Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 896 - Civil Process, Service and Time for Return
Section 52-54. - Service of summons.

The service of a writ of summons shall be made by the officer reading it and the complaint accompanying it in the hearing of the defendant or by leaving an attested copy thereof with him or at his usual place of abode. When service is made by leaving an attested copy at the defendant's usual place of abode, the officer making service shall note in his return the address at which such attested copy was left.

(1949 Rev., S. 7773; 1967, P.A. 91.)
History: 1967 act required officer making service to make note of address where attested copy was left if service is made by leaving copy at defendant's usual place of abode.
Married woman could not accept service under former law; 3 C. 258; nor an attorney, without special authority. 1 R. 406; 28 C. 563. In suits against joint debtors, each must be served. 4 C. 426. Copy may be left at the house of a convict who is in prison. 11 C. 234. Attachment may be served as a summons. 1 R. 54; Id., 128. Suits take effect from the time of their service upon defendant, not from the date of process. 41 C. 485. Officer cannot use force merely to identify the person to be served. 49 C. 64. Officer must personally sign return on copy left with defendant. Id., 248. A nonresident defendant attending trial here is privileged from the service of process upon him by summons in a civil action; 51 C. 595; so is a nonresident coming here to testify; 82 C. 589. One illegally brought within precinct of officer. 85 C. 333. Temporary presence of one in jurisdiction ordinarily is sufficient. 27 C. 9; 67 C. 104. Meaning of “usual place of abode”. 92 C. 57; 105 C. 569. No service of writ of summons is valid unless accompanied by complaint; 97 C. 400; purpose of requirement is to insure actual notice. 108 C. 16. Service of civil process on defendant fraudulently induced to come within its reach. 99 C. 98. Nonresident defendant in a criminal action is not exempt from service of process, even though brought within jurisdiction by force; facts held to show no such fraud. 102 C. 13. Service by leaving writ in common hall of two-family house is void. 108 C. 13. Cited. 178 C. 472; 182 C. 14; 195 C. 191; 212 C. 157.
Cited. 5 CA 556.
Unattested copy of writ left at abode of defendant not proper service; defect may be waived by general appearance. 1 CS 73. Proper method of raising issue of improper service is by motion to dismiss or motion to erase. 2 CS 105. Compared with Sec. 52-62. Id., 134. Cited. 4 CS 138. “Usual place of abode” is connotative of residence only and not domicile. 8 CS 293. Service of writ and complaint was sufficient where it was inserted under the locked front door of the usual place of abode. 10 CS 365. Cited. 11 CS 262. Service upon defendant domiciled within the state but absent from state at time of service is sufficient for a personal judgment. 15 CS 18. What constitutes “usual place of abode”. 24 CS 324. Application to court to examine corporate records must be made by writ, summons and complaint. 25 CS 253. Service made at apartment house is insufficient, must be made at individual apartment in order to be valid. 29 CS 93. Service in motor vehicle civil actions is not completely covered by statute. Id., 227. Cited. 33 CS 554; Id., 678; 40 CS 243; 41 CS 367; 43 CS 10.
Cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 320. In action commenced before effective date of amendment, failure of officer to note in his return the address at which abode service was made not ground for abatement. 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 468, 470, 471.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 52 - Civil Actions

Chapter 896 - Civil Process, Service and Time for Return

Section 52-45a. (Formerly Sec. 52-89). - Commencement of civil actions. Contents and signature of process.

Section 52-45b. (Formerly Sec. 52-90). - Forms for commencement of civil action.

Section 52-46. - Time for service.

Section 52-46a. - Return of process.

Section 52-48. - Return day of process.

Section 52-48a and 52-49. - Service and return day of process in Circuit Court. Appeals from administrative officers, when returnable.

Section 52-50. - Persons to whom process shall be directed.

Section 52-51. - Service by officer before giving bond.

Section 52-52. - Orders of notice of legal or judicial proceedings.

Section 52-53. - State marshal may make special deputation.

Section 52-54. - Service of summons.

Section 52-55. - When completion of service by another officer allowable.

Section 52-56. - Service of process outside of officer's precinct.

Section 52-57. - Manner of service upon individuals, municipalities, corporations, partnerships and voluntary associations.

Section 52-57a. - Service of process without state upon persons domiciled or subject to jurisdiction of courts in state.

Section 52-57b, 52-58, 52-59 and 52-59a. - Service of process upon: Partnerships; corporations, by advertisement or otherwise; voluntary associations; nonresident and foreign partnerships doing business in Connecticut.

Section 52-59b. - Jurisdiction of courts over nonresident individuals, foreign partnerships and foreign voluntary associations. Service of process.

Section 52-59c. - Service upon nonresident attaching creditor.

Section 52-59d. - Service of process outside country to be in accordance with treaty or convention or court order.

Section 52-60. - Judge of probate as attorney for nonresident fiduciary. Service of process.

Section 52-61. - Service upon nonresident fiduciaries.

Section 52-62. - Service upon nonresident in action for negligent operation of motor vehicle.

Section 52-63. - Service of civil process upon Commissioner of Motor Vehicles in lieu of owner or operator of motor vehicle, authorized when.

Section 52-64. - Service in action against state.

Section 52-65. - Service upon nonresident in a quo warranto case.

Section 52-66. - Execution of process by borough bailiffs.

Section 52-67. - Service in actions on joint contracts.

Section 52-68. - Notice to nonresident adverse or interested parties and interested parties unknown to plaintiff.

Section 52-69. - Notice to “representatives and creditors”, “widow” or “widower and heirs”.

Section 52-70. - Endorsement on process for fees. Penalty for exacting illegal fees.

Section 52-71. - Process void if issued or served on Sunday.

Section 52-72. - Amendment of process.