Getting Started in Small Claims Court:

Question:What should I include in my Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A) to start a Small Claims Court case in Ontario?

Answer:Freed Legal Services can help you (as an Ontario paralegal) understand what to include, what to leave out, and how to tell your claim story clearly when starting a Small Claims Court action using Form 7A, so you’re aligned with the process rules in Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court and you reduce common early mistakes like confusing the parties or pleading the wrong facts.   They can also flag key risks, including what to expect if you lose, if the defendant brings a third party claim, if there is a counterclaim, or if costs are ordered against you, so you’re prepared before filing.   If you want a fast, practical next step in Ontario, call (800) 716-1897 to book a free half-hour consultation and get targeted guidance on commencing proceedings.

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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 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 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: Please contact Freed Legal Services by phone at: (800) 716-1897 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. Before starting a Small Claims Court lawsuit, questions to consider 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. Diligent review of these questions and the potential pitfalls are highly important before getting started.