Courtready’s Ontario Small Claims Court Enforcement Options Guide
Learn how to enforce an Ontario Small Claims Court judgment or order through Rule 20.
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Rule 20 applies only to orders requiring payment of money, and a debtor does not pay automatically just because a judge made an order. Once more than six years have passed since your order, most enforcement steps require leave of the court.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided for reference purposes only. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer or paralegal. Always verify procedures and forms against the current Rules of the Small Claims Court. For questions or to report an error, please email Tom at admin [at] courtready.ca.
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.
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Ontario Small Claims Court Enforcement Guide
This free guide walks you through your options for enforcing a money judgment from the Ontario Small Claims Court under Rule 20 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court. Answer a few questions about the debtor and the tool maps your situation to the right enforcement methods: garnishment, writs of seizure and sale of personal property or land, examination of the debtor, consolidation orders, and contempt. Check out our other free tools below.
Winning your case is only half the battle. A debtor does not pay automatically just because a judge made an order; you have to take enforcement steps yourself, and most of these methods start with an Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P) (a consolidation order is the exception, since the debtor brings it). Which method works depends on what you know about the debtor’s income and assets, and timing matters: once more than six years have passed since your order, most enforcement steps require leave of the court. Read the full rule on e-Laws.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided for reference purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Court procedures and forms change; always verify against the current Rules of the Small Claims Court and seek advice from a lawyer or paralegal where appropriate. For questions or to report an error, please email admin [at] courtready.ca.
Common Questions
How do I collect on a Small Claims Court judgment in Ontario?
Rule 20 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court gives you several enforcement tools: garnishment, writs of seizure and sale of personal property or land, examination of the debtor, and consolidation orders. Most of these start with an Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P), though a consolidation order is brought by the debtor instead. The right tool depends on what you know about the debtor’s income and assets. Winning your case does not mean you get paid automatically; you have to take enforcement steps yourself.
What is a garnishment and how does it work?
Garnishment lets you take money owed to the debtor directly from a third party, usually their employer or bank, called the garnishee. You file a Notice of Garnishment and the garnishee pays the court instead of the debtor. Wage garnishment is limited to 20% of wages after statutory deductions under the Wages Act, or 50% if the garnishment enforces a support order. Bank garnishment captures whatever is in the account at the moment of service, so you must serve the specific branch where the account is held.
How do I find out what assets the debtor has?
Use an examination of the debtor under Rule 20.10. You serve a Notice of Examination and the debtor must attend court and answer questions under oath about their income, assets, and debts. They must also complete a Financial Information Form (Form 20I). An examination does not collect money directly, but the information helps you choose the right enforcement method and can lead to a payment order.
What happens if the debtor ignores the court?
If a debtor fails to attend an examination or refuses to cooperate, you can ask the court for a contempt hearing under Rule 20.11. The court can order up to five days in jail under section 30 of the Courts of Justice Act. Contempt is a last resort; it does not collect money directly, it compels cooperation. The debtor can avoid it by attending the examination. If jail is ordered, a warrant of committal stays valid for 12 months.
Is there a time limit on enforcing a Small Claims Court judgment?
Yes. If more than six years have passed since your order was made, you need leave (permission) of the court before you can issue most enforcement steps, including a Notice of Garnishment. Writs of seizure and sale also expire after six years, but you can renew them before they lapse using Form 20N. If a writ of land expires without renewal, your claim against the property is lost.
How much does it cost to enforce a judgment?
Costs vary by method. Garnishment involves court filing fees plus service costs. A writ of seizure and sale of personal property requires bailiff fees paid upfront, often several hundred dollars, plus advertising and storage. Writs of land involve filing and sheriff fees. Most enforcement costs can be added to the amount the debtor owes, but you have to pay them first and recover them later, if collection succeeds.
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