Small Claims Court E-filing Service User Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Getting started
   1. Step 1: Start a claim
   2. Step 2: Create a ONe-key ID
   3. Step 3: Choose a filing method
3. Submitting your claim using the Filing Wizard
   1. Step 1: Create and submit your Plaintiff’s Claim using Filing Wizard
   2. Step 2: Serve Defendants and submit Affidavit of Service using Filing Wizard
   3. Step 3: Request default judgment using Filing Wizard (Liquidated claims)
   4. Step 4: Note in default using Filing Wizard (Non-Liquidated Claims)
   5. Step 5: Request Assessment using Filing Wizard (Non-Liquidated Claims)
      1. Option 1 — Request Assessment Hearing
      2. Option 2 — File Notice of Motion for an Assessment in Writing
4. Submitting your claim using Quick File
   1. Step 1: File and submit your Plaintiff’s Claim using Quick File
   2. Step 2: File an Affidavit of Service using Quick File
   3. Step 3: File a request to note defendant in default using Quick File
   4. Step 4: File a request for default judgment using Quick File (Liquidated Claims)
   5. Step 5: Request Assessment using Quick File (Non-Liquidated Claims)
      1. Option 1 - Request Assessment Hearing
      2. Option 2 – File Notice of Motion for an Assessment in Writing
5. Amending your claim
   1. Amending your Plaintiff’s Claim using Filing Wizard
   2. Amending your Plaintiff’s Claim using Quick File
6. Frequently asked questions

Introduction

If you are suing a person or business for $35,000 or less, you may be eligible to make your claim online. It’s a simple, convenient way to file a claim in Ontario’s small claims court without ever setting foot in a courthouse.

How it works – the basics

There are several steps in the small claims process:

1. Filing a claim with the court
2. Serving (notifying) the defendant
3. If the defendant files a defence:
   • Going to a settlement conference and a trial if necessary
4. If the defendant fails to file a defence:
   • Getting a judgment (decision) from the court

Getting started

Ready to get started? The following steps will guide you through the process.

Step 1: Start a claim

From the ontario.ca/smallclaims page, scroll down and click on “File a new claim or view an existing one”.

You will be re-directed to the login page.

Step 2: Create a ONe-key ID

You will be prompted to login using your ONe-key ID. If you don’t have a ONe-key ID, you must create one.

Click on “Sign up now!” and complete all fields.

Step 3: Choose a filing method

There are two ways to file your claim:

• Filing Wizard. If this is your first time filing a claim in small claims court, or if you are not familiar with the small claims court process, then the “Filing Wizard” is the tool for you. The filing wizard will walk you through the filing process and will help you to make sure that you submit all the necessary information to the court.
• Quick File. If you frequently file claims in small claims court and are very familiar with the small claims court process, then our “Quick File” method is the way to go. This method is well-suited to legal professionals, process servers and business people who frequently file claims in court, and have already completed a Plaintiff’s Claim form. Skip to “Submitting your claim using Quick File” to learn more about this process.

Submitting your claim using the Filing Wizard

You will now prepare your claim for submission to the court. The filing wizard will walk you through the filing process and will help you to make sure that you submit all the necessary information to the court.

You must explain why you are making the claim, how much money you wish to claim, and provide basic information about yourself and the defendant(s).

Step 1: Create and submit your Plaintiff’s Claim using Filing Wizard

To start, read the instructions and click File Plaintiff’s Claim.

Next, you will need to fill out the following fields in the steps below:

1. Terms and conditions
   • Carefully read the terms and conditions listed, and if you agree, check the boxes then click Next.
2. Select a court
   • Select the small claims court where you wish to file your claim from the drop-down menu.
   • A number of questions will follow to confirm that you have selected the correct court district. Respond by clicking Yes or No, then click Next.
3. Identify amount claimed
   • Enter the amount of money you are claiming.
   • If you had a contract with the defendant that included an interest rate, you may put that rate in your claim. If you did not agree to an interest rate, you can ask for the Courts of Justice Act rate.
   • The Courts of Justice Act rate is set quarterly by the Ministry of the Attorney General. View interest rates here. Enter the date from which you are claiming interest, and then click Next.

4. Identify the type of claim

   Identify the type of claim you are making based on the definitions below:

   • Liquidated claim:
     • where the claim is for a set amount owing under a written contract or verbal agreement such as an unpaid invoice, bounced cheque and/or unpaid loan
   • Non-liquidated claim:
     • where the amount in dispute is not definite or exact and will have to be reviewed by a judge, like damage to property, personal injury, poor workmanship, and/or termination pay

   For more information about claim types, please see the Guide to Making a Claim.

