Getting Started in Small Claims Court:

Question:How do I commence a Small Claims Court lawsuit in Ontario and retain paralegal help to complete Form 7A correctly?

Answer:Lippa Legal Services can help you start a Small Claims Court case in Ontario by guiding you through commencing a proceeding, completing and issuing the Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A), and turning your facts into a clear, chronological story that matches the requirements in Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court.   They can also flag common risks like countersuing, costs if you lose, third-party claims, misnaming parties, and how issues can become more complex once the matter is filed.   For fast, practical next steps, call (416) 241-4529 and get paralegal support to optimize your paperwork before you file.

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Commencing Proceedings and Retaining Legal Counsel for Small Claims Court

Getting a legal case started within the Small Claims Court involves issuance of a formal document known as a Plaintiff's Claim.  The Plaintiff's Claim document is known as a Form 7A and can be found 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.

Note: Please contact Lippa Legal Services by phone at: (416) 241-4529 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

Although many people think of the Small Claims Court as relatively informal, and some legal issues are simple enough that laypeople can handle a case without needing assistance from a lawyer or paralegal, there are concerns to think about.  Concerns to think carefully about include:

• What if I lose?
• What if the Defendant brings a third party claim?
• What if I get the name of someone wrong?
• What if a counterclaim is brought?
• What if the case becomes more complicated than first expected?
• What if legal costs are awarded against me?

The concerns listed above, among others, should be very carefully reviewed before bringing a lawsuit. Understanding and carefully reviewing the potential complications, considerations, and consequences, before starting a lawsuit is highly important.