Toronto Small Claims Court Lawyer
Recover What You're Owed — Up to $50,000.
Ontario's Small Claims Court gives individuals and businesses a powerful, cost-effective way to recover money owed — up to $50,000 per claim. Our Toronto small claims court lawyers handle every stage of the process, from filing to enforcement.
Ontario raised the Small Claims Court limit to $50,000 — making it the most powerful small claims venue in Canada. If someone owes you money, do not leave it on the table. Our lawyers can help you pursue every dollar you are entitled to.
Ontario Small Claims Court
Recover Up to $50,000 Through Ontario Small Claims Court
Ontario Small Claims Court is a branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, administered through the Court Services Division of the Ministry of the Attorney General. It is designed to resolve civil monetary disputes in a faster, more accessible, and less expensive way than full Superior Court litigation.
With the claim limit raised to $50,000, Small Claims Court is now more powerful than ever — covering the vast majority of everyday business and personal disputes. Whether you are a business chasing an unpaid invoice or an individual who was defrauded by a contractor, Small Claims Court gives you a real path to recovery.
At Legal Solutions Law Firm, we handle Small Claims Court matters across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. We manage every step — from drafting your claim to enforcing the judgment — so you can focus on what matters most. Clients who need help beyond a monetary dispute can turn to our Toronto lawyers for other legal matters. For disputes above the $50,000 limit, we can advise on proceeding in the Superior Court of Justice instead.
The Ontario Small Claims Court limit is $50,000 per claim, excluding interest and costs. This covers the majority of unpaid invoices, contractor disputes, property damage claims, and personal loans.
Small Claims Court cases move more quickly than full civil litigation. Many matters resolve at the settlement conference stage — often within months of filing.
Our flat fee structure means you know the cost upfront. We offer payment plans and work hard to ensure your representation costs are recoverable if you win.
From filing the claim to enforcing the judgment, Legal Solutions handles every step of the Small Claims Court process — protecting you from costly procedural mistakes.
| Type of Claim | Maximum Recovery |
|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | $50,000 |
| Property Damage | $50,000 |
| Breach of Contract | $50,000 |
| Personal Loan | $50,000 |
Why Legal Solutions
Why Hire Our Toronto Small Claims Court Lawyers
Whether you are suing someone in Ontario or defending a small claims action, experience matters. Ryan Manilla and the Legal Solutions team have appeared before the Deputy Judges of the Ontario Small Claims Court hundreds of times — on both sides, for plaintiffs and for defendants. We know the Rules of the Small Claims Court, the common pitfalls, and — most importantly — how to win.
Many self-represented claimants lose not because their case lacks merit, but because of procedural errors — suing the wrong party, failing to properly serve documents, or missing limitation periods. As your Small Claims Court Lawyer, we prevent those mistakes from the start — from your first Court Forms to your final judgment.
Who We Help
Types of Small Claims Cases We Handle
We represent individuals and businesses in a wide range of monetary disputes across Toronto and the GTA.
Unpaid Invoices
Recover outstanding accounts receivable, unpaid bills, and overdue payments owed to your business.
Breach of Contract
Pursue damages when a party fails to fulfill the terms of a written or verbal agreement.
Contractor Disputes
Claims involving defective workmanship, incomplete renovations, or failure to perform contracted services.
Property Damage
Recover compensation for damage to your vehicle, home, or other personal or real property.
Personal Loans
Enforce repayment of money lent to family members, friends, or business associates.
Security Deposits
Recover wrongfully withheld security deposits or compensation for damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Goods & Services
Claims for goods sold and delivered but not paid for, or services rendered without compensation.
Business Disputes
Recover debts, enforce agreements, and resolve disputes between businesses and their clients or suppliers.
Unpaid Rent
Landlords can recover unpaid rent, arrears, and related damages not covered by the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Personal Injuries
Seek compensation for minor personal injuries, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket expenses caused by another party's negligence.
Home Renovations
Recover deposits paid to contractors who abandoned work, or seek damages for substandard or incomplete renovation work.
Auto Dealerships
Claims against dealerships for misrepresentation, undisclosed damage, failure to deliver as promised, or deposit disputes.
Auto Repair Shops
Claims against mechanics and repair shops for defective repairs, unauthorized work, charges over the estimate, or a refused repair warranty.
HVAC Companies
Claims against HVAC companies for a bad furnace or AC install, no heat, a deposit taken for work never done, unlicensed work, or a refused warranty.
Free Interactive Tools
Not sure where to start? Use these free, confidential tools to assess your Ontario small claims matter before you file.
Our Approach
Small Claims Court Process Step-by-Step
We assess your claim, advise on the strength of your case, calculate damages and interest, and explain your options — at no cost.
We prepare a properly detailed Plaintiff's Claim, name the correct defendant, and file at the right courthouse.
We handle proper service of court documents and file the required Affidavit of Service — avoiding the most common cause of delay.
