Sheriff Fees Ontario: Small Claims Court Enforcement Costs
How Much Enforcement Actually Costs
Winning a Small Claims Court judgment in Ontario is only the beginning. Collecting requires filing enforcement documents, and each one carries a court fee and, for writs, an advance deposit to the bailiff or sheriff. Before you start, you need a realistic budget — because spending $500 in enforcement fees to collect a $1,200 judgment may not make financial sense.
The good news: most enforcement fees are recoverable as part of the judgment balance. They're added to the amount the debtor owes. The bad news: if the debtor has nothing to collect from, you're out of pocket.
Court Clerk Fees (O. Reg. 332/16)
These fees are paid to the Small Claims Court clerk when you file enforcement documents. They're the same for all Ontario court offices.
| Enforcement Step | Form | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of Examination | Form 20H | $68 |
| Notice of Garnishment | Form 20E | $144 |
| Writ of Seizure and Sale (personal property) | Form 20C | $68 |
| Writ of Seizure and Sale (land) | Form 20D | $68 |
| Certificate of Judgment | Form 20A | $30 |
The Notice of Garnishment is the most expensive court filing at $144. That fee covers both wage and bank garnishments — you file the same form regardless of whether you're garnishing an employer or a bank.
Garnishment renewals (Form 20E.1) also cost $144 if the initial garnishment period expires before you've collected the full amount.
Sheriff and Bailiff Fees
Sheriff and bailiff fees are set under separate regulations. Under O. Reg. 294/92, the sheriff charges $100 to file or renew a writ delivered to the land registrar, or $75 when land-registry delivery is not required, and $240 for each attempt to enforce a writ of seizure and sale, whether successful or not. Necessary travel and other disbursements may be extra. Small Claims Court bailiffs have separate fees under O. Reg. 332/16.
| Service | Regulatory Fee or Advance Estimate |
|---|---|
| Sheriff filing or renewal with delivery to land registrar | $100 |
| Sheriff filing or renewal without land-registry delivery | $75 |
| Sheriff attempt to enforce a writ of seizure and sale | $240 per attempt |
| Bailiff attempt where no sale is necessary | $38 |
| Bailiff execution where a sale is necessary | $64 |
| Local bailiff advance deposit for personal-property enforcement | $240–$400 (estimate) |
The advance deposit for personal-property enforcement is an advance against execution fees and disbursements, including towing, storage, appraisal, and advertising. The bailiff charges $38 where no sale is necessary or $64 where a sale is necessary, plus necessary disbursements. Ask the bailiff for an accounting; any unused balance may be returned.
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The Realistic Enforcement Budget
Here's what a typical enforcement sequence costs, following the recommended order:
Stage 1: Examination hearing
- Notice of Examination (Form 20H): $68
- Attendance money for the debtor: ~$11 per day plus travel
- Subtotal: ~$80
Stage 2: Garnishment
- Notice of Garnishment (Form 20E): $144
- Process server to serve on garnishee: $50–$100
- Subtotal: ~$200–$250
Stage 3: Land writ (if the debtor owns property)
- Writ of Seizure and Sale of Land (Form 20D): $68
- Sheriff filing deposit for land registry: $100
- Subtotal: $168
Stage 4: Personal property writ (if identifiable assets exist)
- Writ of Seizure and Sale (Form 20C): $68
- Bailiff advance deposit: $240–$400
- Subtotal: $308–$468
Following all four stages: roughly $756 to $966 in estimated initial outlay, using the rounded stage subtotals above. The advance deposits are not fixed fees, and travel or other disbursements may add to the amount. That's why the examination comes first — you spend about $80 to find out whether the debtor has assets worth pursuing before committing $500+ to garnishments and writs.
Fee Waivers and Recovery
Low-income creditors can apply for a fee waiver to cover court clerk fees under provincial guidelines. However, bailiff or sheriff deposits and process server costs are not covered by fee waivers.
All court filing fees and sheriff costs are added to the total judgment balance — the debtor owes them on top of the original judgment. When you file Form 20P (Affidavit for Enforcement Request), you include enforcement disbursements in your total-owing calculation. If you collect through garnishment, these costs come out first before payments reduce the principal.
When Fees Change
Court clerk fees under O. Reg. 332/16 are adjusted automatically every three years based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index. The next adjustment is scheduled for January 1, 2027. Current fees have been in effect since the last CPI adjustment.
Sheriff fees under O. Reg. 294/92 follow a separate update schedule. Always confirm current fees with the local Enforcement Office before filing — the figures above are current as of 2026 but regional sheriff offices may charge additional disbursements beyond the base regulatory amounts.
For a detailed fee worksheet and the recommended enforcement sequence, see our Ontario judgment enforcement guide.
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