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 get a lawsuit started in Small Claims Court, the preparing and issuing of the document known as a Plaintiff's Claim is required.  The Plaintiff's Claim document is a specific form, numbered and referred to as Form 7A, and is accessible 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.

Note: Please contact Paladin LLP by phone at: (289) 925-1572 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 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 above questions, and many more, deserve careful review before haphazardly starting a lawsuit. Diligent review of these questions and the potential pitfalls are highly important before getting started.