Getting Started in Small Claims Court:

Question:How do I start a Small Claims Court lawsuit in Ontario and decide what to include in my Plaintiff’s Claim?

Answer:KLP Paralegal Services helps Ontario claimants file a Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A) and prepare the story section in a way that follows Small Claims Court Rule 7 requirements, while also flagging common risks like possible countersue, costs if you lose, third-party claims, and avoidable name or fact errors.   If you have questions about what information you should include or leave out, or your claim might become more complicated than expected, call (416) 570-6378 to book a consultation with a paralegal so you can start correctly and feel confident about the next steps.

Add this website to Google Preferred Sources

Commencing Proceedings and Retaining Legal Counsel for Small Claims Court

Getting a legal case started within the Small Claims Court involves issuance of a formal document known as a Plaintiff's Claim.  The Plaintiff's Claim document is known as a Form 7A and can be found 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 rules of process for starting a legal case in the Small Claims Court can be found in Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court.

Note: For immediate help, please contact KLP Paralegal Services by phone at: (416) 570-6378 to retain services or to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

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 concerns listed above, among others, should be very carefully reviewed before bringing a lawsuit.  Diligent review of these questions and the potential pitfalls are highly important before getting started.