5. Provide an email address
   • Provide the email address that you wish to use for court transactions (e.g., receiving official forms, court receipts, etc.) and click Next.
6. Provide representative and plaintiff information
   • The plaintiff is the person making a claim against the defendant. Indicate whether or not the plaintiff is represented by a third party, such as a lawyer or paralegal, and then complete the fields to provide information about the representative (if any) and the plaintiff.
   • If there is more than one plaintiff, click Add another plaintiff.
   • Once you have provided the required information, click Next.
7. Provide defendant information
   • Provide all available name, address and contact information for the defendant.
   • If there is more than one defendant, click Add another defendant.
   • Once you have provided information about all defendants, click Next.

8. Provide claim details
• In the field provided, explain why you are making the claim. Be sure to include details about the event(s) that led to the claim and how you arrived at the specific amount of money you are seeking.
• Upload any supporting documents by clicking Add more files. Supporting documents are anything which you feel is relevant to your claim, such as contracts or invoices. Remember to identify and explain your supporting documents in the Claim Details field. Click Browse to find the document you wish to upload, and then select that document and click Add.

  Note: if you save your Plaintiff’s Claim and return to it at a later time, you will need to upload your attachments again.

• Once you have uploaded all supporting documents, complete the required payment details and click Review information before submitting.

Note: As the small claims e-filing service does not store any documents submitted with your claim, we recommend you Print the review summary page showing the name of any supporting documents provided with your claim for future reference.

9. Review, pay and submit your claim
   • The next screen will show all of the information you have submitted so far. Carefully review all information.
   • If you wish to change anything, click Update to the right of that information. Once you have made any changes, click Save and return to summary.
   • If all information is complete and accurate, click Pay and submit.
10. Payment
    • To complete the transaction you will be asked to pay using either your Visa, Mastercard or Interac debit card. Select your method of payment and click Make Payment.

• Once you have entered all required payment information, click Pay Now.

11. Submission and payment summary
    • When your payment has been processed, your Plaintiff’s Claim will be submitted to the court. A summary of your submission will be displayed, including the claim number assigned to your case by the court and the time and date your claim was submitted.
    • A payment summary will also be displayed, confirming your payment. Print a copy for your record. It will also be saved in your ServiceOntario account.

12. Email notification
• You will receive an email with the court-issued Plaintiff’s Claim document, which can be printed and served (delivered) on each defendant together with any documents in support of your claim.
• Remember, if you submit a form after regular business hours, it will be processed by the court the next business day. If you do not receive it within three business days, contact the court office for more information. The email will provide information about next steps, as well as a partially-completed affidavit of service form.

Step 2: Serve Defendants and submit an Affidavit of Service using Filing Wizard

Within three business days, you will receive a court-issued Plaintiff’s Claim form and a partially-completed Affidavit of Service form by email.

The Plaintiff’s Claim form must be served (delivered) to each defendant together with any documents in support of your claim. This will notify each defendant that you are suing them. Learn how to serve a defendant.

Once you have served the defendant(s), you must submit a document to the court in which you swear (affirm) that you have served the defendant(s). This document is called an Affidavit of Service. It must be signed in front of a commissioner for taking affidavits (see Quick Tip below) and then scanned to create an electronic copy to submit to the court.

File an Affidavit of Service

To file the Affidavit of Service, go to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on “File a new claim or view an existing one” and log in to your ONe-key account.

1. Your ongoing claim should be visible on this page. Click Next steps.

If you have landed on your Accounts page, click on “Small claims e-filing” under enrolled services above your existing claims.

You should see that Step 2: Serve defendants is highlighted.

2. If you need to complete an Affidavit of Service form, click Complete and Print Affidavit to Sign and then follow the steps.
3. If you have already signed your completed Affidavit of Service in front of a commissioner for taking affidavits and saved a scanned version, click Upload and File Affidavit.

4. Once you have clicked on Upload and File Affidavit, select the defendant(s) served by clicking on the box to the left of the defendant’s name.
5. For each defendant you will be required to Upload and file a signed and commissioned copy of the Affidavit of Service and any supporting materials such as receipts for registered mail or couriers.
6. Enter the date that service of the claim was effective (see Quick Tip below) and confirm that the defendant’s contact information is up-to-date by clicking on Yes or No. Then click Review information before submitting.
7. Carefully review all information and click Submit.

You must allow the defendant 20 days from the effective date of service to deliver a defence to you and file it with the court.

If no defence is served within 20 days, you may ask the court to make a decision on your claim without the defendant(s) being there. This is called "default proceedings." This includes noting the defendant in default and then either:

• requesting a default judgment (liquidated claims), or
• requesting an assessment of damages (non-liquidated claims).

Learn how to request a default judgment below.

Step 3: Request default judgment using Filing Wizard (Liquidated Claims)

If 20 days have passed and you have not received a defence from the defendant, you may ask the court to grant you a decision on your claim, based only on the evidence you have presented. This is called a default judgment.

