Not legal advice; Ontario information as of October 27, 2026. Source, read on that date: the Government of Ontario's Guide to Procedures in Small Claims Court, “Getting ready for court” (page updated July 2, 2026). The Form 18A PDF, the text of the Small Claims Court Rules and the fee schedule were not read, so this page does not describe the form's fields, quote a rule or give a dollar amount. The court may have issued a newer version of any form.
When this form is for you
Ontario's guide says you are responsible for making sure your witnesses come to trial. You do not have to summons a witness, but if you do not and they do not appear, you may have to go ahead without them. The List of Proposed Witnesses (Form 13A) names people you may call; it does not make anyone attend.
The rules at a glance
| Question | What Ontario's guide says |
|---|---|
| Who fills it out? | The party who wants the witness. You fill out and file the form; the court issues the summons, and there is a fee to issue it. |
| When must it be served? | At least 10 days before the trial date. |
| How? | Personally on the witness, together with attendance money. |
| What is attendance money? | A witness fee plus travel expenses. The guide sends you to the court's fees page for amounts. |
| Proof of service? | You may need an Affidavit of Service (Form 8A). Note the date, time and address of service. |
| Trial postponed? | You may need a new summons showing the new date, again with attendance money. |
| Witness does not attend? | If properly served with the summons and attendance money, the trial judge may issue a warrant for their arrest. |
Two details people miss
- Questioning the author of another party's report. If you use a summons to do this, the guide says to serve a copy of the summons on all parties. Not doing so can lead to an adjournment and costs against you.
- Interpreters. For a summonsed witness, the court provides English, French and visual-language interpretation. For other languages, the guide says arranging interpretation is the summoning party's responsibility; failing to do so may lead to an adjournment and costs.
Mistakes to avoid
- Mailing it. The guide requires personal service, so a mailed copy or one left with someone else is not the process it describes.
- Serving without attendance money. The money goes with the summons, not later.
- Leaving it late. Count 10 days back from the trial date.
For the whole sequence, see the Small Claims Court process guide.