Ontario Small Claims Court Enforcement Guide
Use this tool to understand your enforcement options under Rule 20.
Ontario Small Claims Court Enforcement Options Guide
Learn about how to enforce an OSCC judgment or order through Rule 20.
Welcome! Let’s Learn About How to Collect Your Judgment
You won your case in Ontario’s Small Claims Court – congratulations! But now you need to actually collect the money. That’s where Rule 20 comes in.
What is Rule 20?
Rule 20 is the part of Ontario’s Small Claims Court Rules that explains how to enforce (collect on) a court order for money. It gives you several different “tools” or methods to get paid.
This tool will help you:
- Understand your enforcement options in plain English
- Figure out which method(s) are best for your situation
- Learn what steps you need to take
- Understand the costs and requirements
📋 Forms You May Need
Most enforcement methods require specific court forms. Here are the key ones:
- Form 20P – Affidavit for Enforcement Request (required for ALL enforcement methods) – Download
- Form 20A – Certificate of Judgment (if enforcing in a different court location) – Download
- Form 20C – Writ of Seizure and Sale of Personal Property – Download
- Form 20D – Writ of Seizure and Sale of Land – Download
- Form 20E – Notice of Garnishment – Download
- Form 20H – Notice of Examination – Download
- Form 20I – Financial Information Form (debtor must complete for examination) – Download
- Form 20R – Notice of Termination of Garnishment (when paid in full) – Download
Do you have a Small Claims Court order that says someone owes you money?
Rule 20 is only for enforcing orders that require someone to pay you money. You need to either:
- Get a judgment/order from the court first, or
- If your order is for something other than money (like return of property), you’ll need to use different enforcement rules
Has the debtor paid anything?
What do you know about the debtor’s situation?
Select all that apply:
Your Enforcement Options
Complete Rule 20 Reference Guide
Here’s a complete overview of every enforcement tool available. Click on each section to learn more.
Other Small Claims Tools
Use this free tool to assess your entitlements when your flight is delayed or cancelled.
Courtready’s Ontario Small Claims Court Enforcement Guide
This interactive guide helps you figure out how to enforce an Ontario Small Claims Court money judgment or order under Rule 20.
It asks a few practical questions about your situation and then shows you the enforcement options that may be suitable for your situation, with explanations and direct rule references.
You get plain-language guidance on what to do next, what each option involves, and where the rules come from to help you enforce your Ontario Small Claims Court moeny judgment or order.
You can also learn about how to navigate Ontario’s Small Claims Court with Courtready Academy.
We want to empower Canadians with the right tools and knowledge to navigate our justice system with confidence. Finally, while you are here, be sure to check out our other tools above!
Frequently Asked Questions
To enforce an Ontario Small Claims judgment, you must take active steps under Rule 20. The debtor does not automatically pay just because the court made an order.
Rule 20 gives you several tools to enforce an Ontario Small Claims Court judgment, including garnishment, writs of seizure and sale (personal property or land), and an examination hearing to question the debtor under oath about assets and income.
Most enforcement steps require specific forms. For example, the tool flags Form 20P (Affidavit for Enforcement Request) as required for all enforcement methods, and it lists additional forms depending on the method (garnishment, writs, or examination).
Start by requesting an examination under Rule 20.10. This process lets you question the debtor under oath and require them to complete financial disclosure, which then helps you choose the best way to enforce a Small Claims judgment.
Yes. Garnishment is one of the main tools used to enforce a Small Claims order for money, including garnishing wages or bank accounts.