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Connecticut Collection Laws

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Bills.com Team
UpdatedSep 20, 2024
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    8 min read
Key Takeaways:
  • The statute of limitations for credit card debt in Connecticut is 6 years.
  • Written contracts have an 6-year statute of limitations, depending on the circumstances.
  • A judgment-creditor can ask the sheriff to seize your non-exempt personal property.
  • Start your FREE debt assessment

Learn Connecticut's Rules For Garnishment, Liens, and Foreclosure

A lender, collection agent or law firm that owns a collection account is a creditor. The law gives creditors several means of collecting delinquent debt. But before a creditor can start, the creditor must go to court to receive a judgment. See the Bills.com article Served Summons and Complaint to learn more about this process.

The court may grant a judgment to the creditor. A judgment is a declaration by a court the creditor has the legal right to demand a wage garnishment, a levy on the debtor’s bank accounts, a lien on the debtor’s property, and in some states, ask a sheriff to seize the debtor’s personal property. The laws calls these remedies. A creditor granted a judgment is called a judgment-creditor. Which of these tools a judgment-creditor will use depends on the circumstances. We discuss each of these remedies below.

Connecticut Wage Garnishment

The most common remedy judgment-creditors use to enforce judgments is wage garnishment. The judgment-creditor contacts the debtor’s employer and require the employer to deduct a certain portion of the debtor’s wages each pay period and send the money to the creditor.

Connecticut allows two types of garnishment: wage garnishment, and bank executions, which is bank account levy. For wage garnishment, Connecticut follows federal rules, and exempts 75% of the judgment-debtor's disposable earnings (C.G.S. Chapter 906 § 52-361a).

Levy Bank Accounts

A levy means the creditor has the right to take non-exempt money in a debtor’s account and apply the funds to the balance of the judgment. The procedure for levying bank accounts, as well as what amount, if any, a debtor can claim as exempt from the levy, is governed by state law. Many states exempt certain amounts and certain types of funds from bank levies, so a debtor should review his or her state’s laws to find if a bank account can be levied.

Connecticut allows bank account levy, which state law refers to as bank executions. Exemptions, found in C.G.S. § 52-352b, include:

  • One motor vehicle worth up to $3,000 (fair market value minus all liens and security interests on it), under the CPI conversion factor.
  • Necessary apparel, bedding, foodstuffs, household furniture, and appliances
  • Tools, books, instruments, farm animals, and livestock feed that the individual needs for his occupation, profession, or farming operation
  • A burial plot for the individual and his immediate family
  • Welfare payments and wages the welfare recipient earns under an incentive earnings or similar program
  • Health and disability insurance payments
  • Health aids the individual needs to work or sustain health
  • Workers' compensation, social security, veterans' and unemployment benefits
  • Alimony and support, other than child support, but only to the extent that wages are exempt from execution
  • Court-approved child support payments
  • Arms, military equipment, uniforms, and musical instruments owned by someone in the United States armed forces or militia
  • Wedding and engagement rings
  • One residential utility deposit and one residential security deposit
  • An individual's assets or interests in a retirement, Keogh, Individual Retirement Account, or similar plan or arrangement
  • An award under a crime reparations act
  • Benefits allowed by any association of persons in this state for the support of its members who are incapacitated by sickness or infirmity
  • Money due to the individual from an insurance company on any insurance policy issued on exempt property, to the same extent that the property was exempt
  • An interest in any property that does not exceed $1,000 in value
  • An interest of up to $4,000 in any accrued dividend or interest under, or loan value of, any unmatured life insurance contract the individual owns under which he, or someone whose dependent he is, is insured
  • Irrevocable transfers of money to an account held by a bona fide licensed nonprofit debt adjuster for the benefit of the individual's creditors
  • A $75,000 homestead exemption for a single person, and $150,000 if a husband and wife own a house jointly. The exemption is $125,000 if the debt relates to medical bills (C.G.S. § 52-352b(t)).

Lien

A lien is an encumbrance — a claim — on a property. For example, if the debtor owns a home, a creditor with a judgment has the right to place a lien on the home, meaning that if the debtor sells or refinances the home, the debtor will be required to pay the judgment out of the proceeds of the sale or refinance. If the amount of the judgment is more than the amount of equity in your home, then the lien may prevent the debtor from selling or refinancing until the debtor can pay off the judgment.

In Connecticut, a judgment lien can be attached to real estate or personal property. The creditor must attach a lien to real estate during the lawsuit itself and, within four months of getting a judgment, the creditor must file a lien certificate with the town clerk in the Connecticut town where the debtor's property is located (C.G.S. § 49-89). For liens on personal property, the creditor files a judgment with Connecticut's Office of the Secretary of State (C.G.S. Chapter 904). A judgment lien has a lifetime of 10 or 20 years in Connecticut, and is subject to the consumer's homestead exemption (C.G.S. § 52-598).

