Independent educational resource · not a government or court website
Small Claims Court in Ontario
Plain-language guides, practical tools, calculators and step-by-step resources to help you start, defend or simply understand a Small Claims Court case — written to be clear for people who have never been to court before.
What Do You Need Help With?
Pick the situation closest to yours — each path leads to everything you'll need for that stage.
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I Want to Start a Claim
You're owed money, property or a service someone didn't deliver, and you're considering suing.
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I Have Been Sued
You've been served with a Plaintiff's Claim and need to know what to do, and by when.
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I Need to Collect a Judgment
You won your case, but the other side hasn't paid yet.
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I Need a Calculator, Form, or Guide
You want a fee estimate, a court form, a checklist, or a specific how-to guide.
Featured Insights
In-depth guides organized into seven hubs covering every stage of a Small Claims Court case.
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Insights hub
Starting a Small Claims Court Case
Who can sue, how much you can claim, and how to actually get started.
14 articles
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Insights hub
Defending a Small Claims Court Claim
How to respond, common defences, and what happens if you miss a deadline.
9 articles
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Insights hub
The Small Claims Court Process
Settlement conferences, trial day, evidence, and realistic timelines.
14 articles
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Insights hub
Collecting and Enforcing a Judgment
What happens after you win, how to collect, and appealing a decision.
12 articles
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Insights hub
Small Claims Court Disputes
Contractor, consumer, landlord-tenant, and other dispute types, organized by kind.
33 articles
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Insights hub
Forms, Deadlines & Court Rules
Court forms, filing fees, service rules, limitation periods, and checklists.
13 articles
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Insights hub
Business, Employment & Contract Disputes
Breach of contract, unpaid wages, freelance work, and moving or storage disputes.
11 articles
Your Small Claims Court Case, Step by Step
A general roadmap for a plaintiff's case from start to finish. Every case is different, and some steps may not apply to yours.
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1
Determine whether you have a claim
Confirm your dispute fits within Small Claims Court's rules before you go further.
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2
Send a demand letter
Give the other side a formal opportunity to resolve the matter before you sue.
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3
Prepare and file the claim
Complete and file a Plaintiff's Claim with the appropriate court location.
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4
Serve the defendant
Formally deliver the claim to the defendant according to the court's rules.
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5
Receive or file a defence
The defendant responds in writing, or risks a default judgment.
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6
Attend a settlement conference
A required, informal meeting to see whether the case can be resolved early.
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7
Prepare for trial
Organize evidence, documents and witnesses if the case doesn't settle.
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8
Attend trial
Present your case to a deputy judge, who decides the outcome.
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9
Enforce the judgment
Learn the options available if the losing side doesn't pay voluntarily.
Been sued? The steps above are written from a plaintiff's point of view. If you're responding to a claim instead of starting one, follow the defendant's path.
Go to the Defendant's ProcessBrowse by Claim Type
Explore guides organized by the kind of dispute you're facing, or see the full Small Claims Court Disputes Insights hub for every dispute type in one place.
Tools & Calculators
Interactive resources that give general, informational estimates only — they are not legal advice and do not guarantee any outcome.
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Available now
Eligibility tool
An informational check to help you think through whether Small Claims Court may be the right venue.
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Available now
Court fee calculator
Estimate the filing and step-by-step fees involved in a typical case.
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Available now
Limitation-period calculator
An informational estimate of when a limitation period may expire.
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Available now
Prejudgment interest calculator
Estimate interest that may accrue on a claim before judgment.
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Available now
Claim preparation checklist
A step-by-step checklist for organizing documents before you file.
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Available now
Sue my contractor
A guided walkthrough for a renovation or repair dispute specifically.
What Is Ontario Small Claims Court?
Small Claims Court is a branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice designed to resolve everyday civil disputes in a faster, simpler and less formal way than the regular court system. It's meant to be usable by people without a lawyer, and many people who use it represent themselves from start to finish.
Generally, Small Claims Court handles disputes about money, property, or services — for example, unpaid invoices or loans, damage to property, disagreements over contracts, or problems with a purchase or repair — up to a monetary limit of $50,000, exclusive of costs and interest. This limit increased from $35,000 effective October 1, 2025 — see the official ontario.ca overview for the current figure. It does not decide every kind of legal problem: some disputes, such as most family law or certain landlord-and-tenant matters, are handled by other courts or tribunals instead.
A claim generally moves through a few stages: filing, serving the other party, an opportunity for the other side to respond, a settlement conference intended to resolve the matter early, and — if it doesn't settle — a trial in front of a deputy judge. This website walks through each of those stages in plain language, along with the practical tools and forms involved.
Common Questions
How does Ontario Small Claims Court work?
In general, a plaintiff files a claim, has it served on the defendant, and — if the defendant responds — the parties usually attend a settlement conference before any trial. Read the full guide on how the process works →
How much can someone sue for?
Small Claims Court can generally hear claims for money, property or services worth up to $50,000, exclusive of costs and interest. This limit increased from $35,000 effective October 1, 2025. Read the full guide →
How long do I have to start a claim?
Most claims are subject to a basic 2-year limitation period under Ontario's Limitations Act, 2002, generally running from the day you knew, or reasonably should have known, about the claim. Some situations change this deadline, so it's worth checking early. Read the full guide on limitation periods →
How much does it cost to file a claim?
Filing a Plaintiff's Claim generally costs $108 for most individuals and small businesses, or $228 for a "frequent" claimant filing 10 or more claims at the same court office in a calendar year. Other steps, like filing a motion or requesting a trial date, have separate fees. See the fee guide →
Do I need a lawyer or paralegal?
No — Small Claims Court is designed so that people can represent themselves, though you're allowed to be represented by a lawyer or licensed paralegal if you choose. Read more about representing yourself →
What happens if the defendant does not respond?
If a defendant doesn't file a defence within the required time, the plaintiff may be able to ask the court for a default judgment. Read the full guide on default judgments →
Official Ontario Resources
This site is independent and not affiliated with any government or court — for the authoritative, official source, start here.
- ontario.ca: Suing Someone in Small Claims Court — the official overview, including the current monetary limit.
- Ontario Superior Court of Justice: Small Claims Court — the official court information hub.
- Guide to Small Claims Court Process — the official step-by-step process guide.
- Ontario Court Forms — the official source for current court forms.
- Limitations Act, 2002 — the full text of the law governing limitation periods.
How We Approach This Content
- Written in plain language, aimed at people with no legal background.
- Based on official Ontario court and government information, with links to primary sources where appropriate — see our legal review policy.
- Reviewed and updated as court procedures, forms and regulations change — see sources and updates.
- Created for educational purposes — not a substitute for legal advice about your specific situation. See our full disclaimer.
Ontario Small Claims Court is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with the Ontario government or the Ontario Court of Justice. The site is managed and published by Ryan Manilla, BA, JD, a lawyer licensed to practise law in Ontario — see that page for his verified credentials and exactly what his role here involves. Dollar figures and time limits on this site reflect Ontario regulations current as of September 2026. Read our editorial policy, legal review policy and corrections policy for more detail, or contact us to report something that looks wrong.
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Talk to an Ontario Small Claims Lawyer
Having trouble understanding the small claims process and would like to speak to a small claims lawyer in Ontario for a free 30-minute consultation?