Connecticut
Categorical Right To Counsel
Discretionary Appointment Of Counsel
Right Or Appointment Is Qualified
No Such Proceeding
No Authorization, But Relevant Materials
Other
Categorical
Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Accused Parents
Legislation
Key Development
June 26, 2023
Right to counsel
Connecticut statutes and court rule guarantee counsel for indigent parents in abuse/neglect proceedings, and allows appointment for the appeal.
Read More
Categorical
Abuse/Neglect/Dependency - Children
Legislation
Key Development
June 26, 2023
Right to counsel
The court must appoint counsel for a minor in an abuse/neglect case, and can appoint counsel for the appeal.
Read More
Categorical
Adult Protective Proceedings - Protected Person
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
Services may only be provided consensually, but the right to counsel attaches in related guardianships or conservatorships.
Read More
Doesn't Affect
All Basic Human Needs
Court Rule or Initiative
January 11, 2016
CT Chief Justice, State Bar President cite importance of civil right to counsel
The incoming CT State Bar President and the CT Supreme Court Chief Justice say a civil right to counsel must be examined.
Read More
Legislation
September 1, 2018
Acting on CT legislative task force suggestions, Legislature enacts DV representation pilot
A new DV representation pilot follows a recommendation of the legislative Task Force to Improve Access to Counsel in Civil Matters.
Read More
Miscellaneous
July 25, 2017
NCCRC Coordinator appears on WNPR's "Where We Live" program
NCCRC Coordinator John Pollock was on WNPR's "Where We Live" program to discuss the right to counsel in civil cases.
Read More
No Such Proceeding
Bypass of Parental Input into Abortion - Minor (Pre-Dobbs)
Legislation
No such proceeding
There is no requirement that a minor obtain parental input prior to having an abortion.
Read More
Qualified
Child Support Establishment
Litigation
Key Development
Right to counsel
A lower court held there is a right to counsel in child support determination hearings if paternity is established.
Read More
Categorical
Civil Commitment
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
Adult indigent respondents have the right to counsel in mental health and other commitments, as do some minors in certain commitment matters.
Read More
Categorical
Civil Contempt in Family Court
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
There is a right to counsel for indigent defendants in family law contempt cases if incarceration is a possibility.
Read More
Litigation
Key Development
Right to counsel
A federal court and several Connecticut state courts have found a right to counsel for indigent defendants in civil contempt proceedings.
Read More
Discretionary
Custody Disputes - Children
Legislation
Key Development
Discretionary appointment of counsel
A court may appoint counsel for the child in a dissolution proceeding.
Read More
Categorical
Guardianship/Conservatorship of Adults - Protected Person
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
There is a right to counsel for indigent respondents in conservatorship proceedings, including the review proceedings, and guardianships.
Read More
Qualified
Guardianship/Conservatorship of Children - Child (incomplete)
Legislation
Key Development
Right to Counsel - Certain minors in guardianship cases
Minors in guardianship proceedings may be appointed counsel, unless abuse or neglect is alleged, in which case counsel is required.
Read More
Categorical
Guardianship/Conservatorship of Children - Parent or Guardian
Legislation
Key Development
Right to Counsel
Indigent parents have the right to counsel in proceedings to remove them as guardian and to appoint a permanent guardian of their child.
Read More
Categorical
Housing - Evictions
Legislation
Key Development
January 13, 2024
All about Connecticut's eviction right to counsel
In May 2021, Connecticut became the third state to enact a statewide right to counsel for indigent tenants facing eviction.
Read More
Qualified
Incarceration for Fees/Fines (incomplete)
Litigation
Key Development
Right to counsel
Several Connecticut state courts have found a right to counsel for indigent defendants in civil contempt proceedings.
Read More
No Such Proceeding
Involuntary Medical Treatment (incomplete)
Legislation
No such proceeding
The state of Connecticut does not appear to provide a stand-alone process through which involuntary medical treatment can be ordered.
Read More
Categorical
Parentage - Defendant/Respondent
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
Indigent putative fathers have a right to counsel in paternity proceedings.
Read More
Litigation
Key Development
Right to counsel
The Connecticut Supreme Court held there is a right to counsel under the state and federal constitutions in state-initiated paternity cases.
Read More
Categorical
Quarantine/Isolation
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
There is a right to counsel for indigent respondents in quarantine, isolation, and vaccination proceedings.
Read More
No Such Proceeding
Sexually Dangerous Persons - Commitment
Legislation
No such proceeding
There is no procedure in the state for confinement of a sexually dangerous/violent person.
Read More
Categorical
Sterilization
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
There is a right to counsel for proceedings to determine consent to sterilization.
Read More
Categorical
Termination of Parental Rights (Private) - Birth Parents
Legislation
Key Development
Right to counsel
A Connecticut statute guarantees counsel for indigent parent respondents in adoption proceedings.
Read More
Discretionary
Termination of Parental Rights (Private) - Children
Categorical
Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Birth Parents
Legislation
Key Development
June 26, 2023
Right to counsel
A Connecticut statute guarantees counsel for indigent parents in termination proceedings who appear without counsel.
Read More
Categorical
Termination of Parental Rights (State) - Children
Legislation
Key Development
June 26, 2023
Right to counsel
Minors have a right to counsel in termination of parental rights proceedings.
Read More
No Such Proceeding
Truancy - Petition Against Child
Legislation
No such proceeding
A 2017 change to the law removed truancy proceedings from court involvement.
Read More