Getting Started in Small Claims Court:

Question:How do I commence a Small Claims Court lawsuit in Ontario and what should I include in the Plaintiff’s Claim Form 7A?

Answer:Cross Legal Services can help you commence (start) a Small Claims Court proceeding in Ontario by preparing your Plaintiff’s Claim on Form 7A, walking you through Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court, and guiding what facts to include so your claim is clear, complete, and less likely to be derailed by countersuit, name errors, or unexpected costs exposure.  If you need paralegal support to organize your story and supporting documents, call (289) 443-0675 for a free 1/2 hour consultation and get practical help getting to court-ready paperwork fast.

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Commencing Proceedings and Retaining Legal Counsel for Small Claims Court

To start a case in the Small Claims Court requires the issuing of a document known as a Plaintiff's Claim.  The Plaintiff's Claim is a form, known as Form 7A, and is available online.  The main parts of the Form 7A document are quite easy to complete as such simply involves filling in a few blanks of 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, if any.  There are various rules regarding the extent of information that is required.  The rules on starting a Small Claims Court lawsuit, referred to formally as commencing a proceeding, are found in Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court.

Note: For immediate help, please contact Cross Legal Services by phone at: (289) 443-0675 to retain services or 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 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 concerns listed above, among others, should be very carefully reviewed before bringing a lawsuit. Understanding and carefully reviewing the potential complications, considerations, and consequences, before starting a lawsuit is highly important.