Quebec Small Claims Exhibit Binder and Filing Checklist

The 30-Day Rule Governs Everything

You must file supporting exhibits within 10 days after filing your application or contestation. Any other documents not yet filed must be filed at least 30 calendar days before the hearing date. This is a hard statutory deadline under Articles 554 and 555 of the Code of Civil Procedure (increased from 21 days in March 2021). Evidence filed late is inadmissible unless the judge grants an exception.

The 30-day rule applies to both sides for documents not already filed. You may inspect the other side's exhibits at the courthouse and request copies by contacting the courthouse.

Everything else (additional photos, expert reports, written witness affidavits) must arrive at least 30 days before trial.

Building Your Exhibit Binder

Organize your evidence as a numbered binder. The judge reads through your exhibits in order during the hearing, and clear organization makes your case easier to follow.

Step 1: List everything on Form SJ-840A. This is the official exhibit list (Liste des pièces). Number each item sequentially — P1, P2, P3 for plaintiff exhibits. Each entry gets a short description: "P1: Signed contract dated January 15, 2026" or "P5: Registered mail receipt for formal notice."

Step 2: Group by type. A practical grouping:

• Contract and agreement documents — the original contract, any amendments, purchase orders, or written agreements
• Financial records — invoices, receipts, bank transfer confirmations, cancelled cheques
• Communications — emails, text message exports, letters between the parties
• Formal notice — your mise en demeure, the postal receipt, and the signature confirmation
• Expert reports — mechanic's inspection, contractor's damage estimate, or any professional opinion
• Photos and video — printed with dates and descriptions written on the back or in captions
• Witness statements — written affidavits from witnesses who can't attend in person

Step 3: Keep a copy. Keep a copy of each exhibit for your records and bring it to the hearing. The other party may request copies of exhibits in the court file by contacting the courthouse.

Digital Evidence

Text messages, WhatsApp conversations, emails, social media exchanges, and electronic photos can be submitted as evidence; the judge decides whether each item is admissible. Present them in a usable format:

• Text messages: Screenshot each relevant exchange, print it, and number it as an exhibit. Include the contact name and phone number visible in the screenshot so the judge can identify who said what.
• Emails: Print the full email header (from, to, date, subject) along with the body.
• Photos: Print them at a readable size. If you have many, select the most important ones — the judge doesn't need 47 photos of the same cracked wall from slightly different angles.
• Digital files: If you have spreadsheets, recordings, or other files the court can't easily print, provide them on a USB drive along with printed summaries.

A Pre-Filing Checklist

Before you submit your application, confirm:

• Your claim is C$15,000 or less (excluding interest and court costs)
• The claim doesn't fall under another tribunal's jurisdiction (TAL for leases, CNESST for workplace injuries)
• You've checked the 3-year prescription — your cause of action arose less than three years ago
• Unless the debtor is already in default by operation of law, you've sent a formal notice (mise en demeure) and kept proof of delivery
• If suing a business, you've searched the REQ for the correct legal name and NEQ
• You've identified a permitted judicial district — the defendant's domicile or last known residence, where the cause of action arose, where the contract was formed, or your domicile for a consumer-contract claim
• Your Form SJ-870E is completed with all facts, the amount claimed, and your exhibits listed
• You've paid the filing fee (C$121 to C$241 depending on the claim amount, for natural persons)

After Filing

Once the court accepts your application:

• The clerk serves the defendant — you'll be notified if mail service fails
• Track the 20-day response window
• File any additional exhibits within the court's timelines
• 30 days before the hearing: verify everything is filed and your exhibit binder is complete
• 5 clear days before the hearing: serve subpoenas on any witnesses you need to compel

For printable tracking templates, deadline calendars, and the full step-by-step workflow, see the Quebec Small Claims Filing Guide.

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