Connecticut guide

Connecticut Agency Disclosure Requirements: C.G.S. §20-325a and §20-325d

When you start working with a Connecticut real estate agent, the law says they must hand you a written form that tells you who they actually represent — the seller, you, or both.

Reading as buyer.

TL;DR

When you start working with a Connecticut real estate agent, the law says they must hand you a written form that tells you who they actually represent — the seller, you, or both. You should read and sign the form before sharing your budget or wish list. If you skip this step you might assume the agent is on your side when they are not.

Before you start — 8 things to know

Connecticut law (C.G.S. §20-325d) requires a real estate agent to give you a written agency disclosure form at the very first real meeting, not later in the process.
The Connecticut disclosure is sometimes called the 'Working With a Real Estate Broker' form, and the state's Real Estate Commission designs it so consumers know up front who legally works for them.
The agent must give you the Connecticut agency disclosure before any real talk about your finances, your timeline, or specific homes you might want to see.
You can be represented by a buyer agent who owes you loyalty, or you may run into a seller agent or a dual agent whose loyalty is split — the Connecticut form spells out which.
Connecticut recognizes four relationship types — seller agency, buyer agency, dual agency, and designated agency — and the disclosure form must clearly say which one the agent is offering you.
You are asked to sign the Connecticut agency disclosure to acknowledge receipt, but signing does not lock you into hiring that agent — it only confirms you got the form.
You are allowed to refuse to sign the Connecticut disclosure form, and if you do the agent must still document that they delivered it to you.
Digital delivery of the Connecticut agency disclosure (email or e-sign) is allowed as long as the agent can prove you received it.

The timeline — step by step

You first contact a Connecticut real estate agent — at an open house, on a phone call, or through a website inquiry.
Before getting into details, the Connecticut agent hands you (or emails you) the state's written agency disclosure form.
You read the Connecticut disclosure form and see whether the agent is offering buyer agency, seller agency, dual agency, or designated agency.
You sign the Connecticut disclosure form to acknowledge receipt, or you tell the agent you do not want to sign — both options are allowed.
Only after the Connecticut disclosure is delivered do you share your budget, your timeline, or your must-haves with the agent.
If you decide to formally hire a Connecticut buyer agent, you sign a separate written buyer-agency agreement that lays out duties and any fee you might owe.
The brokerage keeps your signed Connecticut disclosure (or documented refusal) in the transaction file for at least three years.

Common questions

When exactly must a Connecticut agent give me the agency disclosure form?

A Connecticut real estate agent must give you the written agency disclosure at the first real meeting, before discussing your finances, your timeline, or specific properties.

What happens if I refuse to sign the Connecticut agency disclosure?

You are allowed to refuse, and the agent is still required to deliver the Connecticut disclosure form; the agent simply has to document that you refused to sign.

Does signing the Connecticut agency disclosure mean I have hired this agent?

No — signing the Connecticut disclosure only confirms you received the form, and hiring someone as your buyer's representative requires a separate written buyer-agency agreement.

What does dual agency mean on the Connecticut disclosure form?

Dual agency on the Connecticut form means the same brokerage represents both you (the buyer) and the seller in the same deal, so the agent owes limited duties to each side and cannot give either side full loyalty.

Can the Connecticut agency disclosure be sent to me by email?

Yes — Connecticut allows digital delivery of the agency disclosure form as long as the licensee can document that you received it.

What is designated agency on the Connecticut form?

Designated agency on the Connecticut form is when one brokerage represents both buyer and seller but assigns a different individual agent to each side, so each consumer still gets a personal advocate.

Sources

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