If you reside in another state, see the Bills.com Liens & How to Resolve Them article to learn more.

Connecticut Statutes of Limitation

Each state or commonwealth has its own statute of limitations on civil matters. Here are some of Connecticut’s statute of limitations for consumer-related issues:

Account/TypeYearsStatute
Credit card6CGS § 52-576; attachment 1
Spoken contract6C.G.S. Chapter 926 § 52-581
Written contract6*C.G.S. Chapter 926 § 52-576
Mortgage contract6C.G.S. Chapter 846 § 49-13
Promissory note5C.G.S. § 42a-3-118
Judgment5, 10, 15 or 20**C.G.S. § 52-598 and § 49-88 and § 52-380a(c)
* 4 years for contracts for sale of goods (C.G.S. § 42a-2-725) ** 10 years for a small claims court judgment (C.G.S. § 52-598 (b)). 15 years for lien on property (C.G.S. § 49-88. 20 years for other courts (C.G.S. § 52-598 (a))

Connecticut statutes of limitations. Source: Bills.com

Protect Yourself Against Wage Garnishment

In most states, creditors may garnish between 10% and 25% of your wages, with the percentage allowed determined by state law. Garnishment of Social Security benefits or pensions for consumer debt is not allowed under federal law, but may be allowed for child support. See the Bills.com Wage Garnishment article to learn more.

When the statute of limitations clock starts depends on the circumstances and the particular statute. In Connecticut, like most states, the clock starts at the time the cause of action accrues. The clock may be paused (called "tolled") under some circumstances, or renewed.

Know Your Rights - Collection Agents

Most courts find it is a violation of the FDCPA for a collection agent to pursue a debt collection lawsuit against a consumer after the statute of limitation expired (Kimber v. Federal Financial Corp. 668 F.Supp. 1480 (1987)). Some collection agents still sue in hopes the consumer will not know this rule.

Connecticut Foreclosure

A lender will foreclose judicially in Connecticut. This takes four months, and typically longer. Once the homeowner receives a notice of foreclosure, he or she has has 20 to 30 days to respond. Lenders are allowed to collect a deficiency balance, but the amount is limited by the market value of the property. The lender must ask the court for deficiency judgment within 90 days after sale. See C.G.S. Chapter 846 § 49-1 to 49-31 to learn more.

Connecticut Collection Agency Law

Connecticut collection agents must be licensed as a "consumer collection agency".

Connecticut protects consumers from abusive collections with two laws, the CCPA and the CCA:

Creditor's Collection Practices Act

The CCPA governs collection practices by original creditors and not collection agents. The CCPA mirrors the federal FDCPA in its rules, language, and general consumer protections. The chief difference between the FDCPA and CCPA is the CCPA specifically covers original creditors.

Like the FDCPA, the CCPA gives you a private cause of action if an original creditor harms you in violation of the CCPA. To learn more, see Connecticut General Statutes § 36a–645 to 36a-648.

Consumer Collection Agency Laws

The CCA laws cover collection agents, which Connecticut calls consumer collection agencies. The CCA is similar to the FDCPA in its consumer protections and prohibitions, with three significant differences. The Connecticut CCA prohibits:

  • Filing a lawsuit against you on a charged-off debt that they purchased or received from your original creditor
  • Adding collection fees in excess of what you would have to pay under Connecticut law for that particular debt
  • You filing a lawsuit against a consumer collection agency for a violation of the CCA

Contact the the Connecticut Department of Banking and the Connecticut Attorney General if a collection agent violates the CCA. To learn more, see Connecticut General Statutes § 36a–800 to 36a-810

See the Connecticut Judicial Branch Law Library Services Connecticut Law About Debt Collection page to learn more about Connecticut collection laws.

Recommendation

Consult with a Connecticut lawyer who is experienced in civil litigation to get precise answers to your questions about liens, levies, garnishment, and foreclosure.

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Choose your debt amount

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Dealing with debt

If you are struggling with debt, you are not alone. According to the NY Federal Reserve total household debt as of Quarter Q1 2024 was $17.69 trillion. Student loan debt was $1.60 trillion and credit card debt was $1.12 trillion.

According to data gathered by Urban.org from a sample of credit reports, about 26% of people in the US have some kind of debt in collections. The median debt in collections is $1,739. Student loans and auto loans are common types of debt. Of people holding student debt, approximately 10% had student loans in collections. The national Auto/Retail debt delinquency rate was 4%.