To file a default judgment form, follow these steps:

1. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on “File a new claim or view an existing one” and log in to your ONe-key account.
2. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Click Next Steps.
3. On the next screen, you should see that Step 3: Note in default and request judgment is highlighted. Read the instructions and tips and then click Request default judgment to continue.

4. Complete the Request for Default Judgment Form by completing the following:
   • Determine if an Affidavit for Jurisdiction is required by responding Yes or No to each of the questions. In many cases it will not be needed.
   • If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A), click No to indicate that you do not have a form ready for upload and click Next.

5. Create and print an Affidavit for Jurisdiction:
   • To create the Affidavit for Jurisdiction, complete the required fields and then click Review and Print Affidavit for Jurisdiction.

• To print the Affidavit for Jurisdiction, click Review and print Affidavit for Jurisdiction.
• Take the Affidavit to a commissioner for taking affidavits, scan the signed copy and save it on your computer (see Quick Tip below).

6. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on “File a new claim or view an existing one” and log in to your ONe-key account. Your ongoing claim should be visible on this page. Click Next steps.
   
   
7. You should see that Step 3: Note defendant in default and request judgment is highlighted.
   
   
8. Click Request default judgment.
   
   
9. On the next screen, click Upload file to select the completed, signed form from your files, and click Next.

10. Select all defendant(s) you wish to file the default judgment against by clicking on the box to the left of the defendant’s name. If all contact information is correct, click Next.
11. Determine principal and interest amounts of your claim
    • If you indicated that you want to collect interest on your Plaintiff’s Claim, you must enter the contractual rate or the Courts of Justice Act rate. Respond by clicking Yes or No, and complete the interest rate details.
    • Your total amount of pre-judgment interest will be calculated for you. Then click Next.

12. Provide costs:
    • If there are costs that you would like to add to your claim, click Yes and enter them now. These costs may include things like fees associated with filing your claim, e.g., legal counsel, fees charged by the commissioner for taking affidavits, fees for serving the claim, the fee to file your claim and default judgment, etc.

      Note that the fee to file your default judgment is $89 (or $121 for frequent claimants who have filed 10 claims at the small claims court location already this year).

      Upload electronic copies of any receipts as evidence of these costs and click Next. You do not need to upload receipts for court fees.

13. Post-judgment interest claimed and payment details
    • Indicate whether you are claiming post-judgment interest. If Yes, enter the post-judgment interest rate you are claiming (e.g., under the contract or the Courts of Justice Act rate).
    • Complete the required details and click Review information before submitting to continue.
14. Review, pay and submit your default judgment
    • The next screen will show all of the information you have entered. Carefully review all information. To change information in any section, click Update to the right of that information. Once you have made any changes, click Save and return to summary.
    • If all information is complete and accurate, click Pay and submit.

Payment

To complete the transaction you will be asked to pay using either your Visa, Mastercard or Interac debit card. Once you have selected your method of payment and entered all required payment information, click Pay Now.

Submission and payment summary

When your payment has been processed, your default judgment will be submitted to the court. A summary of your submission and payment will be displayed. Print a copy for your record. It will also be saved in your ServiceOntario account.

Email notification

Within five business days, you should receive an email with the court-issued default judgment.

Remember, if you submit a form after regular business hours, it will be processed by the court the next business day. If you do not receive it within five business days, contact the court office for more information.

What happens next?

If your request for default judgment is granted, the court will send a copy to the defendant(s). If the defendant does not send you the money you are owed, see the Small Claims Court guide called After Judgment – Guide to Getting Results for more information on how to enforce a judgment.

Step 4: Request to note in default (Non-Liquidated)

To file a request to note a defendant in default, follow these steps:

1. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on File a new claim or view an existing one and log in to your ONe-key account.
2. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Click Next steps.
3. On the next screen, you should see that Step 3: Note in default is highlighted. Read the instructions and tips and then click Note in default to continue.

4. Select the defendants that you wish to have noted in default and complete the statement.
5. Review and submit your Request to note a defendant in default.
6. When the Request to note in default has been sent to the court, a summary will appear.

What happens next?

If all defendants have been noted in default in your case, you can either:

• request an assessment hearing, where you attend court and explain to the judge what you are owed and why, and show the judge your evidence, or
• file a Notice of Motion for an Assessment in Writing, where you explain what you are owed and why, and upload scanned copies of any supporting evidence. You do not need to go to court. You will receive the judge’s decision by email.

  A judge will determine the amount you are owed. This is explained in more detail in Step 5.

Step 5: Request Assessment (non-liquidated claims)

If all defendants have been noted in default and your claim is a non-liquidated claim (where the amount in dispute is not definite or exact), you can either request an assessment hearing before a judge or file a notice of motion for an assessment in writing.

