Form 7A: Plaintiff's Claim

What the 7A is

Form 7A is the document that starts a Small Claims Court case in Ontario. It covers claims for money owed (unpaid invoices, loans, NSF cheques, deposits) and damages (breach of contract, property damage) up to the court’s limit — $50,000 since October 1, 2025, excluding interest and costs — plus recovery of personal property.

Once issued by the court, the claim must be served on each defendant within 6 months, and served properly (personal service or another permitted method), with proof of service filed. Most claims can be filed online through the Small Claims Court E-Filing Service.

How to fill it out

1. Name the defendant correctly — the exact legal entity. Suing “Joe’s Roofing” when the contract is with “1234567 Ontario Inc. o/a Joe’s Roofing” causes enforcement headaches later. Corporate searches are cheap insurance.
2. Tell the story in numbered paragraphs: what was agreed, what went wrong, when, and how the amount claimed is calculated. Attach the key documents (contract, invoices, texts) — the court expects them.
3. State the amount plus pre-judgment interest (contract rate or the Courts of Justice Act rate) and costs.
4. File online or at the courthouse in the right location (where the defendant lives/carries on business, or where the events happened) and pay the filing fee.
5. Serve each defendant within 6 months and file the Affidavit of Service (Form 8A). The 20-day defence clock starts on service.