Getting Started in Small Claims Court:

Question: What should I do to properly start a Small Claims Court lawsuit in Ontario and hire a paralegal to review my Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A)?

Answer: Paladin LLP can help you start a Small Claims Court action the right way by reviewing your Plaintiff’s Claim (Form 7A) and making sure your facts are in a clear chronological story, including what to include or omit before you issue the document, so you avoid common early errors like naming the wrong party or mishandling potential counterclaims   If you want a paralegal in Ontario to assess your situation and next steps under Rule 7 requirements, call (289) 925-1572 for a free 1-hour consultation and get practical guidance for commencing proceedings, handling risks, and preparing for what comes after filing.

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Commencing Proceedings and Retaining Legal Counsel for Small Claims Court

To start a case in the Small Claims Court requires the issuing of a document known as a Plaintiff's Claim.  The Plaintiff's Claim is a form, known as Form 7A, and is available 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 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.

Note: Please contact Paladin LLP by phone at: (289) 925-1572 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

Although the Small Claims Court is, generally, thought of as a court with relatively informal processes that are simple enough for people to do without assistance from a lawyer or paralegal, there are many potential pitfalls as issues to think about.  Issues to think about include, among other things:

• What if I am countersued by the Defendant?
• What if I lose the case?
• What if I lose and the Defendant seeks costs against me?
• What if the Defendant sues another person as a 'third party'?
• What if I get a name wrong?
• What if the case becomes more complicated than originally 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.