Option 1 – Request Assessment Hearing

An assessment hearing is sometimes called an undefended trial. After you file your request, the clerk of the court will email you a Notice of Assessment Hearing that tells you the date, time and location of your hearing. You must attend court and explain to the judge what you are owed and why. See the Guide to Getting Ready for Court for more details.

To request an Assessment Hearing, follow these steps:

1. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on “File a new claim or view an existing one” and log in to your ONe-key account.
2. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Click Next steps.
3. On the next screen, you should see that Step 4: Request assessment is highlighted. Read the instructions and tips and then click Request Assessment Hearing to continue.
4. To complete the Request for Assessment Hearing:
   1. Determine if an Affidavit for Jurisdiction is required by responding Yes or No to each of the questions. In many cases it will not be needed.
   2. If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A), click No to indicate that you do not have a form ready for upload and click Next.

5. Create and print an Affadavit for Jurisdiction
   • To create the Affidavit for Jurisdiction, complete the required fields and then click Review and Print Affidavit for Jurisdiction.

• Take the affidavit to a commissioner for taking affidavits (see Quick Tip below), scan the signed copy and save it on your computer.
• When you return to the ServiceOntario portal you will follow the steps to upload your completed Affidavit of Jurisdiction.
• If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A), click Yes to indicate that you have a form ready for upload and click Next.
6. Complete all fields for requesting an assessment hearing and click Review information before submitting.

Payment

• To complete the transaction you will be asked to pay using either your Visa, Mastercard or Interac debit card. Select your method of payment and click Make Payment.
• Once you have entered all required payment information, click Pay Now.

Submission and payment summary

When your payment has been processed, your Request for assessment hearing will be submitted to the court. A summary of your submission will be displayed, including the claim number and the time and date your request was submitted.

A payment summary will also be displayed, confirming your payment. Print a copy for your records. It will also be saved in your ServiceOntario account.

What happens next?

The clerk of the court will email you a Notice of Assessment Hearing that tells you the date, time, and location of your hearing. You must attend court and explain to the judge what you are owed and why.

If you do not receive your Notice of Assessment Hearing within three weeks, you may wish to contact the Small Claims Court office listed at the top of your Plaintiff’s Claim to ask about its status.

Option 2 – File Notice of Motion for an Assessment in Writing

If all defendants have been noted in default and your claim is a non-liquidated claim, you can complete and file a notice of motion for an assessment in writing (form 15A). Explain in your notice of motion form what you are owed and why, and upload scanned copies of any supporting documents. You will not need to go to court to speak to a judge at this time. The judge's decision will be emailed to you. The notice of motion form must be signed in front of a commissioner for taking affidavits.

To File a notice of motion for an assessment in writing, follow these steps:

1. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on "File a new claim or view an existing one" and log in to your ONe-key account.
2. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Click Next Steps.
3. On the next screen, you should see that Step 4: Request assessment is highlighted. Read the instructions and tips and then click Request Assessment in Writing to continue.
4. To complete your Request for Assessment in Writing:
   • Determine if an Affidavit for Jurisdiction is required by responding Yes or No to each of the questions. In many cases it will not be needed.
   • If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A), click No to indicate that you do not have a form ready for upload and click Next.

5. Create and print an Affidavit for Jurisdiction by completing the required fields and then click Review and Print Affidavit for Jurisdiction.

• Take the affidavit to a commissioner for taking affidavits (see Quick Tip below), scan the signed copy and save it on your computer.
• When you return to the ServiceOntario portal you will follow the steps to upload your completed Affidavit of Jurisdiction.

If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A), click Yes to indicate that you have a form ready for upload and click Next.

6. Complete all fields for requesting an assessment in writing and upload your completed and signed Notice of Motion (form 15A). Make sure the commissioner’s stamp is visible on the scanned copy of each attachment. Click Review information before submitting.

Payment

• To complete the transaction you will be asked to pay using either your Visa, Mastercard or Interac debit card. Select your method of payment and click Make Payment.
• Once you have entered all required payment information, click Pay Now.

Submission and payment summary

When your payment has been processed, your notice of motion for an assessment in writing will be submitted to the court. A summary of your submission will be displayed, including the claim number and the time and date your motion was submitted.

A payment summary will also be displayed, confirming your payment. Print a copy for your records. It will also be saved in your ServiceOntario account.

What happens next?

According to the Rules of the Small Claims Court, within 14 days you must mail or deliver a hard copy of your Plaintiff's Claim and attachments, Affidavit of Service, Notice of Motion and supporting documents to the small claims court at the address at the top of your Plaintiff’s Claim. You do not need to go to court at this time. The judge will review your documents and a decision will be emailed to you. If you have not received a judge's decision (called an "endorsement record") from the court within six weeks, you may wish to contact the small claims court office listed at the top of your Plaintiff’s Claim to ask about its status.

