Form JD-CL-12 at a glance
What it is: JD-CL-12 is the Appearance form of the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Superior Court.
Where and when to file: File your completed form with the court clerk.
A filled-in Form JD-CL-12 example: a defendant files an appearance
How to fill out Form JD-CL-12, box by box
Address change only
I am filing this appearance to let the court and all attorneys and self-represented parties of record know that I have changed my address.
If you are a self-represented party, you must give notice if your mailing address changes after you file an appearance.
You must tell the court and all attorneys and self-represented parties of record your new mailing address by filling out another appearance.
Select the box at the top of page 1 of this form and fill out the rest of page 1 using your new mailing address.
Docket Number, Name of case and court
Enter the Docket Number.
Enter the Name of case (Full name of first Plaintiff v. Full name of first Defendant). In Criminal/Motor Vehicles cases, the Plaintiff is The State of Connecticut.
Enter the Return date (For Civil/Family cases).
Enter the Scheduled court date (Criminal/Motor Vehicle cases only).
Enter the Address of court (Number, street, town and zip code).
Geographic Area, Housing Session or Judicial District.
Enter the Appearance of
Under Enter the Appearance of, enter the Name (Your name or name of official, firm, professional corporation, or individual attorney).
For attorney/law firm: enter the Juris number.
Enter the Mailing address and the Telephone number (Area code first).
Enter the City/town, State, Zip code, Fax number and E-mail address.
Plaintiff or Defendant
Select one of the following parties. See descriptions/notes on page 2 of this form.
You are a plaintiff if you filed this court case to sue someone.
You are a plaintiff if you are the one who started this court case.
You are a plaintiff if your name is listed before the "v." in the name of case on court documents.
If you are the ONLY plaintiff, select "The Plaintiff".
If there is more than one plaintiff, select "The following Plaintiff(s) only" and write your name on the line.
You are a defendant if this is a criminal or motor vehicle case or you are being sued.
You are a defendant if your name is listed after the "v." in the name of case on court documents.
You are a defendant if your landlord started this case to evict you.
You are a defendant if you were served with the court papers at the beginning of this case.
If you are the ONLY defendant select "The Defendant".
If there is more than one defendant, select "The following Defendant(s) only" and write your name on the line.
If you and your spouse filed a nonadversarial divorce, select "Other" and write if you are Petitioner A or Petitioner B on the line.
If you asked the court to let you intervene and you are listed as an intervenor, select "Other" and then describe who you are.
If you are listed as a party to the case for some other reason, select "Other" and write who you are in the case on the line.
Family Matters or Criminal/Motor Vehicle case
This is a Family Matters case (such as divorce, custody, or child support). My appearance is for: (Select one or both)
The matters in the Family Division of the Superior Court or Title IV-D Child Support matters.
This is a Criminal/Motor Vehicle case, and I am filing this appearance as a Public Defender or Assigned Counsel. Mark this only if it applies: This appearance is for the purpose of a bail hearing only.
This appearance is for the purpose of alternative arraignment proceedings only.
Another appearance on file
If an appearance by other counsel or self-represented party is on file for this party/parties, select one option.
This appearance is in place of the appearance of: Name and Juris Number (if applicable) to be replaced.
This appearance is in addition to an appearance already on file.
Signing and Certification
I agree that documents can be delivered (served) to me electronically in this case.
Any attorney who is not exempt from e-filing is required to accept electronic delivery. (Practice Book Section 10-13)
Enter the Signed (Individual attorney or self-represented party), the Name of person signing at left (Print or type) and the Date signed.
Certification: "I certify that a copy of this document was or will immediately be mailed or delivered electronically or non-electronically on (date) to all counsel and self-represented parties of record and that written consent for electronic delivery was received from all counsel exempt from e-filing and self-represented parties of record who received or will immediately be receiving electronic delivery."
Enter the Name and address of each party and attorney that copy was or will be mailed or delivered to.
If necessary, attach additional sheet or sheets with name and address which the copy was or will be mailed or delivered to.
Enter the Signed (Signature of filer) and Print or type name of person signing.
More rules for Form JD-CL-12
Fill out page 1, including the Certification section at the bottom.
Type or print clearly in dark ink.
Make a copy of the completed form and keep it for your records.
For Criminal and Motor Vehicle cases: Mail or deliver a copy of the appearance to the prosecutor.
For all other cases: Mail or deliver a copy to all counsel and self-represented parties of record.
If a party who has been defaulted for failure to appear files an appearance before the entry of judgment after default, the default will automatically be set aside by the clerk.
Notice to attorneys/law firms: if you are an attorney, you are not exempt from e-filing, and the file in this case is electronic, do not use this form, except as noted in this notice.
File your appearance in the E-filing system.
Notices from the court will be mailed to the address associated with your Juris Number.
You cannot use this form to have the court mail notices to a different address.
If you are an attorney admitted pro hac vice or filing on behalf of a non-party, you must file this form on paper with the clerk.
Read page 2 before filling out this form.
Common questions about Form JD-CL-12
Where do I file it?
File your completed form with the court clerk.
When is this form not the right one?
Do not use this form for Juvenile cases.
Sources
[1] Form JD-CL-12 (Rev. 1-26), Appearance, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (the Official source link on this page).
