By Jatinder Kumar Kataria, Barrister & Solicitor · Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read
Small Claims Court is the Ontario court for money claims and claims for the return of property worth up to $50,000 (raised from $35,000 on October 1, 2025). It is designed to be simpler and faster than the Superior Court.
Is your claim a fit?
- Unpaid invoices or loans
- Damage to property
- Deposits not returned
- Breach of contract
- Return of personal property
The deadline
Most claims must be started within 2 years of the day you discovered the problem (Limitations Act, 2002).
How it works
- Demand letter. Often the fastest way to be paid.
- Plaintiff's claim. Filed with the court and served on the other side.
- Settlement conference. A judge helps the parties try to settle.
- Trial. If the case does not settle.
- Collecting. Winning is one step; enforcing the judgment is another.
Appeals are only available for amounts over $5,000.
Sources
- Ontario: Suing someone in Small Claims Court
- O. Reg. 626/00 (Small Claims Court jurisdiction)
- Limitations Act, 2002, s. 4
This guide is general information about the law in Ontario and Canada as of October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Your situation may differ; please get advice before acting.