Ontario Small Claims & Demand Builder

Ontario Form 7A (Plaintiff's Claim): what to know before you file

Form 7A is the Plaintiff's Claim used to start a case in the Ontario Small Claims Court. The draft above helps you organise the facts, amounts and parties. The official form is filed with the court, either online through Ontario's Justice Services Online portal or at the Small Claims Court office for the area where the dispute arose or the defendant lives or carries on business.

Key rules

• Monetary limit: claims up to $50,000 (raised from $35,000 on October 1, 2025), not counting interest and costs.
• Deadline: most claims must be started within two years of when you discovered the problem (Limitations Act, 2002).
• Service: once issued, the claim must be served on each defendant within the time set by the Small Claims Court rules. Check the current rule before relying on a date.
• Fees: court filing fees change periodically. Check the official Ontario fee schedule before filing.

Steps

1. Send a demand letter. Many disputes settle at this stage, and courts expect you to have tried.
2. Prepare your draft above: parties, amount claimed, facts in date order, and supporting documents.
3. Complete and file the official Form 7A with the court.
4. Serve the issued claim on every defendant and keep proof of service.
5. If the defendant doesn't file a defence in time, you may request default judgment. Otherwise a settlement conference follows.