Getting Started in Small Claims Court:

Question: How can Lynxs Paralegal help me start a Small Claims Court case in Ontario and correctly complete a Form 7A Plaintiff’s Claim before filing?

Answer: Lynxs Paralegal helps Ontario residents and small businesses commence Small Claims Court proceedings by guiding you on what information to include and what to avoid when completing a Form 7A Plaintiff’s Claim, so you follow the procedural requirements in Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court and are prepared for common complications like counterclaims, third-party issues, misnaming parties, and possible costs exposure.  If you need ongoing support to review your claim story, assess risks before filing, and strengthen your pleadings for your situation, call (647) 249-6676 to schedule a consult.

Commencing Proceedings and Retaining Legal Counsel for Small Claims Court

Starting a lawsuit in Small Claims Court requires the preparation of, and issuance of, a Plaintiff's Claim document. The Plaintiff's Claim is a form, known as Form 7A, and is available online.  The main parts of the Form 7A document are quite easy to complete as such simply involves filling in a few blanks of 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, if any.  There are various rules regarding the extent of information that is required.  The rules of process for starting a legal case in the Small Claims Court can be found in Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court.

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 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 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.