Getting Started in Small Claims Court:

Question:How do I start a Small Claims Court case in Ontario and make sure my Plaintiff’s Claim Form 7A story is written correctly?

Answer:Thamar Bilingual Legal Services Ontario can help you prepare and review your Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A), including the chronology and key facts needed for Small Claims Court in Ontario, so you are less likely to make avoidable errors before filing under Rule 7.   We provide bilingual paralegal support in English and français for common issues like countersuing, costs if you lose, third-party claims, and correcting party name details.   Call (647) 818-7974 to get started and receive practical guidance before you commence proceedings, and avoid risking your case with rushed or incomplete pleadings.

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Commencing Proceedings and Retaining Legal Counsel for Small Claims Court

To get a lawsuit started in Small Claims Court, the preparing and issuing of the document known as a Plaintiff's Claim is required.  The Plaintiff's Claim document is a specific form, numbered and referred to as Form 7A, and is accessible online.  The main form is relatively easy to complete as much is just filling in the blanks with basic information such as names and addresses of the parties involved in the lawsuit.  More difficult is the telling of the story that gives rise to the lawsuit whereas, in legal matters, the story often must be written in a sensible chronology and will often require some legalese, even in Small Claims Court. Additionally, knowing what should be said and what should be omitted can be crucial.  The prescribed rules for the requirements when beginning a Small Claims Court lawsuit are available for review at Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court.

Note: Please contact Thamar Bilingual Legal Services Ontario by phone at: (647) 818-7974 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

Although many people think of the Small Claims Court as relatively informal, and some legal issues are simple enough that laypeople can handle a case without needing assistance from a lawyer or paralegal, there are concerns to think about.  Concerns to think carefully about include:

• What if a counterclaim is brought against me?
• What if I lose the lawsuit?
• What if I lose and legal costs are awarded against me?
• What if the Defendant includes a 'third party'?
• What if I name someone wrong?
• What if the case is more complicated than expected?

The above questions, and many more, deserve careful review before haphazardly starting a lawsuit.  Understanding and carefully reviewing the potential complications, considerations, and consequences, before starting a lawsuit is highly important.