Ontario Small Claims Court deadline

Ontario Small Claims Court defence deadline calculator

An Ontario Small Claims Court defendant normally must file and serve a defence and proof of service within 20 days after the claim is served.

Calculate this deadline

Rule reviewed 7 August 2026

At a glance

What the calculator applies

Period: 20 days
Trigger: Effective service of the claim
Direction: Forward from service
Counting method: Ontario Small Claims Court time calculation in the current Canada calculator

Free calculation

Calculate from the relevant date

The jurisdiction, forum and triggering event are preset for this deadline. Enter the date and any facts the calculator asks for.

What deadline are you checking?

Jurisdiction

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Province, territory or federal system

Court, tribunal or institution

Deadline

20 days from Service of the plaintiff's claim on the defendant

Rules of the Small Claims Court, O Reg 258/98, r 9.01Binding

COUNTING TRAP: the Small Claims Court has its OWN computation rule at O Reg 258/98, r 3.01, which excludes the first day, includes the last, and rolls a holiday expiry forward - but it contains NO equivalent to RCP r 3.01(1)(b). Holidays are therefore counted in the Small Claims Court even for periods of seven days or fewer. Do not apply the Superior Court short-period exclusion here. The Small Claims Court monetary limit is $50,000 (O Reg 626/00, s 1(1), as amended by O Reg 42/25).

When did the clock start?

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Reviewed June 2026 · Federal Courts Rules SOR/98-106Review coverage and exclusions

Worked check

See what the calculator checks before it produces a date

Example input: 03/08/2026

Start with 03/08/2026 as the effective service of the claim. The calculator applies ontario small claims court time calculation in the current canada calculator and check service, consent, court variation and any related defendant’s claim before using the result. before it shows the cited output and the checks that may change it.

Calculation basis

How the date is counted

Ontario Small Claims Court time calculation in the current Canada calculator

Check service, consent, court variation and any related defendant’s claim before using the result.

Check before use

Exceptions and matter facts

This page is for a defence to the original claim, not an appeal, motion or defendant’s claim.
The underlying service issue must be resolved before starting the clock.

Check this result before using it

Deadline Engine is calculation software, not legal advice. Check the current rule, any order and the facts before adding a date to your diary.

Continue checking

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