Registry of Joint Stock Companies Nova Scotia: How to Look Up a Business Before Small Claims Court

Why the RJSC Search Matters Before You File

If you're suing a business in Nova Scotia Small Claims Court, the legal name on your Form 1 (Notice of Claim) must match the entity's registered identity exactly. Get it wrong and your judgment may be unenforceable — you'll have an order against a name that doesn't legally exist, and no Sheriff's office can seize assets from a ghost.

This happens more often than you'd expect. Contractors operate under trade names that differ from their registered corporate identity. A handyman who works as "Maritime Pro Renovations" might actually be John Smith operating as a sole proprietor, or Maritime Pro Renovations Ltd. — an incorporated company. Those are different legal entities with different naming requirements on your court paperwork.

The Registry of Joint Stock Companies (RJSC) is where you verify which one you're dealing with.

How to Search the RJSC

The RJSC maintains records of all registered businesses in Nova Scotia — corporations, sole proprietorships, and partnerships. You can search it two ways:

• Online through the Access Nova Scotia portal at the Registry of Joint Stock Companies database
• By phone at 902-424-7770 (toll-free within Nova Scotia: 1-800-225-8227)

The online search is free for basic lookups. You'll get the registered legal name, entity type, and whether the business is active or dissolved. For a detailed certificate showing officers, directors, and the registered office address, there's a fee.

For federally incorporated companies doing business in Nova Scotia, you'll need to check Corporations Canada instead.

How to Name Each Entity Type on Form 1

The naming format on your court documents depends on what kind of business you're dealing with:

Individual (no business registration): Use their full legal name — first, middle, last. Verify through a signed contract, government photo ID, or the name on a cancelled cheque.

Sole proprietorship: Name the individual owner, then the business name. Format: John Smith operating as Smith's Plumbing. The RJSC confirms who the actual owner is behind the trade name.

Partnership: Name all general partners individually, then the firm name. Format: Jane Doe and Mark Lee carrying on business as Doe-Lee Consulting. The RJSC partnership search identifies all general partners — they're jointly liable.

Corporation: Use the exact corporate name, including the legal suffix. It must end in "Limited," "Ltd.," "Incorporated," "Inc.," or "Corp." If the RJSC shows the company as "Maritime Pro Renovations Ltd.," that's what goes on your Form 1 — not "Maritime Pro Renovations" or "Maritime Pro Renos."

Common Mistakes That Kill a Claim

Suing the trade name instead of the legal entity. "Dave's Drywall" isn't a legal person. If Dave operates as a sole proprietor, you sue David Robert Miller operating as Dave's Drywall. If it's incorporated, you sue Dave's Drywall Ltd.

Missing a dissolved corporation. A contractor who knows you're about to sue may dissolve their numbered company. The RJSC shows whether a corporation is active, inactive, or dissolved. If it's dissolved, verify the company's status and the correct defendant before filing; a registry result alone does not establish that its directors are personally liable.

Forgetting extra-provincial companies. A business headquartered in Ontario but operating in Nova Scotia may not appear in the provincial RJSC. Check Corporations Canada for federal incorporations.

What to Do With the Search Results

Once you've confirmed the correct legal name and entity type, write it exactly as registered on your Form 1. Keep a printout or screenshot of the RJSC search results in your evidence file — it shows due diligence if the defendant later argues they were improperly named.

For a complete walkthrough of the RJSC verification step and every other filing requirement, the Nova Scotia Small Claims Filing Guide includes a business name lookup worksheet alongside the Form 1 completion instructions.

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