How do I start a Small Claims Court case in Ontario?

To start a Small Claims Court case in Ontario, you complete a Plaintiff's Claim (Form 7A), which asks you to identify the parties, describe what happened, and state the amount you are seeking. You file the form at the Small Claims Court location nearest to where the defendant lives or carries on business, or where the cause of action arose. There is a filing fee payable at the time of filing; the fee scales with the amount claimed and is set by provincial regulation.

Once you file, the court issues your claim by stamping it with a court seal and assigning a claim number. You are then responsible for serving the defendant personally or by an approved alternative method within the time limits set out in the Rules of the Small Claims Court. After service, the defendant has a set period to file a Defence (Form 9A) if they wish to dispute the claim.

Keeping organized records — contracts, invoices, text messages, photos, and receipts — before you file strengthens your case and helps the court understand your position quickly.