If the judge does not think the documents you have filed are sufficient to make a decision, the court may order you to provide a further affidavit or attend an assessment hearing.

Submitting your claim using Quick File

Quick File allows legal professionals and regular users of small claims court to quickly and easily upload court documents that you have already completed offline.

Step 1: File and submit your Plaintiff’s Claim using Quick File

1. Select Quick File.

2. Read the conditions and check the box provided to confirm that you agree.
3. Enter the claim amount (principal), select a court and enter the email address where you will receive official court documents, then click Next.
4. Fill out all fields under Representative and Plaintiff Information and click Next.
5. Fill out all fields under Defendant Information and click Next.

6. Upload Plaintiff’s Claim and attachments:
   • Click Upload file to retrieve the completed Plaintiff’s Claim from your files. This document must be in PDF format and cannot exceed 5 megabytes (5MB) in size.
   • If you have additional supporting documents, click Add more files to upload. Supporting documents can be in any of the following formats: PDF, Word, Excel or JPEG. Each supporting document must not exceed 10 megabytes (10MB) in size, with total attachments not to exceed 20 MB in size. File names may only contain letters and numbers and cannot exceed 30 characters in length including the extension e.g., “pdf or jpg”.
   • Complete all remaining fields and click Review information before submitting.

7. Review, pay and submit Plaintiff’s Claim.
   • The next screen will show all of the information you have entered. Carefully review all information.
   • To change information in any section, click Update this section.
   • If all information is complete and accurate, click Pay and submit.

Payment

• To complete the transaction you will be asked to pay using either your Visa, Mastercard or Interac debit card. Select your method of payment and click Make Payment.

• Once you have entered all required payment information, click Pay Now.

Submission and payment summary

When your payment has been processed, your Plaintiff’s Claim will be submitted to the court. A summary of your submission will be displayed, including the claim number assigned to your case by the court and the time and date your claim was submitted.

A payment summary will also be displayed, confirming your payment. Print a copy for your records. It will also be saved in your ServiceOntario account.

Email notification

You will receive an email with the court-issued Plaintiff’s Claim document, which can be printed and served (delivered) on each defendant together with any documents in support of your claim.

Remember, if you submit a form after regular business hours, it will be processed by the court the next business day. If you do not receive it within three business days, contact the court office for more information. The email will provide information about next steps.

Step 2: File an Affidavit of Service using Quick File

Once you have served the defendant(s), return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on "File a new claim or view an existing one" and log in to your ONe-key account.

1. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Select the case from the list of ongoing claims and then click Next steps.

If you have landed on your Accounts page, click on “Small claims e-filing” under enrolled services above your existing claims.

Select File an Affidavit of Service, and follow these instructions:

1. File Affidavit of Service
   • Select the defendant(s) served by clicking on the box to the left of the defendant’s name. For each defendant, upload a signed and commissioned copy of the Affidavit of Service and any supporting materials.
   • Update defendant contact information, if needed.
   • Click Review information before submitting.
2. Review and submit Affidavit of Service
   • If all information is correct, click Submit.

Submission summary

When the form has been sent to the court, a summary will appear.

Step 3: File a request to note defendant in default using Quick File

If 20 days have passed since the date you served (delivered) the claim on the defendant and you have not been served with a defence, return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on “File a new claim or view an existing one” and log in to your ONe-key account.

Your ongoing claim should be visible on this page. Select the claim number and then click on Next Steps.

Select File request to note defendant in default, click to open and follow these steps:

1. File a request to note a defendant in default
   • Select the defendant(s) that you wish to have noted in default and click Review information before submitting.
2. Review and submit a request to note defendant in default
   • Review the list of defendants to be noted in default. If you wish to make edits, click Update.
   • If all information is correct, click Submit.

Submission summary

When the request has been sent to the court, a summary will appear.

Step 4: File a request for default judgment using Quick File (Liquidated Claim)

If you have filed a liquidated claim, you may file for default judgment at any time after you have submitted your request to have the defendant(s) noted in default.

From the My existing claims page select the case from the list of ongoing claims and then click on Next steps.

Click on File Default Judgment, and follow these steps:

1. File a request for default judgment.
   • Select the defendant(s) by clicking the box to the left of each defendant’s name.
   • Upload a Default Judgment Form (form 11A) and any receipts for any costs and disbursements, such as costs for preparing the claim and money you might have spent effecting service.
   • For each defendant, upload Default Judgment Form (form 11A) and any receipts for any costs and disbursements, such as costs for preparing the claim and money you might have spent effecting service.
   • Update defendant contact information, if needed.
   • Indicate whether the plaintiff has filed more than ten claims at the selected court location this calendar year.
   • Complete the Authorization and signature and click Review information before submitting.
2. Review and submit a request for default judgment.
   • Carefully review all information. If you wish to make edits, click Update.
   • If all information is correct, click Pay and submit.