We represent you before the judge, present your strongest case, and explore every reasonable opportunity to resolve the matter early.
If settlement fails, we prepare your evidence, brief witnesses, and advocate forcefully on your behalf at trial.
Winning is only the first step. We pursue garnishment, writs, and other enforcement options until you are actually paid.
Small Claims Court Filing Deadlines
To start a case you file a Plaintiff's Claim; to respond, a defendant files a Defence and, where appropriate, a Defendant's Claim (a counterclaim). Once your Plaintiff's Claim is issued by the court, it must be served on the defendant within six months (the court can extend this where necessary), and you file an Affidavit of Service to prove it. After being served, the defendant has 20 days to file and serve a Defence.
If the defendant does not respond within that window, you can ask the court to note them in default and move toward a default judgment (Default Judgment Ontario) — often without a trial. A defendant who was noted in default can bring a Notice of Motion — a Motion to Set Aside — asking the court to reopen the matter. There are also fixed timelines for later steps, such as requesting a settlement conference or a trial date once a Defence is filed. All of these steps use standard Court Forms, which we prepare and file for you.
Missing or mishandling any of these deadlines is one of the most common reasons an otherwise strong claim stalls or is dismissed. We manage the full timeline for you — issuing, serving, and following each procedural step on schedule.
The Ontario Small Claims Court runs on a handful of standard forms. Here is what each one does — follow the link for a plain-language guide.
| Ontario Court Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Plaintiff's Claim (Form 7A) | Start a lawsuit |
| Defence (Form 9A) | Respond to a claim |
| Defendant's Claim | Counterclaim |
| Notice of Motion | Request a court order |
| Affidavit of Service | Confirm documents were served |
| Notice of Examination | Schedule an examination |
| Request to Clerk (Form 9B) | Administrative requests |
Small Claims Court Limitation Periods
Under Ontario's Limitations Act, 2002, you generally have two years from the date you knew — or reasonably ought to have known — about your claim to start a lawsuit. Miss that deadline and your right to sue can be permanently lost, no matter how strong the underlying facts are.
The two-year clock can start earlier than people expect, and certain claims run from a later discovery date. A separate ultimate limitation period of 15 years also applies in most cases. Because timing is often the difference between a valid claim and a lost one, we assess your limitation period immediately — so your claim is never defeated on a technicality.
Court Fees
Ontario charges a flat court fee to issue a Plaintiff's Claim — $108 for occasional claimants and $228 for frequent claimants (those who file ten or more claims a year in the same court) under O. Reg. 332/16. Additional set fees apply to later steps, such as noting a defendant in default or requesting a trial.
If you win, the court can order the losing party to pay a portion of your costs — generally around 15% of the amount claimed under Rule 19.04, plus your disbursements (filing and service fees). Where a reasonable offer to settle was made and refused, the court has discretion to award more.
Legal Solutions works on flat fees with payment-plan options, so you know your cost up front — with no hourly billing every time you send an email or make a call.
Settlement Conferences
Once a Claim has been filed and a Defence served, the court schedules a mandatory settlement conference. All parties and their representatives appear before a judge, who reviews the case and gives each side a neutral, candid assessment of its strengths and weaknesses.
Many disputes settle at this stage, avoiding the cost and delay of a trial. Having a lawyer advocate for you here matters — the judge's reaction to your position can be decisive in moving the other side toward a fair resolution. Depending on the circumstances, a matter may require more than one settlement conference.
Small Claims Court Trial
Unlike many areas of law where almost everything settles, Small Claims Court matters proceed to trial comparatively often. A trial follows formal rules of evidence: witnesses may be summoned, documents are entered as exhibits, and each side can examine and cross-examine witnesses before making closing submissions — including supporting case law (for example, decisions published on CanLII).
A trial may last part of a day or several days. Skilled examination and cross-examination are often what convince a judge, which is why representation at trial can be decisive. If you disagree with a final decision, a Small Claims Appeal may be available to the Divisional Court for orders over $3,500, subject to strict deadlines. And it is never too late to settle — many cases resolve on the day of trial or partway through.
Enforcing Your Judgment
Winning a judgment is only half the battle — a judgment is not a cheque. To collect a judgment when the debtor does not pay voluntarily, Ontario law gives you several enforcement tools. We choose the one that fits the debtor's income, assets, and circumstances — and Small Claims Court judgments are enforceable for many years.
Default Judgment
If the defendant is served and fails to file a Defence within 20 days, you can ask the court to note them in default and obtain a default judgment — often without a trial. This is the fastest route to an enforceable judgment when a claim goes unanswered, and it is the starting point for the enforcement steps below.
Garnishment
A garnishment order requires a third party who owes money to the debtor — typically an employer or a bank — to pay it to you instead. Wage and bank-account garnishments are among the most effective enforcement tools when the debtor has steady income or funds on deposit, and we can identify the right target and prepare the paperwork correctly.
