What types of cases does Small Claims Court handle?

As of October 1, 2025, the Ontario Small Claims Court can handle any action for the payment of money or the recovery of possession of personal property where the amount claimed does not exceed $50,000, excluding interest and costs such as court fees. This includes the value of all goods that the plaintiff is asking for in total, no matter how many defendants are involved. If the amount of your claim is more than $50,000, you can still proceed with Small Claims Court. However, you will have to forfeit the amount of money over $50,000, as well as any future right to get this money in any other court.

You cannot divide the amount of money you are claiming into separate cases. You cannot, for example, divide $55,000 into a $50,000 claim and a $5,000 claim in order to have the total amount dealt with in two cases.

Examples of claims that Small Claims Court handles include:

Claims for money owed under an agreement (liquidated):

• unpaid accounts for goods or services sold and delivered
• unpaid loans
• unpaid rent
• NSF cheques
• vendor/dealer disputes under supply or service agreements

Claims for damages (non-liquidated):

• property damage and insurance subrogation claims against responsible third parties or uninsured drivers
• clothes damaged by a dry cleaner
• personal injuries
• breach of contract

In Alberta Provincial Court (Civil/Small Claims) the monetary jurisdiction is $100,000.00. In British Columbia Provincial Court (Small Claims Court), the limit is $35,000.00. Read our breakdown of what the new $50,000 limit means for lenders.