, deleted reference to appellate session of the superior court and deleted provision re entry fee of $45 in Subsec. (a); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35 amended Subsec. (a) by providing the entry fee for a small claims case which is a housing matter shall be $15; P.A. 85-548 amended Subsec. (b) to make imposition of fee mandatory rather than discretionary to describe fee as an “application” fee and to provide for determination, payment and reimbursement of such fee which shall not exceed $25, deleting prior provisions specifying that “collection” fee should meet the cost of providing support services and should be paid by person against whom an order of support was issued; P.A. 88-103 added Subsec. (a)(2) exempting applications to superior court for relief under Sec. 46b-15 from entry fee; P.A. 89-219 raised fees for appeal to the supreme court or appellate court from $100 to $150, for civil actions from $90 to $125, for civil actions where the sole claim is for damages and the amount in demand is less than $2,500 and summary process, landlord and tenant, paternity and support actions from $55 to $60, and for small claims cases from $15 to $20 for any housing matter and from $20 to $25 for any other matter; P.A. 89-251 amended Subsec. (b) to increase the maximum fee from $25 to $30; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 amended Subsec. (a) to increase various fees and to add fees for a copy of a judgment file, certification and copying an application for a prejudgment remedy; P.A. 93-396 deleted former Subsec. (b) concerning the state imposition of application fees in non-AFDC child support cases; P.A. 94-135 imposed fee of $75 for petition for certification to supreme court and appellate court and fee of $20 for exemplifying and deleted record fee for appeals to appellate court; P.A. 95-176 added fee for entering writ of error to Supreme Court, eliminated $75 fee for entering support action, added provision of no entry fee for application to modify or extend order issued under Sec. 46b-15 and authorized $20 fee for check to court in payment of fee returned as uncollectible by bank; P.A. 97-309 increased fee for civil cause in Superior Court from $150 to $185, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 97-322 changed effective date of P.A. 97-309 but without affecting this section; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 raised fee for entry of a small claims case from $30 to $35 and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-2 established fee of $250 for filing a request that a matter be designated as a complex litigation case and increased fee for a civil cause in Superior Court from $185 to $220, a civil cause in which the sole claim for relief is damages and the amount, legal interest or property in demand is less than $2,500 and for summary process, landlord and tenant and paternity actions from $75 to $120, a certified copy of a judgment file from $15 to $25, an uncertified copy of a judgment file from $10 to $15, a copy of a certificate of judgment in a foreclosure action from $20 to $25, and an application for a prejudgment remedy from $50 to $100, effective February 28, 2003; P.A. 03-278 made technical changes, effective July 9, 2003; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 increased fee for entering each civil cause in the Superior Court from $220 to $225, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 09-152 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) to (j), amended Subsec. (a) to substitute $300 for $225 re civil cause, amended Subsec. (c) to substitute $325 for $250 re complex litigation cases, amended Subsec. (h) to substitute $175 for $100 re prejudgment remedy applications, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2009; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to increase entry fee from $120 to $175 and amended Subsec. (b) to increase small claims fees from $35 to $75 and from $75 to $125, effective September 9, 2009; P.A. 10-43 amended Subsec. (f) to add fee of $10 for issuing certificate that attorney is in good standing; P.A. 12-89 amended Subsec. (a) to increase entry fee in civil cause from $300 to $350, increase entry fee re demand less than $2,500 from $175 to $225, delete reference to paternity actions and make technical changes, amended Subsec. (b) to increase fee for small claims case from $75 to $90 and add provision re filing counterclaim in small claims case, added new Subsec. (i) re $600 fee for motion for admittance as attorney pro hac vice, added new Subsec. (j) re $200 fee for counterclaim, cross complaint, apportionment complaint or third party complaint, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (i) and (j) as Subsecs. (k) and (l), effective July 1, 2012, and deleted such increased and new fees and restored provisions and Subsec. designations existing prior to such amendments, effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 13-194 amended Subsecs. (f) and (g) to add provision re fee payable in accordance with Subsec. (m), added new Subsec. (k) re $350 fee for application for dissolution of lien upon substitution of a bond with surety, added new Subsec. (m) re recording and copying performed under Subsecs. (f) or (g) and fees being payable for same regardless of method, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (k) and (l) as Subsecs. (l) and (n), effective July 1, 2013, and added new Subsec. (i) to reduce fee for application for dissolution of lien from $350 to $300, added new Subsec. (k) re recording and copying fees, and redesignated existing Subsecs. (i) and (j) as Subsecs. (j) and (l), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 14-217 repealed P.A. 12-89, S. 9, and P.A. 13-194, S. 14; P.A. 15-85 amended Subsec. (a)(3) to add references to Sec. 46b-16a, effective June 24, 2015; P.A. 16-26 amended Subsec. (a) to increase entry fee in civil cause from $350 to $360 and increase entry fee re demand less than $2,500 from $225 to $230, amended Subsec. (b) to increase entry fee in small claims case from $90 to $95, amended Subsec. (c) to increase fee for designating matter as a complex litigation case from $325 to $335, amended Subsec. (h) to increase prejudgment remedy application fee from $175 to $180, amended Subsec. (i) to increase fee for motion for admittance as attorney pro hac vice from $600 to $620 and amended Subsec. (j) to increase fee for counterclaim, cross complaint, apportionment complaint or third party complaint from $200 to $205, effective July 1, 2016; P.A. 16-105 amended Subsec. (f) by deleting “receiving and filing an assessment of damages by appraisers of land taken for public use or” re $2 fee; P.A. 17-99 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (4) re entry fee for civil action brought under Sec. 53a-28a, effective October 1, 2017, and add Subdiv. (4), codified by the Revisors as Subdiv. (5), re entry fee for petition brought under Secs. 42a-9-518(f) and 47-31a, effective January 1, 2018; P.A. 22-26 amended Subsecs. (a), (f) and (g) by making technical changes, added new Subsec. (l) re $100 fee for the issuance of a foreign subpoena pursuant to Sec. 52-657 and redesignated existing Subsecs. (l) to (n) as (m) to (o), effective July 1, 2023.
Cited. 135 C. 412; 194 C. 43; 223 C. 68; 237 C. 758.
Cited. 15 CA 185.
Cited. 8 CS 31.