Payment

To complete the transaction you will be asked to pay using either your Visa, Mastercard or Interac debit card. Select your method of payment and enter all required payment information, then click Pay Now.

Submission and payment summary

When your payment has been processed, a submission and payment summary will appear. Print this screen for your records. It will also be saved in your ServiceOntario account.

Within five business days, you should receive an email with the court-issued default judgment. If you do not receive it, contact the court office for more information.

What happens next?

If your request for default judgment is granted, the court will send a copy to the defendant(s). If the defendant does not send you the money you are owed, see the Small Claims Court guide called After Judgment – Guide to Getting Results for more information on how to enforce a judgment.

Step 5: Request assessment using Quick File (Non-liquidated Claim)

If you have filed a non-liquidated claim and all defendants have been noted in default, you can either request an assessment hearing before a judge or file a notice of motion for an assessment in writing (Form 15A).

Option 1 – Request an assessment hearing

An assessment hearing is sometimes called an undefended trial. After you file your request for an assessment hearing, the clerk of the court will email you a Notice of Assessment Hearing that tells you the date, time and location of your hearing. You must attend court and explain to the judge what you are owed and why. See the Guide to Getting Ready for Court for more details.

To request an Assessment Hearing, follow these steps:

1. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on "File a new claim or view an existing one" and log in to your ONe-key account.
2. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Click Next steps.
3. Select Request an assessment hearing and click to open.

4. Complete the following:
   • Confirm that the court location is correct.
   • Complete the Representative/party name.
   • Determine if an Affidavit for Jurisdiction is required by responding Yes or No to each of the questions. In many cases it will not be needed.
   • If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A) and do not have a complete signed and commissioned form 11A, select No.
   • Have an Affidavit for Jurisdiction completed, signed and commissioned.
   • Return to the ServiceOntario portal and then follow the steps to upload your completed Affidavit for Jurisdiction
   • If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A), click Yes to indicate that you have a form ready for upload and click Next.

5. Complete all fields for requesting an assessment hearing and click Review information before submitting.
   • If all information is correct, click Pay and submit.

Payment

To complete the transaction you will be asked to pay using either your Visa, Mastercard or Interac debit card. Select your method of payment and enter all required payment information, then click Pay Now.

Submission and payment summary

When your payment has been processed, your request for assessment hearing will be submitted to the court. A summary of your submission will be displayed, including the claim number and the time and date your request was submitted.

A payment summary will also be displayed, confirming your payment. Print a copy for your records. It will also be saved in your ServiceOntario account.

What happens next?

The clerk of the court will email you a Notice of Assessment Hearing that tells you the date, time, and location of your hearing. You must attend court and explain to the judge what you are owed and why.

If you do not receive your Notice of Assessment Hearing within three weeks, you may wish to contact the small claims court office listed at the top of your Plaintiff’s Claim to ask about its status.

Option 2 – File a notice of motion for an assessment in writing

To file a notice of motion for assessment in writing, follow these steps:

1. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on "File a new claim or view an existing one" and log in to your ONe-key account.
2. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Select the case from the list of ongoing claims and then click Next steps.
3. Select File a Notice of Motion for Assessment in Writing.

4. Upload your completed, sworn/affirmed Notice of Motion (Form 15A) and any attachments. Make sure to include that the commissioner’s stamp on the scanned copy of each attachment is visible.
   • Determine if an Affidavit for Jurisdiction is required by responding Yes or No to each of the questions. In many cases it will not be needed.
   • If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A) and do not have a complete signed and commissioned form 11A, select No.
   • Have an Affidavit for Jurisdiction completed, signed and commissioned for uploading in the ServiceOntario portal.
   • Return to the ServiceOntario portal you will then follow the steps to upload your completed Affidavit for Jurisdiction
   • If you are required to submit an Affidavit for Jurisdiction (form 11A), click Yes to indicate that you have a form ready for upload and click Next.

5. Click Review information before submitting.
   • If all information is correct, click Pay and submit.

Payment

To complete the transaction you will be asked to pay using either your Visa, Mastercard or Interac debit card. Select your method of payment and enter all required payment information, then click Pay Now.

Submission and payment summary

When your payment has been processed, your notice of motion for assessment in writing will be submitted to the court. A summary of your submission will be displayed, including the claim number and the time and date your motion was submitted.

A payment summary will also be displayed, confirming your payment. Print a copy for your records. It will also be saved in your ServiceOntario account.

What happens next?

