Overview

The information contained in this guide is an overview of the small claims court procedures. It is not intended to be a substitute for the Rules of the Small Claims Court, which should be examined for specific information.

Nothing contained, expressed or implied in this guide is intended as, or should be taken or understood as, legal advice. If you have any legal questions, you should see a lawyer or paralegal.

Where to get more information

Small Claims Court forms are available at court offices and at www.ontariocourtforms.on.ca. You can find tips on completing forms at the end of this guide.

The staff at any Small Claims Court office are helpful. They will answer your questions about Small Claims Court procedures, but keep in mind that they cannot give legal advice and they cannot fill out your forms for you.

If you need help completing certain Small Claims Court forms (like a plaintiff’s claim), you can use the Small Claims Court Guided Pathways, a free online tool developed by Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) and the Ministry of the Attorney General. The pathways ask you questions and put your answers into the required court forms. When you’re finished, you can save or print your completed forms before filing them with the court.

You can also find more information about Small Claims Court on CLEO’s Steps to Justice website. 

For more detailed information, you should refer to the Rules of the Small Claims Court.