Is It Worth Suing for a Small Amount in Ontario?

A few hundred or a few thousand dollars is real money — but is it worth the time, effort, and even modest cost of a lawsuit to get it back? Ontario's Small Claims Court exists specifically for disputes like this, and it is designed to be manageable without a lawyer.

Still, "designed to be manageable" is not the same as "free" or "instant," and it is worth thinking through the trade-offs before you file.

What Counts as "Small" in Ontario

Ontario's Small Claims Court handles monetary claims up to a set jurisdictional limit — $50,000, exclusive of costs and interest, as of mid-2026 (verify the current figure before relying on it, since this threshold is set by regulation and adjusted periodically). That is a wide range: a $50,000 Small Claims dispute is a genuinely significant amount of money for most people, even though the court's simplified process was originally built with more modest disputes in mind.

If your claim is well under that limit — a few hundred to a few thousand dollars — Small Claims Court is almost certainly the right forum. The real question is not which court to use, but whether pursuing it is worth your time and the modest costs involved.

What It Actually Costs to Sue in Small Claims Court

Small Claims Court fees are set by regulation and reviewed periodically, so treat the figures below as a snapshot as of mid-2026 to confirm before relying on them:

• Filing a Plaintiff's Claim: $108.00 if you have filed fewer than 10 claims at that court office in the past year, or $228.00 if you file more often
• Filing a Defence (if you are on the receiving end): $77.00
• Filing a notice of motion: $127.00
• Issuing or renewing a notice of garnishment: $144.00
• Issuing a writ of seizure and sale: $68.00

These fees are modest compared to Superior Court filing fees, which is part of why Small Claims Court is the right venue for most everyday disputes. But fees are only one part of the cost — your time, and any legal help you bring in, usually matter more.

Time Cost, Not Just Money Cost

Even in Small Claims Court, a defended claim does not resolve overnight. A settlement conference is mandatory in every defended Small Claims action before it can proceed toward trial, which means a genuinely disputed claim involves at least one formal step beyond simply filing paperwork. If the other side does not defend at all, you may be able to move toward default judgment more quickly — but that outcome depends entirely on how the other side responds, not on anything you control.

Ask yourself honestly how much your own time is worth, and how much of it you are willing to spend gathering evidence, attending a settlement conference, and potentially appearing at trial, for a claim of this size.

When a Small Claim Is Still Worth Pursuing

A modest-value claim is usually worth pursuing when:

• You have clear, organized documentation (invoices, a written agreement, messages confirming the debt)
• The other side has a job, income, or assets you could realistically enforce against
• The amount, while modest, is meaningful to you and the process is manageable given your time
• You have already tried a demand letter or informal resolution without success

When It Might Not Be

• The amount is small enough that even a modest filing fee and a few hours of your time meaningfully erode the value of winning
• You have no real way to enforce a judgment if you got one
• The dispute is more about a misunderstanding than a clear-cut debt, and a conversation might resolve it faster than a claim
• You are already stretched thin on time and the process would add significant stress for a limited potential payoff

Alternatives to a Full Claim for Small Amounts

Before filing, consider whether a firm demand letter, a direct conversation, or a request for mediation could resolve things faster and with less effort than even Small Claims Court's simplified process. These options cost little and, if they work, get you paid without ever setting foot in a courtroom.

Frequently asked questions