According to the Rules of the Small Claims Court, within 14 days you must mail or deliver a hard copy of your Plaintiff's Claim and attachments, Affidavit of Service, notice of motion and supporting documents to the small claims court listed at the top of your Plaintiff’s Claim.

You do not need to go to court at this time. The judge will review your documents and a decision will be emailed to you. If you have not received a judge's decision (called an "endorsement record") from the court within six weeks, you may wish to contact the small claims court office where you filed your Plaintiff's Claim to ask about the status.

If the judge thinks the documents you filed are not sufficient to make a decision, the court may order you to provide a further affidavit or attend an assessment hearing.

Amending a Plaintiff’s Claim

If you have not yet served (delivered) your claim on any of the defendants, you can file an amended claim online. If you have already served your claim on any of the defendants, you must file your amended claim with the Small Claims Court’s filing office listed at the top of your Plaintiff’s Claim.

1. Amend a Plaintiff’s Claim using Filing Wizard

To Amend a Plaintiff’s Claim using Filing Wizard follow these steps:

1. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on "File a new claim or view an existing one" and log in to your ONe-key account.
2. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Click Next steps.
3. On the next screen, you will see that you are on Step 2: Serve defendants.

4. Scroll to the bottom of the page for instructions on how to Amend a claim. Select Amend a Claim to continue.

5. To prepare your amended Plaintiff's Claim for upload:
   • write "Amended" at the top of the issued Plaintiff's Claim that the court emailed to you
   • underline anything you have added and identify any other changes you make (you can insert additional pages, if necessary)
   • remove a plaintiff and/or defendant by crossing out their names and addresses
   • add another plaintiff and/or defendant by completing and inserting Form 1A Additional Parties
   • scan and save your supporting documents. All supporting documents must be re-sent to the court even if no changes were made to them.
6. Review and submit your amended Plaintiff’s Claim and all supporting documents
   • Carefully review all information. To make changes, click Update.
   • Once all information is correct, click Submit.
7. Submission summary
   • When the amended Plaintiff’s Claim has been sent to the court, a summary will appear on the screen.

8. Email notification and next steps
   • You will receive an email advising that your amended Plaintiff’s Claim has been received by the court
   • You will not receive a new issued amended Plaintiff's Claim from the court. Simply photocopy your amended claim and attachments and serve (deliver) it to each defendant in your case.
   • Remember, if you submit a form after regular business hours, it will be processed by the court the next business day. If you do not receive it within three business days, contact the court office for more information. The email will provide information about next steps, as well as a partially-completed Affidavit of Service form

2. Amend a Plaintiff’s Claim using Quick File

To Amend a Plaintiff’s Claim using Quick File, follow these steps:

1. Return to Ontario.ca/smallclaims, click on "File a new claim or view an existing one" and log in to your ONe-key account.
2. Your ongoing claim should be visible on the page called My existing claims. Click Next steps and select Amend a Plaintiff’s Claim.

3. To prepare your amended Plaintiff's Claim for upload:
   • write "Amended" at the top of the issued Plaintiff's Claim that the court emailed you
   • underline anything you have added and identify any other changes you make (you can insert additional pages, if necessary)
   • remove a plaintiff and/or defendant by crossing out their names and addresses
   • add another plaintiff and/or defendant by completing and inserting Form 1A Additional Parties
   • scan and save your supporting documents. All supporting documents must be re-sent to the court even if no changes were made to them.

4. Review and submit your amended Plaintiff’s Claim and all supporting documents
   • Carefully review all information. To make changes, click Update.
   • Once all information is correct, click Submit.
5. Submission summary
   • When the amended Plaintiff’s Claim has been sent to the court, a summary will appear.

6. Email notification and next steps
   • You will receive an email advising that your amended Plaintiff’s Claim has been received by the court
   • You will not receive a new issued amended Plaintiff's Claim from the court. Simply photocopy your amended claim and attachments and serve (deliver) it to each defendant in your case
   • Remember, if you submit a form after regular business hours, it will be processed by the court the next business day. If you do not receive it within three business days, contact the court office for more information. The email will provide information about next steps, as well as a partially-completed Affidavit of Service form

Frequently asked questions

• The defendant filed a defence or I filed a document directly with the court office, can I file any other documents online?

  No. Once the defendant has filed a defence, you have filed any other document directly with the court office or any party files any other document, any additional documents may be filed through the Small Claims Court Submissions Online Portal, by mail or in-person with the court office where the claim was filed.

• I don’t want to sue the defendant anymore. How do I stop or cancel the claim?

  If you have served the Plaintiff’s Claim on the defendant and the defendant has not filed a defence, you can discontinue (cancel) your claim against him.

  Proceed to ServiceOntario.ca and log in to your ONe-key account, then click on the My existing claims page.

