How do I properly serve a lawsuit on a corporation in Ontario?

Serving a lawsuit on a corporation in Ontario generally means delivering the documents to someone who can actually accept them on the company's behalf, rather than any random employee. This typically includes an officer, director, or agent of the corporation, or delivering to the corporation's registered office, which every Ontario corporation is required to maintain and which is a matter of public record. Serving the registered office is often the most reliable option when you don't know who specifically at the company should receive the documents, since that address is meant to be a dependable point of contact for exactly this purpose.

If the corporation is difficult to serve — for example, its registered office is vacant, out of date, or the company is deliberately avoiding service — a plaintiff can bring a motion for an alternative method of service, similar to what's available for individuals. Serving the wrong person at a company, such as a low-level employee with no authority to accept legal documents, risks the service being challenged as invalid later, which can delay the whole case. Confirming a corporation's registered office and correct legal name before attempting service is a worthwhile first step.