Ontario Small Claims Court Forms: A Complete Guide

Small Claims Court runs on standardized forms — the same document structure is used whether it's your first claim or your fifth. Knowing which form applies to your situation, and what it actually needs from you, makes the process far less intimidating.

Finding the current official forms

Forms for starting a claim

• Plaintiff's Claim. The main form used to start a case — sets out who you're suing, what happened, and how much you're claiming and why. This is the document that officially begins your case and gets served on the defendant. See preparing a Plaintiff's Claim for a full walkthrough of what goes into it.
• Affidavit of Service. Filed after you've served the defendant, this document confirms to the court how, when, and by what method service happened. Courts generally want this on file before a case moves forward, especially if the defendant doesn't respond. See filing and service.
• Request to Change the Amount Claimed or Correct the Claim. Used if you need to fix or adjust details after filing — for example, correcting a defendant's name or address, or adjusting the amount claimed based on new information.

Filing the Plaintiff's Claim is only the beginning — see how to start a Small Claims Court case for how these forms fit into the full sequence of steps.

Forms for defending a claim

• Defence. Your formal written response to a Plaintiff's Claim — it should respond to each specific allegation and lay out your version of events. See preparing a Defence for a full walkthrough.
• Defendant's Claim. Used if you're a defendant who believes the plaintiff (or someone else connected to the dispute) owes you money — effectively letting you sue back within the same case. See Defendant's claims.
• Request for Default Judgment. Filed by a plaintiff when a defendant hasn't responded by the deadline, asking the court to decide the case without a trial. See default judgments.

If you've just been served and aren't sure which of these applies, start with how to respond to a claim, which walks through the decision before you fill out anything.

Forms for motions and settlement conferences

• Notice of Motion. Used to formally ask the court to make a specific order or decision before trial — for example, changing a deadline, adding a party, or resolving a procedural disagreement. See motions.
• Settlement Conference Brief. A short written summary of your case that some court offices ask both sides to prepare before the settlement conference, covering the key facts and what you're asking for. See preparing for a settlement conference.
• Offer to Settle. A formal, written settlement proposal that can affect costs later in the case if it isn't accepted and the eventual result is less favourable than the offer. See offers to settle.

Forms for trial

• Request for Trial Date / Notice of Trial. Used once a case doesn't settle at the settlement conference stage, to move the case toward a trial date. This step generally carries its own fee — see filing fees.
• Summons to a Witness. Used if you need to formally require a witness to attend and testify at trial. See evidence and witnesses.

Forms for enforcement

• Notice of Garnishment. Used to redirect wages or bank funds toward an unpaid judgment — this requires knowing specifically where the debtor works or banks. See judgment enforcement.
• Writ of Seizure and Sale. Used to register enforcement against a debtor's property, which can affect their ability to sell or refinance it until the judgment is satisfied.
• Request for examination. Used to require a debtor to answer questions, under oath, about their finances and ability to pay — often the right starting point if you don't yet have enough information for garnishment or a writ.

Forms aren't the whole story

It's worth remembering that a form is a container, not a substitute for a well-prepared case. The Plaintiff's Claim form gives you space to describe what happened and what you're asking for, but the strength of your case still comes from the evidence and clarity behind what you write — not the form itself. The same is true for a Defence: simply checking a box that says you disagree is far weaker than a specific, documented response.

Treat every form as the place where your preparation gets written down, not as a substitute for that preparation.

What if no exact form seems to fit?

Not every situation maps perfectly onto a single named form — some circumstances (like an unusual procedural request) may call for a more general motion instead of a specific purpose-built form. If you're not sure whether a specific form exists for your situation, ask the court office directly, or default to bringing a motion to ask the court for the specific order or direction you need.

Tips for filling out court forms correctly

• Use exact legal names for every party — an individual's full legal name, or a business's precise registered name.
• Be specific, not vague, when describing what happened and what you're asking for — round, unsupported numbers are easier to dispute.
• Keep a copy of everything you file, along with the date you filed it.
• Double-check the court office and file number on every subsequent form you submit for an existing case.
• Ask the court office if you're unsure which form applies — court staff can point you to the right form, though they generally can't give legal advice about your specific situation.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using an outdated version of a form instead of confirming the current one.
• Leaving required fields blank rather than confirming what's actually needed.
• Filing the wrong form for your situation — for example, a motion form when what you actually need is a Defendant's Claim.
• Forgetting to keep proof of filing or service alongside the form itself.
• Assuming one form covers everything when your situation may require more than one step.

Frequently asked questions