Connecticut lawyer costs and court fees
Short answer
Connecticut has small claims cases up to $5,000, a 2-year personal injury filing deadline. Clio does not publish a Connecticut rate; the national average is $349 an hour. Below are the verified court fees, deadlines, fee-cap rules and free-help options, each linked to its official source.
Connecticut legal costs at a glance
| Small claims limit | $5,000[1][2] |
|---|---|
| Small claims filing fee | $95 (counterclaim also $95; motion to transfer to the regular docket $125)[1][2] |
| Superior Court civil filing fee | $360 entry fee; $230 if the sole claim is damages under $2,500; $175 for summary process/landlord-tenant (C.G.S. §52-259(a))[2] |
| Divorce filing fee | Not verified yet — ask the court clerk |
| Personal injury deadline | 2 years from the injury or its discovery, with a 3-year repose from the act or omission (C.G.S. §52-584)[3] |
| Attorney fee caps | C.G.S. §52-251c, for personal injury, wrongful death or property damage claims: 33⅓% of the first $300k, 25% of the next $300k, 20% of the next $300k, 15% of the next $300k, 10% above $1.2M. A written, notarized waiver is allowed for complex cases, but the fee may never exceed 33⅓%.[4] |
| Average lawyer rate | No Connecticut figure published; national average $349/hour[5] |
What lawyers charge in Connecticut
Clio publishes state-level averages for only some states, and Connecticut is not one of them. The national average billed rate in Clio's 2025 data is $349 per hour[5]. We do not publish an invented Connecticut figure: ask two or three local lawyers for their hourly rate and compare it with the national number.
Illustrative budget at $349/hour (not a quote): a 1-hour consultation ≈ $349; a 5-hour document review ≈ $1,745; a 20-hour contested matter ≈ $6,980, before court fees and expenses. Many lawyers quote flat fees for routine work instead; see hourly vs flat fees.
Small claims court in Connecticut
Small claims cases are heard in the Superior Court – Small Claims. You can ask for up to $5,000[1][2]. Libel and slander are excluded (C.G.S. §51-15(d)); a tenant's security-deposit claim under §47a-21 may be awarded above $5,000.
- Filing fee: $95 (counterclaim also $95; motion to transfer to the regular docket $125)
- Serving the other side: service costs are not listed in the official sources we checked; ask the clerk which service methods are allowed and what they cost.
See how Connecticut compares with other states in our 50-state small claims table.
Court filing fees
Superior Court: $360 entry fee; $230 if the sole claim is damages under $2,500; $175 for summary process/landlord-tenant (C.G.S. §52-259(a))[2]
Divorce: no single statewide amount verified.
If you cannot afford a filing fee, every state lets you ask the court to waive it; the form is usually called a fee waiver or an application to proceed without paying fees. Our divorce cost guide compares filing fees across states.
Deadlines and attorney fee rules
Personal injury filing deadline: 2 years from the injury or its discovery, with a 3-year repose from the act or omission (C.G.S. §52-584)[3]. Exceptions exist (for example for minors, government defendants and medical claims), so check with a lawyer before the deadline gets close.
Contingency and fee caps: C.G.S. §52-251c, for personal injury, wrongful death or property damage claims: 33⅓% of the first $300k, 25% of the next $300k, 20% of the next $300k, 15% of the next $300k, 10% above $1.2M. A written, notarized waiver is allowed for complex cases, but the fee may never exceed 33⅓%.[4]
If you disagree with a lawyer's bill: the Connecticut Bar Association Lawyer-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program (free mediation/arbitration) handles fee disputes between clients and lawyers.
Free and low-cost legal help in Connecticut
- Legal aid: CTLawHelp.org. Programs funded by the Legal Services Corporation generally serve households at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines; in 2026 that is $19,950 a year for one person and $41,250 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states[6].
- Lawyer referral: Find a Lawyer CT (Connecticut Bar Association).
- Before you hire: read what consultations cost and options if you can't afford a lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the small claims limit in Connecticut?
$5,000, in the Superior Court – Small Claims. Libel and slander are excluded (C.G.S. §51-15(d)); a tenant's security-deposit claim under §47a-21 may be awarded above $5,000.
How much does it cost to file a small claims case in Connecticut?
$95 (counterclaim also $95; motion to transfer to the regular docket $125) Service of the papers usually costs extra.
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Connecticut?
Generally 2 years from the injury or its discovery, with a 3-year repose from the act or omission (C.G.S. §52-584). Exceptions apply, so talk to a lawyer well before the deadline.
What can I do if I think my Connecticut lawyer overcharged me?
Ask the lawyer for an itemized bill first. If that does not resolve it, the Connecticut Bar Association Lawyer-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program (free mediation/arbitration) handles fee disputes between clients and lawyers.
Sources
- C.G.S. §51-15 (FindLaw) (checked October 11, 2026)
- C.G.S. §52-259 (FindLaw) (checked October 11, 2026)
- C.G.S. §52-584 (FindLaw) (checked October 11, 2026)
- C.G.S. §52-251c (FindLaw) (checked October 11, 2026)
- Clio, Compare Lawyer Rates (2025 Legal Trends data) (checked October 11, 2026)
- Federal Register: LSC income guidelines (2026) (checked October 11, 2026)