I filed online for non-liquidated damages. Can I get default judgment?

If the defendant doesn't respond to your claim within 20 days of you serving them, you can ask the court to note them in default. This means the court officially recognizes that they missed the deadline for responding. There is a fee of $94 to do this.

If you don't note the defendant in default after the 20-day time limit passes, they still have time to respond to your claim.

But, noting a defendant in default doesn't mean you will get what you're asking for. You have to ask the court for an order that says how much you're owed. This is called asking for a default judgment.

If you have a non-liquidated claim, the amount of your claim has to be proved or assessed by a judge. For example, a judge will decide how much you're owed based on the evidence and law if:

• you're suing someone because they damaged your property or injured you
• you're suing someone because of poor quality of work
• you're suing your employer for termination pay

You need evidence like documents and witnesses to help prove the amount of your non-liquidated damages.

Even if you get a default judgment, the defendant still might not pay you. It's up to you to collect the money once you have a court order.

Liquidated claims

If you have a liquidated claim, this means you can show the exact amount the defendant owes you. Read the question My online claim is for an exact amount. How do I get a default judgment? to learn more.

Language rights

Ontario residents who speak French have the right to bilingual proceedings at Small Claims Court. You can ask for bilingual proceedings in your Plaintiff’s Claim or by filing a requisition form or a written statement.

Legal help

You don't need a lawyer or paralegal to get a default judgment. But you'll probably understand the process better if you talk to a paralegal or lawyer.

If you earn a low income, you may be able to get legal help from Pro Bono Ontario. They offer services in some court locations in Toronto and Ottawa, and a legal advice hotline where you can get up to 30 minutes of free legal advice.

You can read the Guide to Motions and Clerk’s Orders on the Ministry of the Attorney General website to learn more about the default process.