How to File a Defence Online in Ontario Small Claims Court

The Portal: Small Claims Court Submissions Online (Except Toronto)

Ontario's Justice Services Online platform lets you file your Defence (Form 9A) electronically without visiting the courthouse. The Small Claims Court Submissions Online portal handles filings outside Toronto. For Toronto Region cases, use the Ontario Courts Public Portal (OCPP); Small Claims Court Submissions Online is no longer available for Toronto filings.

You'll need a completed Form 9A (as a PDF), a sworn Affidavit of Service (Form 8A) for each party served, and a Visa, Mastercard, or debit card for the $77 filing fee.

Before You Start: Serve the Other Parties First

E-filing doesn't change the service requirement. You must serve a copy of your completed Form 9A on every other party (or their legal representative) before you file with the court. The Rules permit service by personal delivery, mail, courier, or email, subject to the applicable service rules.

After serving, have each Affidavit of Service (Form 8A) sworn before a commissioner for taking affidavits. Remote commissioning via video call is valid under O. Reg. 431/20 if the commissioner verifies your identity, sees and hears you in real time, confirms the signed document matches the document presented, and completes a jurat stating that it was commissioned remotely under the regulation.

Step-by-Step E-Filing

1. Prepare your PDFs. Save Form 9A and a separate Form 8A for each party served as PDF files. Use the fillable versions from Ontario Court Forms (ontariocourtforms.on.ca) and flatten the fields. Check that the court file number, party names, and court location match the Plaintiff's Claim exactly.

2. Log into the portal. For cases outside Toronto, access Small Claims Court Submissions Online through the Justice Services Online website. For Toronto Region cases, use Ontario Courts Public Portal. You may need to create an account if you haven't used the system before.

3. Select your court location. Choose the courthouse shown on the Form 7A Plaintiff's Claim you were served with.

4. Upload your documents. Attach Form 9A, each Form 8A, and any supporting schedules. Follow the file naming conventions the portal specifies — incorrect names or oversized files are a common rejection trigger.

5. Pay the fee. The $77 Defence filing fee is payable online by Visa, Mastercard, or debit card.

6. Save your receipt. The portal generates an automated transaction receipt with a confirmation number. Save or print this immediately.

The Receipt Is Not Acceptance

This is the part that catches people off guard. The transaction receipt confirms your upload and payment — it does not mean your Defence has been officially filed. Court staff review every submission for procedural compliance: correct form, matching court file number, attached proof of service, proper fee.

If everything checks out, you'll receive confirmation that the filing has been accepted and entered into the court record. If something's wrong, you'll get a Notice of Rejection explaining the deficiency. You'll need to fix the issue and refile — still within your 20-day window if possible.

Check back on the portal for your filing status. Don't assume acceptance from silence.

Common Rejection Reasons

• Missing Form 8A. The Affidavit of Service must accompany the Defence. No proof of service, no acceptance.
• Wrong court location. Your Defence must be filed at the same courthouse that issued the Plaintiff's Claim.
• Mismatched parties. If the legal names on your Form 9A don't match Form 7A exactly, the clerk will flag it.
• Unsigned or unsworn documents. Form 8A must be properly commissioned — an unsigned affidavit gets rejected.
• File format problems. Some courthouse locations require specific PDF versions or file sizes.

Keep Your Originals

Rule 1.05.1 requires you to retain the original ink-signed copies of all electronically filed documents for three years after e-filing. If there's ever a question about authenticity, you'll need to produce the physical originals.

When In-Person Filing Makes More Sense

If your deadline is tight and you're worried about portal processing time, filing in person at the court office gives you immediate confirmation. You walk out with a date-stamped copy. The trade-off is travel time and courthouse hours — most offices close at 5:00 PM.

For a full walkthrough of the Defence filing process — online and in person — with screenshots, the Ontario Small Claims Court Defence Guide covers the entire sequence from Form 9A completion through court acceptance.

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