Ontario Small Claims Court
Locations.

Finding your Small Claims Court office

Ontario's Small Claims Court is a branch of the Superior Court of Justice. It handles civil disputes up to $50,000 (exclusive of interest and costs) and is designed to be accessible to both self-represented litigants and those represented by lawyers or paralegals.

The province is divided into eight judicial regions, each with multiple court locations. Some locations are full filing offices where you can issue claims and file documents, while others are satellite or limited-service locations that offer only selected services — often hearings only, and many do not accept filings.

Before you visit a court office

• Call ahead — hours and counter service times vary by location
• Filing hours are typically 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Monday to Friday
• Bring your forms — download and complete court forms before your visit
• Payment methods — court fees can generally be paid by cash, cheque, or money order, with debit and credit cards accepted at some locations and for online filings; confirm accepted methods with the specific courthouse before you go

How to determine which Small Claims Court to file at

Choosing the correct court location is an important first step. Filing in the wrong territorial division can result in the proceeding being transferred, adding delay and expense. Under Rule 6.01 of the Small Claims Court Rules, an action must be commenced in the territorial division where the cause of action arose or where a defendant resides or carries on business, or at the court's place of sitting nearest to where a defendant resides or carries on business. In practice, that means:

• Where a defendant resides or carries on business — or the court's sitting place nearest to it
• Where the cause of action arose — meaning where the contract was performed, where the injury occurred, or where the transaction took place
• If the defendant is a corporation, "carries on business" covers anywhere it actually carries on business — not only its registered head office
• If there are multiple defendants in different jurisdictions, you may rely on where any one of them resides or carries on business

Ontario Small Claims Court filing fees (2026)

Court fees are set by Ontario Regulation 332/16 and vary based on whether you are an infrequent claimant or a frequent claimant — the higher, frequent-claimant fee applies once you have already filed 10 or more claims at the same court office in the same calendar year (i.e. from the 11th claim on). The fees are the same at every location — use the filing fee calculator to price the steps your case will need.

Source: Ontario.ca — Small Claims Court Fees. Court-fee waivers are available for low-income applicants using the fee-waiver request forms (Form FW-A-3 to a registrar, clerk or sheriff; Form FW-A-4 to the court).

Useful links and court resources

• Ontario.ca — Suing Someone in Small Claims Court
• Ontario Court Forms — Small Claims Court
• Rules of the Small Claims Court
• Superior Court of Justice — All Court Locations
• Ontario Small Claims Court Calculator — estimate your claim value, interest, and costs