New Brunswick Small Claims Court Judicial Districts

Eight Districts, One Rule

New Brunswick's Small Claims Court is divided into eight judicial districts, each covering specific counties. Under Section 4 of General Regulation 2012-103, you must file your claim in a district that satisfies at least one of these conditions:

• The defendant lives in that district
• The cause of action arose there (in whole or in part)
• You live there — but only if the defendant resides outside New Brunswick

For corporate defendants, the company is deemed to reside in every district where it carries on business. This can give you a choice of districts if the business operates in multiple locations.

The Districts and Their Courthouses

Bathurst — Covers Gloucester County. Courthouse: 254 St. Patrick Street, Bathurst, NB E2A 3Z9.

Campbellton — Covers Restigouche County. City Centre Mall, Suite 202, 157 Water Street, Campbellton, NB E3N 3H5.

Edmundston — Covers Madawaska County, the Parish of Drummond, and the Town of Grand Falls. Carrefour Assomption, 121 Church Street, Edmundston, NB E3V 1J9.

Fredericton — Covers York, Sunbury, and Queens Counties. Justice Building, 427 Queen Street, Fredericton, NB E3B 1B7.

Miramichi — Covers Northumberland County. Miramichi Law Courts, 673 King George Highway, Miramichi, NB E1V 1N6.

Moncton — Covers Albert, Westmorland, and Kent Counties. Palais de Justice Moncton Law Courts, 145 Assumption Blvd, Moncton, NB E1C 8R3.

Saint John — Covers Charlotte, Kings, and Saint John Counties. Saint John Law Courts, 10 Peel Plaza, Saint John, NB E2L 3G6.

Woodstock — Covers Carleton and Victoria Counties (excluding Drummond and Grand Falls, which are under Edmundston). Woodstock Court House, 689 Main Street, Woodstock, NB E7M 2E1.

Choosing When You Have Options

If the defendant lives in Moncton and the contract was signed in Saint John, you could file in either district. Consider practical factors: which courthouse is closer to your witnesses, which district has a shorter wait for hearings, and where it's easier for you to attend in person.

Filing in the wrong district doesn't automatically void your claim, but the defendant can challenge venue and ask for a transfer — which delays everything.

Transferring Between Districts

If a case is already filed, either side can apply using Form 23 to transfer it. The court may order a transfer if it is satisfied that a party would face hardship if the case stayed in the current district. All parties can also agree in writing to transfer, without a hardship application.

If a claim is too complex or high-value for Small Claims Court, either party can apply using Form 22 to transfer the entire case to the Court of King's Bench. If you apply to the Court of King's Bench and file a copy of Form 22 with the Small Claims clerk, no further Small Claims proceedings may be taken until the application is decided.

No Online Filing

None of the eight court offices accept online filings. You must file Form 1 (Claim) either in person during business hours (Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays) or by mail with a certified cheque or money order for the filing fee. Court hours and specific filing instructions may vary by district — call ahead if you're travelling a distance.

Our Making a Small Claim in New Brunswick guide includes a judicial district directory with contact information for each courthouse and a decision tree for picking the right filing location.

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