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

Starting a lawsuit in Small Claims Court requires the preparation of, and issuance of, a Plaintiff's Claim document. The Plaintiff's Claim is a form, known as Form 7A, and is available online.  The primary parts of the form are relatively easy involving simple fill in the blanks information.  The more challenging aspect of starting a lawsuit is knowing what parts of the story to say and what parts of the story to avoid saying, or at least to avoid in the beginning.  There are many rules regarding the manner of what should be provided.  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.

Although people may think of Small Claims Court cases as an informal legal process, and indeed there are many Small Claims Court cases that are relatively simple enough that minimal, if any, legal training is required, there are still many concerns to consider. Concerns to carefully consider include:

• What if I lose?
• What if the Defendant brings a third party claim?
• What if I get the name of someone wrong?
• What if a counterclaim is brought?
• What if the case becomes more complicated than first expected?
• What if legal costs are awarded against me?

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.