Tips for Success in Small Claims Court

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Tips for Success in Small Claims Court
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• Small claims court is designed to help small
  business owners and individual citizens take a
  simple, small dollar amount case to court without
  having to pay costly legal fees and high court
  costs.

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• While the processes and procedures in a small
  court are straightforward, many individuals make
  the mistake of thinking that it is very simple to
  win a case in the court.
• Winning in small claims court isnt always about
  whether youre right. Here are some tips to help
  you win your case and get paid for your claim.

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1. Prepare Well

• The key to succeeding in anything is proper
  preparation. This is also the case when you are
  going to a small claims court in Ontario.
• You have to get the details of your case straight
  and prepare on how to present facts that will
  help you to win. It may be necessary to involve a
  lawyer or a paralegal at the preparation stage.

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2. Choose the right location for your suit

• Location is as important in small claims court as
  it is in buying real estate. Finding out where to
  file your case and where it should be heard is an
  important part of giving yourself a head start in
  court.
• Bringing your case in the wrong court or the
  wrong county leads to an immediate dismissal.

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3. Learn About the Defendant

• Get all the relevant information about the
  defendant, like addresses, phone numbers,
  business type, and trade names.
• The court must have some way to find the person
  to serve them with a summons. If the court can't
  find the defendant, the person can't be served
  against by an agent of the court, nor can you get
  any money from them.

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4. Bring Witnesses

• Make sure they are credible and that they stick
  to the subject at hand.
• Your mother telling the judge what a wonderful
  person you are won't help your case, but an
  employee talking about how he installs flooring
  will certainly help. If a witness is reluctant to
  appear, get the court to issue a subpoena.

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5. Include Relevant Evidence

• Nothing beats convincing evidence in a court of
  law. Although the proceedings in a small claims
  court may not be too similar to that of an
  ordinary court, good evidence will have just the
  right impact in the judgment.
• Bring all relevant documents and other exhibits
  that will help your case.

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6. Present Well

• The way you present your case in a small claims
  court will also go a long way in determining the
  result you can obtain from the justice system.
• Since the law can be quite complicated in these
  matters, it is important to seek the advice of
  legal professionals. You can get help from a
  reliable small claims paralegal service.

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Thank You!