How Foreclosure Works in Connecticut
Whether Connecticut forecloses through the courts or by power of sale, the notices required, the time frames set by law, and how to catch up before the sale.
Short answer: Judicial. Mortgages are foreclosed through a court case. The usual method is strict foreclosure: the court sets "law days," and if the owner does not pay the debt by the owner's law day, title passes to the lender without an auction. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 49-24, 49-15, 49-19; Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Libraries, Foreclosure research guide
| Judicial or non-judicial | Judicial. Mortgages are foreclosed through a court case. The usual method is strict foreclosure: the court sets "law days," and if the owner does not pay the debt by the owner's law day, title passes to the lender without an auction. On a party's motion, the court may instead order a foreclosure by sale (auction), or, for a first mortgage with the owner's consent, a foreclosure by market sale. The Judicial Branch law library guide describes strict foreclosure and law days: https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/Notebooks/Pathfinders/Foreclosure.pdf |
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| Required notices | Before starting a foreclosure on a covered home mortgage, the lender must mail the homeowner, by registered or certified mail, a notice of the default that says the homeowner has 60 days to meet or confer with the lender or a consumer credit counseling agency to try to resolve the default, and to contact the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority about applying for Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP) payments. The lender may not start the foreclosure before mailing this notice. The foreclosure itself is a court case, so the homeowner is served with court papers (including a notice to homeowner about mediation). |
| Time frames set by law | For residential foreclosures with return dates through June 30, 2029, while the case is in the mediation program, for up to eight months from the return date the parties generally may not file motions other than those related to mediation (the homeowner may still answer and raise defenses), and no judgment of strict foreclosure or foreclosure by sale may be entered until the mediation period has ended. Law days or a sale date are then set by the court in its judgment. The statute does not set one fixed minimum number of days from default to the law day; the court sets law days case by case. |
More Connecticut foreclosure & homeowner law
- Redemption and Deficiency Judgments in Connecticut
- HOA Liens and Foreclosure in Connecticut
- Getting Your Home Back After a Tax Sale in Connecticut
- All Connecticut foreclosure & homeowner law rules
FAQ
Is Connecticut a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure state?
Judicial. Mortgages are foreclosed through a court case. The usual method is strict foreclosure: the court sets "law days," and if the owner does not pay the debt by the owner's law day, title passes to the lender without an auction. On a party's motion, the court may instead order a foreclosure by sale (auction), or, for a first mortgage with the owner's consent, a foreclosure by market sale.
What notice is required before a foreclosure sale in Connecticut?
Before starting a foreclosure on a covered home mortgage, the lender must mail the homeowner, by registered or certified mail, a notice of the default that says the homeowner has 60 days to meet or confer with the lender or a consumer credit counseling agency to try to resolve the default, and to contact the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority about applying for Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP) payments. The lender may not start the foreclosure before mailing this notice. The foreclosure itself is a court case, so the homeowner is served with court papers (including a notice to homeowner about mediation).
How long does foreclosure take in Connecticut?
For residential foreclosures with return dates through June 30, 2029, while the case is in the mediation program, for up to eight months from the return date the parties generally may not file motions other than those related to mediation (the homeowner may still answer and raise defenses), and no judgment of strict foreclosure or foreclosure by sale may be entered until the mediation period has ended. Law days or a sale date are then set by the court in its judgment.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.