Quebec Small Claims Court Decision: Payment, Costs, and What Comes Next

The hearing is done. Now what? Quebec small claims decisions carry real consequences — payment deadlines, interest, and enforcement tools — and there is almost no way to appeal.

When the Decision Comes

The judge may decide on the spot at the end of the hearing or take the case under advisement (en délibéré). If the judge reserves, the written decision must come within 4 months after the hearing ends. It is sent to both parties.

In practice, some judges deliver a brief oral ruling immediately after hearing the evidence, especially for straightforward contract disputes. Complex cases or those involving expert evidence are more likely to be reserved.

Who Pays Court Costs

The losing party typically pays the other side's court filing fees — the judicial tariffs paid to file the claim, response, or counterclaim. The judge decides whether to award any other costs, so expenses such as time off work, travel, witness preparation, or photocopying are not automatically reimbursed.

An award automatically accrues legal interest at the statutory rate plus the additional indemnity under article 1619 of Quebec's Civil Code.

Payment Deadlines

After a contested hearing: the losing party has 30 calendar days from notification of the judgment to pay.

After a default judgment: only 10 calendar days from notification of the judgment.

If the debtor does not pay within the window, the creditor can begin forced execution — bank account garnishment (saisie-arrêt), wage garnishment, or seizure of movable property — through a licensed bailiff (huissier de justice).

Can You Appeal?

Decisions from the Small Claims Division are final and non-appealable. There is no second hearing before a higher court on the facts of the case. The only narrow exceptions:

• Revocation of judgment (rétractation de jugement): applies strictly to default judgments or cases where a party was prevented from appearing by severe cause (illness, fraud, lack of actual notice). You must prove both a valid reason and a meritorious defense.
• Correction (rectification): fixes clerical or mathematical errors in the judgment — the wrong amount, a misspelled name, a transposed date.
• Judicial review (pourvoi en contrôle judiciaire): an exceptional application to the Superior Court, limited to cases where the judge exceeded their jurisdiction or committed a fundamental breach of natural justice. This is not a retrial of the facts.

After the Judgment Is Paid

Once the debtor pays in full, the creditor can file Form SJ-842 (Quittance) with the court registry to formally close the file. This matters because small claims judgments are public records in Quebec's SOQUIJ judicial database, and credit bureaus independently collect data from it. A filed quittance shows the debt is satisfied.

If you pay the plaintiff directly, obtain a detailed receipt showing the case number and send a copy to the court clerk so the record can be closed.

The Contesting a Small Claim in Quebec guide covers the full post-decision process, from payment to enforcement to revocation, with step-by-step instructions for each scenario.

See more Quebec guides →