| IMPORTANT NOTICE For information about the suspension of Small Claims Court operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please see the Notice Regarding the Suspension of Small Claims Court Operations. |
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About the Small Claims Court
The Small Claims Court is a branch of the Superior Court of Justice, and handles nearly half of all civil claims in the province. The Court has civil jurisdiction over monetary claims up to $35,000, and provides an efficient and cost-effective forum for Ontarians to bring or defend these claims. The Rules of the Small Claims Court provide for streamlined procedures so that cases can be determined at a lower cost and in less time for litigants than cases commenced in the Superior Court.
Typically, deputy judges preside over proceedings in the Small Claims Court. Deputy judges are senior lawyers appointed for a term by the Regional Senior Judge with the approval of the Attorney General. The Small Claims Court Administrative Judge and judges assigned to the Provincial Court (Civil Division) before September 1, 1990 may also hear Small Claims Court proceedings pursuant to the Courts of Justice Act. Every judge of the Superior Court of Justice is also a judge of the Small Claims Court.
The Small Claims Court presides in over 90 sites in the province. To locate a court in your area, please see the List of Ontario Court Addresses on the Ministry of the Attorney General’s website.