Writ of Seizure
A writ of seizure and sale is an execution order filed with the court and enforced through the Sheriff's Office (the Court Enforcement Office). It attaches to the debtor's property: registered against real estate, it can prevent a sale or refinancing until your judgment is paid, and execution against personal property can lead to the seizure and sale of assets to satisfy the debt.
Examination Hearing
If you do not know what the debtor earns or owns, a judgment debtor examination hearing — started by serving a Notice of Examination — compels them to attend court and answer questions under oath about their income, assets, and financial situation. The information gathered lets you choose the most effective enforcement method.
Where Your Case Is Heard
All Toronto Small Claims Court matters — for claims up to $50,000 — are filed and heard at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, near Yonge & Sheppard. It is the busiest Small Claims Court in Ontario. Filings are also accepted through the Ontario Courts online portal. We represent both plaintiffs and defendants at every stage, from filing to trial.
Filing outside Toronto? See our directory of Small Claims Courts across Ontario for every location by region.
Free Ontario Small Claims Court Calculator
Use our free Ontario Small Claims Court Calculator to instantly estimate your total claim, pre-judgment interest under the Courts of Justice Act, and court filing fees — before you pay a cent.
Open the Free Calculator →Client Testimonials
I wish I could add five more stars to show how happy we are with the legal services of Ryan J. Manilla and his team. They took charge of our legal matters, worked tirelessly on short notice, and delivered outstanding legal documents on time. Their teamwork, professionalism, patience, and understanding of our situation gave us tremendous peace of mind. Most importantly, we sleep better at night knowing that we are in good hands, with a legal team that has the expertise and compassion to handle sensitive matters with care.
I had a great experience working with Ryan at Legal Solutions. He is professional, responsive, and very knowledgeable. Any time I had questions, he got back to me quickly and provided practical advice. I wouldn’t hesitate to use him again.
I was going through anxiety not knowing what to expect with my case. Ryan explained everything simply and stood up for me at my hearing. I’m really thankful for his help!
One of the best. Well poised, smart articulate. Know his stuff and one of the best lawyer out there to work with.
If someone owes you money, you may be entitled to recover up to $50,000 through Ontario Small Claims Court. Call Legal Solutions today for a free consultation — no obligation, no hidden fees.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving Clients Across Toronto and the GTA
From My Experience: Small Claims Court Is Not as Simple as It Looks
Every week I speak with someone who is surprised by how complicated their small claims matter has become. They started the process thinking it was straightforward — someone owes them money, they'll file a claim, a judge will sort it out. By the time they call me, they've received a defence and a counterclaim they didn't expect, the hearing has been adjourned twice, and they're no longer sure whether the contract they were relying on is actually going to help them or hurt them.
The word "small" in Small Claims Court refers to the monetary limit — currently $50,000 — not to the complexity of the process. The rules of evidence still apply. The burden of proof still rests on the person making the claim. The pre-trial conference, the preparation of your documents, the hearing itself — these are real procedural steps that require real preparation. Deputy judges who sit in Small Claims Court in Toronto hear dozens of cases every week, many of them brought by self-represented litigants. They are patient with people who show up unprepared. But patient doesn't mean willing to lower the evidentiary standard.
Preparation Is Everything
The cases I've seen clients lose — cases where the facts were clearly on their side — almost always came down to documentation. They had text messages but no signed contract. They had a verbal agreement the other side flatly denied. They had an invoice but no delivery confirmation. Getting your evidence organized, anticipating the defence's arguments, and presenting everything coherently to a judge who has never met you and has thirty minutes to understand your entire dispute: that's where preparation makes the difference.
The counterclaim situation catches a lot of plaintiffs off guard. You sue someone for $12,000. They file a defence denying everything and then a counterclaim saying you actually owe them $22,000. Suddenly you're the defendant in a claim larger than yours, and the whole dynamic shifts. Understanding how to respond to a counterclaim — and whether settling early makes financial sense — is worth thinking through carefully before you file a single document.
One thing people almost never think about upfront is what happens after they win. A judgment from Small Claims Court is not a cheque. You still have to enforce it. If the defendant has employment income you can garnish wages. If they own real estate you can register against title. But if the person who owes you money has no assets and no income, a $20,000 judgment doesn't make you $20,000 richer. I factor enforceability into the strategy from day one, because the goal isn't just to win — it's to actually recover what you're owed. Call us for a free consultation: 416-274-2222.
More Free Resources
Free Ontario small claims calculators, step-by-step wizards, and small claims guides to help you sue, defend, and collect:
Free Calculators
Claim Types We Handle
Step-by-Step Guides
Speak With a Toronto Small Claims Court Lawyer
Pursuing an unpaid invoice, breach of contract, or property damage claim? Our Toronto lawyers offer a free 30-minute consultation. We are here to help you recover every dollar you are entitled to.