The Small Claims Court in Fairfield County hears and settles disputes and claims made by an individual or a corporation against either a person or a corporation.  Anyone who is 18 years of age or above can file a claim on their own, whereas anyone under 18 needs to file through their parents.  Corporations could also have an officer, an attorney or an employee filing a claim on their behalf.  The Fairfield Small Claims Court has jurisdiction only in Fairfield County hence the defendant against whom the claim is filed should either live or conduct his business in Fairfield County.

The person filing the claim should be in the possession of all evidence supporting the claim at the time of the hearing.  All written letters, agreements, receipts, photographs, records or any form of tangible evidence needs to be presented at the hearing.  Witnesses have to be present in person and cannot just send letters of support.  The Fairfield Small Claims Court allows claims against auto damages due to an accident, any form of deposit not returned, and lease or rent agreement breached.  In case of damage to property, estimates and bills for repairs, and photographs of the damage can be presented.  Any loss or personal property being wrongly possessed by another, repairs of appliances, property or vehicle done in a faulty manner are all the disputes that the Fairfield Small Claims Court would handle.  Any written evidence in defense of the claim needs to be provided in duplicate with the proof of the defendant being aware of the written transaction. 

A defendant can also file a counterclaim in case he or she feels the plaintiff’s claims are not true.  At least seven days prior to the hearing, the defendant needs to make his claim and submit copies of evidence supporting the counterclaim.  The defendant can also settle the dispute with the plaintiff before the hearing.  If the Small Claims Court does not make a judgment within five years of filing a case, the case becomes inactive.  Special action claims have to be filed at the Fairfield Small Claims Court in order to prevent them from being inactive.

You can file the statement of claim by getting the forms from the clerk of the small claims court or download the statement of claim forms online at http://www.jud.ct.gov/directory/directory/directions/smallclaims.htm. You can also get more information on the procedure of filing small claims from the Connecticut Superior Court publication ‘How Small Claims Court Works’. For legal advice, get the help of an attorney based in Fairfield County from the listings.