Recover up to $15,000 without a lawyer — demand letter, filing, mandatory mediation, hearing and enforcement. Complete guide 2026.
Recover your money — without a lawyer
A contractor who disappears with your deposit. A landlord who refuses to return your security deposit. A merchant who won’t honour their warranty. These situations happen to tens of thousands of Quebecers every year — and most give up because they don’t know where to start.
The Small Claims Division of the Court of Québec exists for exactly these situations: sue for up to $15,000, without a lawyer, without legal jargon. This guide walks you through every step — with AI tools to help you prepare.
What you need to know
Any individual. Businesses with 10 employees or fewer in the last 12 months. Businesses with more than 10 employees cannot use small claims court.
Breached contracts, poorly executed work, property damage, refused refunds, unpaid invoices, hidden defects, warranties not honoured, unreturned deposits.
Other tribunals apply for: residential lease disputes → Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL). Child support, divorce, custody → Superior Court. $15,000.01 to $74,999 → Court of Québec (exclusive jurisdiction). $75,000 to $99,999 → Court of Québec or Superior Court. $100,000+ → Superior Court.
Limitation period: generally 3 years from the events (varies by claim type). A demand letter does NOT stop the clock — only filing in court does.
Three AI tools — three distinct roles
Your analyst. Breaks down your situation, identifies deadlines, helps you understand what’s happening in your file. Ask it to organize your facts.
Your secretary. Drafts your demand letter, formal emails, and the summary of facts for form SJ-870E. Give it your facts and ask it to write.
Your preparation coach. Tests the strength of your file, anticipates the other party’s arguments, and helps you prepare what you’ll say at the hearing.
In practice: Gemini analyzes → ChatGPT drafts → Claude refines and anticipates. These tools don’t replace a lawyer and don’t provide legal advice. Always verify deadlines and fees with the clerk’s office.
How to recover your money — step by step
Before filing, send a formal notice to the other party. Not always a strict legal requirement, but it often resolves the problem and shows good faith. Give 10 days to pay. Send by registered mail for easy proof. ⚠ Always use the defendant’s exact legal name — verify on the Quebec Enterprise Registry. See also: how to write a formal notice — Éducaloi.
If the demand letter didn’t resolve the issue, file your claim using the official form SJ-870E, available free online. Pay the filing fees by credit card, debit, cash, or certified cheque — personal cheques not accepted. Recipients of last-resort financial assistance are exempt from fees. File in the judicial district of the defendant. Filing is confirmed once the form and payment are received by the clerk’s office.
Since 2025, in many judicial districts, mediation is mandatory for contested claims of $5,000 or less. If no agreement is reached, the file may be directed toward arbitration. For claims over $5,000, mediation is generally offered voluntarily. You don’t need to register — the courthouse connects you with a mediator. Free, confidential, in person or remote. Check if your district is covered →
You’ll receive a notice at least 6 weeks before. File your evidence in advance with form SJ-840 — verify the exact deadline in your summons notice. Past that deadline, the judge may refuse your documents. Bring 3 copies of each document. Speak to the judge, not to the other party. Stay factual, chronological, calm.
The debtor has 30 days to pay (10 days for a default judgment). If they don’t: wage garnishment (form SJ-1103 — no bailiff needed for small claims), bank account seizure, movable property seizure. Use form SJ-137 to summon the debtor for a post-judgment examination if you don’t know where to seize. Enforcement fees added to debtor’s debt.
Filing fees — updated January 1st each year
Always verify the official rate in effect at time of filing. Fees are reimbursed if you win.
| Amount claimed | Individual | Corporation |
|---|---|---|
| $0.01 – $5,000 | ~$121 | ~$191 |
| $5,000.01 – $10,000 | ~$223 | ~$318 |
| $10,000.01 – $15,000 | ~$241 | ~$382 |
| Enforcement fee: ~$52 (individual) / ~$63.75 (corporation) — added to debtor’s debt. Verify exact amounts at time of filing on Quebec.ca. | ||
All deadlines at a glance
Always verify exact deadlines with the clerk’s office at your courthouse. Find a courthouse in Quebec →
Ready-to-use prompts for each stage
Always review AI-generated documents before submitting them. Never rely on AI for a critical deadline or fact without independent verification. These tools work only with the information you provide them. They do not replace a lawyer.
Mistakes that cost people their case
Resources and help organizations
Official sources
All information in this guide comes from the official statutes, regulations and government resources cited below.
Reclaim your place — without a lawyer
Small claims court has existed for decades so that every citizen — not just those who can afford a lawyer — can assert their rights. With today’s AI tools, you can prepare seriously, organize your facts clearly, and appear before the judge with confidence. Check the defendant’s legal name, file before the limitation period, submit your evidence on time, and try mediation — it resolves many cases without a hearing.
This guide does not constitute legal advice. The author of this site is not a lawyer. Always verify deadlines and fees with the clerk’s office at your courthouse or on Quebec.ca. AI tools can make mistakes — never rely on them for a critical deadline without independent verification.
A correction to suggest or a question about this guide? Write to us at contact@endroit.ca — we read every message.