Commencing Writ Procedures:

Question: How do I register a Small Claims Court judgment lien on a debtor’s real property in Ontario using a Writ of Seizure and Sale?

Answer: To register your interest when enforcing a Small Claims Court judgment against a debtor’s real property in Ontario, the creditor typically files a Certificate of Judgment (Form 20A) in the enforcement court jurisdiction and then prepares an Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P) with the correct, current amount owing (including interest) as of the writ date, before seeking the Writ of Seizure and Sale of Land so the writ can be registered against the property.  For help preparing the right forms, calculating amounts owing, and filing the enforcement package correctly, contact Anderson Aylwin Begg & Co.’s paralegal team at (905) 686-8080 in Ontario, where they assist creditors across the province with judgment enforcement steps and property-related writ filings.

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Registering Rights Upon Debtor Property

Creditors may make use of a Writ of Seizure and Sale as a significant mechanism that enables the registering of a financial interest upon the real property or personal property of a Debtor.  The Creditor may seek the filing of such a Writ upon real property, meaning land whether with or without structures, or upon personal property such as automobiles, implements, watercraft, or other types of property other than land.

Note: Please contact Anderson Aylwin Begg & Co. by phone at: (905) 686-8080 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

Starting the Process

Where an enforcement procedure is being initiated within a jurisdiction that is other than the jurisdiction within which the Judgment of the Small Claims Court was issued, the opening of an enforcement file within the Small Claims Court within the jurisdiction where the Judgment will be enforced is required.  Doing so requires the issuing of a Certificate of Judgment (Form 20A) from the Small Claims Court where the Judgment was granted and filing of the Certificate of Judgment (Form 20A) where the Judgment will be enforced.  Furthermore, as with the initiation of almost every enforcement process, when initiating almost every Writ process, the Creditor must prepare and file an Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P), which outlines the details of the Judgment and confirms the outstanding amount owed.  The Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P) must be current, meaning that the sums shown as owing are accurate, including all interest calculations, to the date of issuance of the relevant Writ.

Types of Writs

The Small Claims Court offers three primary Writ processes to enforce judgments.  Understanding the various Writ processes is essential for effective enforcement of Judgement.  Each Writ serves a unique purpose due to a failure for voluntarily compliance with a court Judgment.

Conclusion

Enforcing a Judgment via the use of writs - such as a Writ of Delivery (Form 20B), a Writ of Seizure and Sale of Personal Property (Form 20C), or a Writ of Seizure and Sale of Land (Form 20D), is a complex but essential aspect of the remedies available within the Small Claims Court system.  Proper preparation, diligent adherence to procedural requirements, and timely renewal, are all critical for the ensuring successful enforcement of a Judgment.