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Getting Started in Small Claims Court: Professional Representation and Proper Documents per Forms and Rules
Question: How can I effectively start a lawsuit in Small Claims Court?
Answer: To start a lawsuit, you need to complete and issue a Plaintiff's Claim, which is a specific form known as Form 7A. While filling in the blanks is straightforward, knowing what to include and what to exclude is crucial for a successful submission. Olson Craig Legal Offices can guide you through the process, ensuring you address all potential concerns, such as counterclaims or naming errors, improving your chances for a favourable outcome.
Commencing Proceedings and Retaining Legal Counsel for Small Claims Court
Starting a lawsuit in Small Claims Court requires the preparation of, and issuance of, a Plaintiff's Claim document. The Plaintiff's Claim is a form, known as Form 7A, and is available online. The main parts of the Form 7A document are quite easy to complete as such simply involves filling in a few blanks of information. The more challenging aspect of starting a lawsuit is knowing what parts of the story to say and what parts of the story to avoid saying, if any. There are various rules regarding the extent of information that is required. The prescribed rules for the requirements when beginning a Small Claims Court lawsuit are available for review at Rule 7 of the Rules of the Small Claims Court.
Although many people think of the Small Claims Court as relatively informal, and some legal issues are simple enough that laypeople can handle a case without needing assistance from a lawyer or paralegal, there are concerns to think about. Concerns to think carefully about include:
- What if I lose?
- What if the Defendant brings a third party claim?
- What if I get the name of someone wrong?
- What if a counterclaim is brought?
- What if the case becomes more complicated than first expected?
- What if legal costs are awarded against me?
The concerns listed above, among others, should be very carefully reviewed before bringing a lawsuit. Understanding and carefully reviewing the potential complications, considerations, and consequences, before starting a lawsuit is highly important.
