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Ontario · Small Claims Court

Ontario Form 7A — Plaintiff's Claim, from facts to filed in one sitting

Form 7A is the document that starts a lawsuit in Ontario Small Claims Court. It has to state the facts clearly, set out the exact amount claimed with a breakdown, attach the supporting documents, and be served correctly. Get any one of those wrong and the Defendant walks.

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What Form 7A is

Form 7A is the Plaintiff's Claim prescribed under Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court. It is the originating document for a civil lawsuit in Ontario for monetary amounts up to $50,000, exclusive of interest and costs. (The monetary limit was raised from $35,000 to $50,000 effective October 1, 2025 under Ontario Regulation 42/25.) Small Claims Court hears debt, breach of contract, damage to property, negligence, return of deposits, and virtually any civil dispute that is not matrimonial, regulatory, or reserved to the Landlord and Tenant Board.

The required fields, in plain English

  1. Plaintiff. Your full legal name as you want it to appear on judgment. If you are suing on behalf of a corporation, the corporate legal name as registered.
  2. Defendant. The full legal name of who is being sued. For corporations, use the legal name from the Corporations Canada or Ontario Business Registry. “Joe's Pizza” is not a legal entity — find whether it is “1234567 Ontario Inc. o/a Joe's Pizza” or a sole proprietorship.
  3. Amount claimed. Principal + interest + cost of issuing the claim. Do not include future legal fees — those come at the end.
  4. Reasons for the claim. A concise narrative, dated, with paragraphs. The judge reads this first.
  5. Relief requested. What you want the court to order: payment, return of property, specific performance.

Filing fees and venue

As of 2026, the Form 7A filing fee is $108 for infrequent claimants (fewer than 10 claims per year at that court) and $290 for frequent claimants. You pay at the time of filing. Fee waivers are available under Form 20 for applicants on social assistance or legal aid.

Venue matters. Under Rule 6.01, the Plaintiff's Claim must be filed in the territorial division where the defendant lives, the defendant carries on business, or the cause of action arose. Filing in Toronto when the defendant lives in Sudbury and the contract was signed in Thunder Bay invites a motion to transfer — costing you time and filing fees.

Serving the claim

Once the Claim is issued by the court (stamped, numbered), you have six months to serve it on the defendant, or the file is deemed abandoned. Service options under Rule 8:

After service, the server completes an Affidavit of Service (Form 8A) which gets filed with the court. Without the affidavit, you cannot proceed.

The 20-day response window

The defendant has 20 days (40 if served outside Ontario) to file a Defence on Form 9A. If they do not, you can file Form 9B (Request to Clerk to Note Defendant in Default) and then request judgment — default judgment is typically granted without a hearing if the facts are clear on the face of the Claim.

If the defendant does file a Defence, the court will schedule a Settlement Conference — mandatory, and typically held 6 to 9 months after filing. Half of Small Claims cases settle at this conference.

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Related Ontario resources

BeProSe is a document preparation service, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. Before filing, review your Claim with a licensed Ontario lawyer or LSO-licensed paralegal.

FAQ

What is the monetary limit for Ontario Small Claims Court?

$50,000 exclusive of interest and costs. This limit took effect October 1, 2025 under Ontario Regulation 42/25, raising the previous $35,000 cap. Claims above $50,000 go to the Superior Court of Justice, which is more expensive and slower. You can abandon the portion above $50,000 to keep a claim in Small Claims Court — a common strategy for claims in the $50,000–$75,000 range.

What are the filing fees for Form 7A?

As of 2026: $108 for infrequent claimants (fewer than 10 claims in a calendar year at that court location) and $290 for frequent claimants. You pay when you file. A fee waiver request (Form 20) is available for litigants on social assistance or below the income thresholds in the Administration of Justice Act regulation.

Where do I file the Plaintiff's Claim?

In the judicial district where the defendant lives or carries on business, OR where the cause of action arose (where the contract was signed, the services were performed, the goods delivered). You cannot forum-shop to a distant court. Most Form 7A filings are now submitted online through the Ontario Small Claims Court e-filing portal.

How long does the defendant have to respond?

Twenty days after the Plaintiff's Claim is served on them, if served in Ontario. Forty days if served elsewhere in Canada or the United States. The response is a Defence (Form 9A). If no Defence is filed, you can note the defendant in default and request a default judgment.

What supporting documents should I attach?

The contract or agreement if there is one; invoices, receipts, and ledgers showing the amount claimed; written communications (emails, texts) showing the debt was acknowledged; photos of damage for property claims; the demand letter you sent and proof of delivery; any expert report or quote supporting repair costs.

Can I claim interest on the judgment?

Yes. Pre-judgment interest under s.128 of the Courts of Justice Act applies at the rate published quarterly by the Ministry of the Attorney General. If your contract specifies an interest rate, you can claim that rate instead. Post-judgment interest under s.129 runs from the date of judgment at a separate quarterly rate. Include the interest calculation in the Plaintiff's Claim.