How to serve a Small Claims Court claim

This page is a public educational walkthrough. It is not a retainer, a court form, or a promise about your result. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.

1. Issuing Form 7A is not service

   The court stamp starts the claim. The defendant still has to receive it the way the Small Claims Rules allow.

2. Read the permitted methods for that defendant

   Personal service, an adult at the place of residence, or other methods the rules name. A text message is not service.

3. Complete an affidavit of service

   The court will not assume the person knows about the claim. File the affidavit.

4. Calendar the defendant’s time to file a defence

   If they file Form 9, you will get a copy. If they do not, default is a different step.

5. Keep the issued claim, the affidavit, and every envelope

   Those three pieces are the file if anyone later says they were never served.

Official law on this site: small-claims-court.

Disclaimer: Know The Law publishes legal information for the public, not legal advice. Court forms, fees and filing channels change. Read the official statute text and the official form page linked from this guide before you act. We do not represent you and we do not file documents for you. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.