Simon's Megalomaniacal Legal Resources

Small Claims Court (Ontario)

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>>>>>>>>>> Small Claims Court Limits Raised to $50,000 on 01 October 2025

On 01 October 2025 the monetary limit of the Small Claims Court will be raised to $50,000. This also applies to orders for the recovery of possession of personal property of a value up to $50,000 [Reg 42/45, amending Reg 626/00].

Further, the minimum limit to Small Claims Court appeals to the Divisional Court will be increased at the same date to payment of money in excess of $5,000. This appeal limit also applies to orders for the recovery of possession of personal property of a value up to $5,000 [Reg 42/45, amending Reg 626/00].

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LEGAL GUIDE

1. Overview
   
2. The Court
   
3. Jurisdiction
   
4. Parties
   
5. Language of Proceedings
   
6. Issuance, Service and Filing of Documents
   
7. Time Limits
   
8. Pleadings
   
9. Default by Defendant
   
10. deleted
    
11. Pre-trial Proceedings
    
12. Motions and Procedural Changes
    
13. Settlement
    
14. Trial
    
15. Evidence
    
16. Collection
    
17. Appeals
    
18. Court Fees
    
    Forms
    Currency and Updating

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ALPHABETICAL LIST

APPEALS
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Appeals
|||Appeals [Courts of Justice Act, s.31 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

COSTS
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Costs
|||Limit on costs [Courts of Justice Act, s.29 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

DISCLOSURE
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Documentary Disclosure

DISMISSAL FOR DELAY
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Dismissal for Delay

ENFORCEMENT
|||Execution, Small Claims Court - Proving Titles [Evidence Act, s.42 (Ontario)] [# EVIDENCE]
|||Contempt hearing for failure to attend examination [Courts of Justice Act, s.30 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

EVIDENCE
|||Evidence [Courts of Justice Act, s.27 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

FAIRNESS
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Fairness

JUDGES (and Deputy-Judges)
|||Composition of court for hearings [Courts of Justice Act, s.24 (Ont)] [#COURTS]
|||Deputy judges [Courts of Justice Act, s.32 (Ont)] [#COURTS]
|||Deputy Judges Council [Courts of Justice Act, s.33 (Ont)] [#COURTS]
|||Complaint [Courts of Justice Act, s.33.1 (Ont)] [#COURTS]
|||Small Claims Court Administrative Judge [Courts of Justice Act, s.87.2 (Ont)] [#COURTS]
|||Complaint [Courts of Justice Act, s.87.3 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

JUDICIAL REVIEW
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Judicial Review

JURISDICTION
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Monetary Jurisdiction
|||Jurisdiction [Courts of Justice Act, s.23 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

JURY TRIALS, NOT APPLICABLE IN SMALL CLAIMS
|||Jury trials [Courts of Justice Act, s.108 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

NATURE OF SMALL CLAIMS COURT
|||Summary hearings [Courts of Justice Act, s.25 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

ORDERS
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Orders
|||Instalment orders [Courts of Justice Act, s.28 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

PLEADINGS
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Pleadings

REASONS FOR DECISION
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Reasons for Decision

REPRESENTATION
|||Representation [Courts of Justice Act, s.26 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

SECURITY
|||Security [Courts of Justice Act, s.115 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Settlement Conferences

SLAPP
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation)

SMALL CLAIMS COURT
|||Small Claims Court [Courts of Justice Act, s.22 (Ont)] [#COURTS]

STRIKING PLEADINGS
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Striking Pleadings

TRANSFER OF PROCEEDINGS
Small Claims Court Case Dicta - Transfer to/from Superior Court
|||Consolidation of proceedings in different courts [Courts of Justice Act, s.107 (Ont)] [#COURTS]