Small claims: the general process and how to build your evidence file
The essentials
- Small claims cover money claims up to a ceiling set by law (check the current amount on the justice website; it is indexed).
- The judge decides on what you show.
- Bring your exhibits in order, numbered, with one copy for the court and one for the other party.
In short, from this page. Every statement is sourced below.
Build your case file, free. Contract, invoices, demand letter and proof of delivery, exchanges: gather everything, each exhibit dated and numbered, and produce a file the judge can follow from the first document to the last.
Open the application Up to 3 cases, no credit card · see the plans
At the Small Claims Division of the Court of Québec, being represented by a lawyer is generally not allowed : representing yourself there is not a failure, it is the rule of the game. Everything then comes down to clear, organized evidence. Here is the overall picture, and the method.
The general framework
Small claims cover money claims up to a ceiling set by law (check the current amount on the justice website; it is indexed). The process is deliberately simplified. The procedural details (filing, fees, how it unfolds) are set out by the Ministère de la Justice.
Building your evidence: the real battle
The judge decides on what you show. Gather: the contract or the agreement, the invoices and receipts, the exchanges (emails, texts) as complete, dated sequences, and photos if there are any. Build a timeline that is clear: what, when, how much, with a cross-reference to each numbered exhibit.
On the day of the hearing
Bring your exhibits in order, numbered, with one copy for the court and one for the other party. A file that can be read in ten minutes beats a loose pile of paper: you are helping the judge follow you.
In the app: the « Small Claims Express File » pulls your timeline, your numbered exhibits and your conversation sequences into a single printable package. See the Small claims page.
Official sources (consulted July 18, 2026)
Every statement in this guide is backed by an official source. How we verify and correct.
- Ministère de la Justice du Québec (justice.gouv.qc.ca), « Petites créances » (ceiling, procedure, process)
- Preuve en main, Integrity methodology
Found an error in this guide? Report it: corrected within 72 hours, and the correction log is public.
Reminder: this is general information; it is not information for anyone in particular. For advice on your situation: legal aid (eligibility based on income), a community justice centre, Juripop, or the Barreau referral service.