Manitoba Small Claims Court Fees and Limit
The Current Monetary Limit
Manitoba's Small Claims Court handles claims up to $20,000. This ceiling took effect on January 1, 2025, replacing the previous $15,000 limit, under a Practice Direction issued by the Court of King's Bench in December 2024.
Pre-judgment interest, costs, and court disbursements do not count toward the $20,000 cap. If your actual loss exceeds $20,000, you can abandon the excess in your Form 76A to bring the claim within jurisdiction — but that abandonment is permanent.
General Damages Cap: $2,000
Within that $20,000 total, claims for general damages — the non-quantifiable losses like inconvenience, stress, or loss of enjoyment — are capped at $2,000. If your claim is primarily for specific, calculable losses (unpaid invoices, repair costs, a contractor's unreturned deposit), the general damages cap rarely matters. But if a large portion of what you are seeking is subjective, this limit cuts into your recovery.
Filing Fees
All fees are set by the Court Services Fees Regulation (M.R. 150/2021) and must be paid when you file. They are non-refundable.
| Document | Fee |
|---|---|
| Small Claim (Form 76A) — $5,000 or less | $75 |
| Small Claim (Form 76A) — over $5,000 to $20,000 | $100 |
| Counterclaim (Form 76E) | $50 |
| Notice of Motion (extension of time, interlocutory relief) | $150 |
| Certificate of Decision | $20 |
| Document Certification | $30 |
| Notice of Intention to Appear (Form 76D) — defendant's response | $0 |
Filing a defence costs the defendant nothing. A counterclaim is $50. If you need to bring a motion — for example, to extend the 30-day service window — that is $150.
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Security for Costs: Out-of-Province Claimants
If you live outside Manitoba, the court requires a $150 security for costs deposit at filing. It is separate from the filing fee; confirm with the registry how the deposit is held and when it may be returned or applied.
What the Fees Do Not Cover
Court fees get your claim on the docket. They do not pay for serving the defendant (you handle that yourself, or hire a process server for $150–$500), printing and copying forms, or travel to a registry. If you win, recoverable costs are statutorily capped at $100 — meaning you will not recoup your filing fee, let alone a process server's bill, through a costs award.
Is It Worth the Cost?
For a claim of $2,000 or more, the $75–$100 filing fee is a small fraction of what you stand to recover. For claims under $1,000, the economics get tighter — a $75 fee plus process server costs could eat a quarter of your judgment. The bigger question is whether the defendant has assets to pay a judgment once you get one.
The Making a Small Claim in Manitoba guide includes a cost-benefit worksheet to help you weigh the filing fee, service costs, and enforcement realities before you commit.
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