- document type ( e.g. , Affidavit)
- type of party submitting the document ( e.g. , Defendant or Plaintiff)
- name of the party submitting the document (including initials if the name is not unique to the case)
- date when the document was created or signed (DD-MMM-YYYY)
Sample document name: Affidavit–Defendant–DoeJA–03-MAR-2021
Fees
To file court documents online, by mail or at a court counter, you need to pay the required filing fees.
Some fees are set by how often you file a claim.
For example, an infrequent claimant is someone who files up to 10 claims per calendar year in the same court location. They will pay:
- $108 for filing a claim
- $94 for filing of a request for default judgment
- $308 for setting a date for an assessment hearing
- $127 for filing a Notice of Motion for an Assessment in Writing
A frequent claimant is someone who files more than 10 claims a year in the same court location. Starting with the 11 th claim, they will pay:
- $228 for filing a claim
- $128 for filing of a request for default judgment
- $403 for setting a date for an assessment hearing
- $127 for filing a Notice of Motion for an Assessment in Writing
Read the guide to fee schedules for more information.
If you cannot afford to pay court or enforcement fees in your proceeding, you may request a fee waiver. If you are granted a fee waiver, it will apply to most fees in your court proceeding from that point forward. Find out how to apply for a fee waiver.
File your documents
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Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal
Use the Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal to:
- submit your Plaintiff’s Claim or Affidavit of Service (see note below)
- discontinue your Plaintiff’s Claim
- change or update your Plaintiff’s Claim if you have not served the claim on any of the defendants
- note the person you are suing (defendant) in default if they do not respond to your Plaintiff’s Claim within 20 days of being served
- request a default judgment if the defendant has not responded to your Plaintiff’s Claim
- request an assessment hearing without the defendant
- file a notice of motion for an assessment in writing so you do not need to attend court
Important: If you have a fee waiver or want to apply for a fee waiver, you cannot use the Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal to submit the documents listed above. You must use the Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal described below.
Note about proof of service for lawyers and paralegals: The only proof of service that can be submitted through the Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal is an Affidavit of Service (Form 8A). A Lawyer or Paralegal’s Certificate of Service (Form 8B) must be submitted through the Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal described below. If you choose to prove service using a Form 8B Certificate and submit this Certificate through the Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal, no subsequent documents can be submitted through the Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal.
If you have questions about the Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal, please contact ServiceOntario:
- ServiceOntarioAccount@ontario.ca
- Tel : 1-888-745-8888
Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal
Use the Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal to submit other types of documents, such as defences and defendant’s claims.
In addition, if you have a fee waiver or want to apply for a fee waiver, you must use the Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal to submit the documents listed in the last section.
- if you are submitting a document and applying for a fee waiver certificate at the same time, choose “Fee waiver request” for any document that would normally have a fee
- if you are submitting a document and you already have a fee waiver certificate, choose “Document is being submitted by a person with a fee waiver certificate” for any document that would normally have a fee
If you have questions about the Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal, please contact the Ministry of Attorney General:
- SmallClaimsOnline@ontario.ca
- Toll-free: 1-800-980-4962
- Tel : 647-438-0403
- TTY : 416-368-4202
- Toll-free TTY : 1-833-820-0714
Important:
Small Claims Court documents are public documents. The public can view the information you provide whether you file in person or online, unless a statutory provision, common law rule or court order says otherwise. Learn about public access to civil court (including Small Claims Court) files.
- Be careful when entering personal information online, where people can see and/or capture it on camera. Do not open an online account or enter your password in public and shield any forms you are filling out.
- Once you file a document online or at a courthouse, you or your representative may need to take legal steps (such as getting permission from the court) to make any changes or corrections,
- Once you have submitted your document(s), you cannot view it online. Keep copies of the documents for your records.
When you submit your claim, you’ll receive an email from the court with the court-stamped Plaintiff’s Claim and information about your next steps.
After you file
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Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal
If you file your document(s) through the Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal on a weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (excluding holidays):
- it will be considered filed at that time
- an online confirmation will be displayed on your screen right away, unless an unexpected system outage occurs
If you file your document(s) outside regular business hours, it will be considered filed on the next business day.
You will receive an email from the court with your issued document attached to the email if you file a:
- Plaintiff’s Claim
- Default Judgment
If you do not receive this email, contact the courthouse where you started your claim.
If you have questions about the Small Claims Court E-Filing Service portal, please contact ServiceOntario:
- ServiceOntarioAccount@ontario.ca
- Tel : 1-888-745-8888
Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal
If you submit your document(s) through the Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal, you will receive an on-screen confirmation that your documents have been submitted but are not yet filed or issued by the court. Take a screenshot or print a copy of this screen for your records.
Court staff will review your documents within five business days to determine if they are accepted for filing or issuance. If your documents are:
- accepted, you will receive an email confirming your documents have been filed or issued
- rejected, you will receive an email stating your documents have not been filed or issued, the reasons for the rejection and confirming that your credit/debit card has not been charged
If your documents are rejected, you can address the issues and resubmit the revised documents and the proper court filing fee to the court.
If the court issued your document, you will receive the issued document by email.
If you have questions about the Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal, please contact the Ministry of Attorney General:
- SmallClaimsOnline@ontario.ca
- Toll-free: 1-800-980-4962
- Tel : 647-438-0403
- TTY : 416-368-4202
- Toll-free TTY : 1-833-820-0714
