REQ Business Search for Quebec Small Claims — Sue the Right Legal Entity

Why the Legal Name Matters

When you sue a business in Quebec's Small Claims Division, you have to name the correct legal entity on your application. Suing the wrong name — a trade name instead of the incorporated company, a dissolved entity, or a misspelled corporate name — creates procedural defects that can delay your case or get it thrown out entirely.

The business you're dealing with might operate under a catchy storefront name (nom d'emprunt), but the legal entity behind it could be a numbered corporation, a sole proprietorship registered under someone's personal name, or a partnership with a completely different legal designation. Your formal notice and court application need to name the entity that actually owes you money.

How to Search the REQ

The Registraire des entreprises du Québec (REQ) is Quebec's corporate and business registry. Most businesses operating in Quebec must be registered; a natural person operating a sole proprietorship under their first and last names is generally exempt, except for a tobacco retail outlet or tanning salon. The REQ's online search is free. English-language access is reserved for individuals covered by the exceptions in the Charter of the French language.

Go to the REQ's website and search by:

• Business name — the trade name or operating name you know
• Quebec Enterprise Number (NEQ) — if you have it from an invoice or contract
• Person name — if you're suing a sole proprietor

The search results show you:

• The official legal name (the one you put on your court forms)
• The NEQ (Quebec Enterprise Number)
• Operating names (noms d'emprunt) — the trade names the business uses publicly
• Current status — active, struck off, dissolved, or in liquidation
• Registered address — the address for service
• The type of entity — sole proprietorship, general partnership, corporation, etc.

What to Do With the Results

Match the legal name exactly. If the REQ says the legal entity is "9876-5432 Québec Inc. doing business as 'Pierre's Renovations'", your Form SJ-870E names "9876-5432 Québec Inc." — not "Pierre's Renovations."

Check the entity status. A dissolved or struck-off status does not by itself make directors or shareholders personally liable. A Québec corporation whose registration was cancelled can be reinstated through REQ procedures; before filing, verify whether the corporation can be reinstated or sued and whether there is a separate ground for naming an individual. If the business is in liquidation, there may be a liquidator you need to contact.

Verify the registered address. This is where the court clerk will send your application by registered mail. If the address in the REQ is outdated — the business moved and never updated — the clerk will ask you for an updated address. If the defendant refuses or fails to pick up the mail, the clerk asks a bailiff to serve the application and charges that cost to the defendant.

Confirm the entity type for filing fees. A sole proprietorship pays the natural person filing fee (C$121 to C$241). A corporation or partnership with more than 10 employees can't even use small claims as a plaintiff — only entities with 10 or fewer employees qualify. But you can always sue a corporation in small claims as a defendant regardless of its size.

Sole Proprietors vs. Corporations

If the REQ shows the business is a sole proprietorship (entreprise individuelle), the owner and the business are legally the same person. You're suing the individual. Name them by their personal legal name as shown in the REQ, along with the operating name: "Jean Tremblay, doing business as Rénovations JT."

If it's a corporation, the corporation is a separate legal person. You sue the corporation by its registered name. You don't normally sue the directors or shareholders personally unless you have grounds to pierce the corporate veil — which is rare and typically beyond what a small claims guide covers.

When the Name Isn't in the REQ

Some small businesses operate informally without registering. If your REQ search comes up empty, you may need to:

• Search using alternate spellings or the person's name
• Check whether the business is registered in another province (if they operate interprovincially)
• Use the personal name of the individual you dealt with

If you can't identify the correct legal entity at all, consider consulting a Centre de justice de proximité (free legal information centre) for guidance before filing.

For the complete workflow — from REQ search through formal notice, filing, and hearing preparation — see the Quebec Small Claims Filing Guide.

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