Each state has its rate of delinquency and share of debts in collections. For example, in Maine credit card delinquency rate was 3%, and the median credit card debt was $385.

While many households can comfortably pay off their debt, it is clear that many people are struggling with debt. Make sure that you analyze your situation and find the best debt payoff solutions to match your situation.

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10 Comments

MMaggy M., Jan, 2023
How do you find out how long a judgement is active for. I understand credit cards debts cannot be collected on after 6 years. But if a credit card got a court judgement against you, how long is that judgement good for and can they keep applying for new judgements?
KKate, Jan, 2021

Trying to help a friend of mine with a garnishment that previously had been paid via a settlement with the same agency who is garnishing her wages. I know you're not a lawyer but maybe you can point us in the right direction. In short, my friend helped her son get car, payments were defaulted by the son, friend found out & began making payments. She set up Autopay to the Collection Agency who bought the charged off acct. Agency then called my friend requesting a payment. Friend stated that they never pulled the Auto Pay, the agent said "OK" & offered her a deal for 1 payment of $2700 to clear the debt completely. Borrowing funds from her ex he paid it on a credit card. About 45 days ago, she received notification from our employer that she is being subjected to a wage garnishment for this debt, which again, she paid the settlement amount about 2 or 3 years ago. Since then her Ex closed out a couple of his credit cards, one of which paid the $2700 & they are trying to track it down now. In speaking w/her asking specific questions to try & help determine which card was used. This garnishment is leaving her below the minimum amount of take home pay as far as we can see. Also, she paid this. Any other ideas as to how we can stop this madness?

JJesse, Sep, 2020

How does loan forgiveness work if the loan was sold to a collector and it has been for over 16 years, but ITS A STUDENT LOAN under 4000 dollars... can this bring trouble in the future to try and finish my college degree? I am permanently disabled and just want to try and progress some how...

DDaniel Cohen, Sep, 2020

Jesse, if it is a federal student loan, then defaulting on it could be a barrier to any future student loans and possibly and federal aid for school. If it is a private student loan, then it is almost assuredly past the statute of limitations on debt (assuming that no lawsuit took place against you already).

JJohn, Aug, 2020

If a medical bill went unpaid since 2007- can they take from my bank account without permission today?!

DDaniel Cohen, Aug, 2020

John, whether money can be taken from your account depends what you mean by "without permission." Your permission is not required, if a judgment were obtained against you. In that case, permission to come after money in your account is given by the court. The statute of limitations on debt in Connecticut is 6 years. If you were sued within 6 years of the date your medical bill went into default, then the debt remains collectible. The creditor can come after your account again, as long as the judgment remains active.

ddee, Jun, 2020

I received a collection notice about 2 months ago on a debt from Capital one. I disputed and they sent me a copy of a bill it is from Sept of 2013 and apparently was 6 payments behind at that point. I didn't recall having that card, and then I realized it was originally an HSBC card bought by Capital one So it is at least 8 years old. i have made no payments which would allow them to restart the clock. So my question is can they legally report this to a credit reporting agency?, this is what they threatened to do if I don't pay it. I have no records to prove payment as it was so many years ago.

DDaniel Cohen, Jul, 2020

Dee, I can't give legal advice, as only an attorney can properly do so. Here are a couple of thoughts, with the understanding that I am not giving you legal advice.

If there has been no payment in 8 years and the SOL on debt in Connecticut is the SOL that applies, then you should be able to defend yourself against whatever action they take. SOL questions can be tricky. Consomers can restart the clock or stop the clock from running. You want Capital One to have your current address. If they sue you, it is important to go to court and assert the SOL as a defense. 

I recommend sending them something in writing (keep a copy for yourself) that says the date of first delinquency is more than 7 years ago, when you defaulted on the HSBC account. I would make it clear to them that reporting it to the bureaus as a re-aged debt violates the Fair Credit. Reporting Act. If they report a re-aged account t to the bureaus, then you have solid grounds to present to an attorney who handles FCRA cases.

MMari, Jun, 2020

Hi so I have been paying Connex credit union partial payments for a year now . Today I received a letter to collect a debt for principal and interest. I pay every two weeks which adds up to the monthly payment. Why all of the sudden am I getting a letter? Please assist.

DDaniel Cohen, Jun, 2020

Mari, I am not clear what the details are of your situation. Let's say that you break the payment agreement, defaulting on the account th,en start making good faith payments. THe fact that tte creditor is taking your payments doesn't prevent them from taking other steps to collect the debt, unless they agreed to something that you are honoring.