  Your ongoing claim should be visible on this page.

  If you filed your claim with Filing Wizard, select your case and click Next steps. Scroll to the bottom of the page for instructions on how to Cancel a claim. Select Discontinue a claim now and complete the form.

  If you filed your claim with Quick File; select your case and click Next Steps. Select File a Notice of Discontinued Claim from the drop down menu and complete the form. You will be required to serve (deliver) a Notice of Discontinued Claim on the defendant(s) and file with a completed and sworn Affidavit of Service.

• I want to change my claim against the defendant. What do I do?

  You can file an updated (amended) claim online if you have not yet delivered (served) your claim to any of the defendants. If you have already delivered your claim to one or more of the defendants, you can file an amended claim with the small claims court listed at the top of your Plaintiff’s Claim. Please refer to Rule 12 of the Rules of Small Claims Court for more information. There is no fee for filing an amended claim.

• I’ve already completed a Plaintiff’s Claim. Can I upload it without using the Filing Wizard?

  If you have already completed your Plaintiff’s Claim form offline, simply select the Quick File option to upload it without having to create a new form using the Filing Wizard.

  Please note that if you start a claim using Quick File, you must take all next steps using this filing method.

• I’ve started my claim using the Filing Wizard, but would like to use the Quick File method instead. How do I change filing methods?

  Once the Plaintiff’s Claim is submitted using one filing method, all further steps must be taken using that method.

• I’ve started my claim using Quick File, but would like to use the Filing Wizard instead. How do I change filing methods?

  Once the Plaintiff’s Claim is submitted using one filing method, all further steps must be taken using that method.

• Can I save the information I’ve already entered into a form, so that I can return to complete it later?

  Only the Plaintiff’s Claim can be saved as a draft and completed at a later time. If you leave forms at other stages in the process incomplete, you will have to re-enter information into those forms again. When you return to your saved Plaintiff’s Claim, you will need to upload your attachments again.

• I don’t see the form I just submitted to the court in my list of ongoing claims. What do I do?

  Your account may not be up-to-date due to a technical delay. If you do not see a confirmation summary that the form was submitted to the court in your list of ongoing claims, try logging out of your ONe-key account and returning later.

• I haven’t received an email with a copy of my issued Plaintiff’s Claim. What should I do?

  There may be a technical delay in processing your form.

  If the form is a Plaintiff’s Claim, you should receive a court-issued version by email within three business days. If your document is a default judgment, you should receive an email from the court within five business days. You may call the court office to make sure your form has been received. If you don’t know the court office phone number, find it here.

• What happens after I submit my Plaintiff’s Claim?

  The defendant has 20 days from the date you served (delivered) your claim to respond. The defendant will file a defence with the small claims court and serve a copy to you. If the defendant has not filed a defence within 20 days, you must go online to file your Affidavit of Service, which is a sworn/affirmed document that tells the court how, when and where you served your claim on the defendant.

• How long will it take for my claim to be processed?

  Forms filed online after regular business hours will be accepted and dated the next business day. For example, if you file your form on a Friday after 5:00 p.m., you will receive an email from the court with the issued claim on Monday.

• Can I collect interest on money owed to me?

  Yes. If you had a contract with the defendant that included an interest rate, you’ll put that rate in your claim. If you did not have a contract or didn’t agree to an interest rate, you can ask for the Courts of Justice Act rate in your claim. Learn about interest rates and how to include them in your claim.

• Do I have to give the defendant’s correct legal name?

  Yes, you must give the full legal name for the person or business you’re suing. If it’s a business, and you’re unsure of its full legal name, you can:

  • conduct an online search using ServiceOntario’s Business Name Search, Registration and Renewal webpage, or
  • call the ServiceOntario Helpline at 1-800-361-3223, or 416-314-8880 in Toronto.
  If the business is not incorporated, you may add the name of the business owner(s) as a defendant.

• If I win, am I guaranteed to get my money?

  That depends on whether the person or business you’re suing is able to pay. The court may not be able to help you get your money if the defendant:

  • is unemployed
  • is bankrupt or has no money of their own
  • doesn’t own personal property or valuable belongings
  • has gone out of business
  • has other debts to pay
  But you may be able to get your money in instalments over a set period of time. Learn how to collect money owed to you using a court order.

• I still need help. Who can I talk to?

  If you experience technical difficulties with the online system, please call ServiceOntario at 1-888-745-8888 for assistance.

  If you have a court-related or procedural question (for example, what to do when the clerk cannot sign your Default Judgment of you have not received your issued claim), contact the court office directly or review the detailed how-to guides on the Ministry of the Attorney General website.

  If you have a question about filing your claim through the ServiceOntario Small Claims e-Filing portal, please email smallclaimsonline@ontario.ca or call 1-800-980-4962.