Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a § 47a-26c
Advancement of pleadings. Failure to plead.
Operative Text
All pleadings, including motions, shall advance at least one step within each successive period of three days from the preceding pleading or motion. If the defendant fails to plead within any such period, the complainant may file a motion for judgment for failure to plead, served upon the defendant in the manner provided in the rules adopted by the judges of the Superior Court for the service of pleadings. If the defendant fails to plead within three days after receipt of such motion by the clerk, the court shall forthwith enter judgment that the complainant recover possession or occupancy with costs.
Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-26c, Connecticut's summary process (eviction) proceedings move on a strict three-day pleading schedule: each party must advance the case by filing a pleading or motion within three days of the last one. If the defendant does not respond within that window, the complainant can file a motion for judgment for failure to plead. Should the defendant still not respond within three days of the clerk receiving that motion, the court is required to immediately enter judgment awarding the complainant possession of the property plus costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-26c gives landlords a procedural tool to keep eviction cases moving without delay. A compliant operator monitors the three-day pleading intervals closely and, when a defendant misses a deadline, promptly files and properly serves a motion for judgment for failure to plead. If the defendant again fails to respond within three days of the clerk's receipt, the court must enter judgment for possession and costs without further waiting.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-26c imposes tight three-day deadlines on defendants in Connecticut eviction proceedings, meaning a missed filing window can result in a judgment for possession being entered against you. Tenants who receive a motion for judgment for failure to plead have only three days from the clerk's receipt of that motion to respond before the court is required to rule. Tenants facing this situation may want to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand available options, including whether any defenses can still be raised.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 17, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.