Not legal advice; Ontario information as of October 29, 2026. Source, read on that date: the Government of Ontario's Guide to Procedures in Small Claims Court, “After judgment” (page updated July 2, 2026). The form PDFs, the text of the Small Claims Court Rules and the fee schedule were not read, so this page does not quote a rule or give a dollar amount. The court may have issued a newer version of any form.
Which form is which
People often mix up the numbers. In Ontario's guide, Form 20B is a writ of delivery (it orders return of specific property), not a seizure writ. The two seizure-and-sale writs are 20C and 20D.
The rules at a glance
| Question | Form 20C (personal property) | Form 20D (land) |
|---|---|---|
| What it reaches | Goods. Enforcement staff seize and store them and sell them at public auction. | Land the debtor owns or later buys in the area where the writ is filed. |
| Who asks | The creditor, with an Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P). | The creditor, with Form 20P. |
| Where it starts | The court that gave the judgment (or online). Court staff issue the writ. | The same court. A separate writ is needed for each county or district. |
| Next step | File the writ at the enforcement office with a written direction (Form 20O) naming the property. | File the writ at the enforcement office for each place the debtor may own land. |
| How long it lasts | Six years from issue; renew with Form 20N. | Six years from issue; renew with Form 20N before it expires. |
| Timing limits | The writ must be issued within six years of the order, or you must bring a motion. | Seizure can be directed four months after filing; a sale cannot go ahead until the writ has been on file six months. |
| Costs | Fee to issue the writ, an enforcement fee and a deposit. The guide gives no amounts. | Fee to issue, fee to file at the enforcement office, and fees to renew. No amounts given. |
Where the money goes
For goods, sale proceeds go to the court and are paid to the creditors who started enforcement, after the net amount is worked out. The guide also says the enforcement office can refuse to act if its costs would exceed the debtor's equity in the property.
Mistakes to avoid
- Letting the writ lapse. Renew with Form 20N before the six years end; each renewal runs from the previous expiry date.
- Expecting a quick land sale. The guide describes land enforcement as costly, with a large initial deposit, and mortgages and liens reduce what is left for you.
- Skipping information gathering. You may first want to learn what the debtor owns; see Form 20H, examination of a debtor. Wages and bank accounts are a different route: Form 20E, garnishment.
For the whole sequence from claim to collection, see the Small Claims Court process guide.