Getting Started in Small Claims Court:

Question: How can Woodcock Legal Services help me commence a Small Claims Court lawsuit in Ontario using Form 7A and Rule 7 without writing the wrong facts?

Answer: Woodcock Legal Services can help you prepare and review your Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A) and confirm you comply with Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court, so you include the right facts, avoid unnecessary details, and are ready for issues like counterclaims, possible costs, and third-party claims in Ontario Small Claims Court   ; for practical, professional legal services in Ontario, call (613) 334-6721 for next steps on starting your case properly and protecting your position.

Commencing Proceedings and Retaining Legal Counsel for Small Claims Court

To get a lawsuit started in Small Claims Court, the preparing and issuing of the document known as a Plaintiff's Claim is required.  The Plaintiff's Claim document is a specific form, numbered and referred to as Form 7A, and is accessible online.  The primary parts of the form are relatively easy involving simple fill in the blanks 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, or at least to avoid in the beginning.  There are many rules regarding the manner of what should be provided.  The prescribed rules for the requirements when beginning a Small Claims Court lawsuit are available for review at Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court.

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.  Understanding and carefully reviewing the potential complications, considerations, and consequences, before starting a lawsuit is highly important.