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Ontario Small Claims Court · After judgment · rule 20.07

Form 20D: Writ of Seizure and Sale of Land

Form 20D is the Writ of Seizure and Sale of Land, issued by the Ontario Small Claims Court against a debtor's real property (rule 20.07). The clerk issues it, on an Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P), to the sheriff you name (rule 20.07). Once issued, the writ is enforced under the Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 20.07). It expires on its 6th anniversary and can be renewed with Form 20N (rule 20.07).

Open the Collect screen The official PDF (ontariocourtforms.on.ca)

When you use it

  • • Use it when the debtor owns land in Ontario; the writ goes to the sheriff you name (rule 20.07).
  • • File it on paper at the court office, because Form 20D cannot be filed through Submissions Online [VERIFY].
  • • Renew it with Form 20N before its 6th anniversary (rule 20.07).
  • • Get leave of the court to issue the writ more than 6 years after the judgment (rule 20.07).

The facts

Rule
rule 20.07, O. Reg. 258/98
Court fee
$68 to issue (O. Reg. 332/16, as stored 2026-01-06)
Official revision
May 2025
Who files it
After judgment

How this site fills it

The Collect screen fills Form 20D and the Form 20P affidavit from the case record and asks which sheriff to name, by county or region.

Open the Collect screen

How to complete and file Form 20D

  1. 01

    Confirm that the debtor owns land, for example with a title search.

  2. 02

    Complete the Affidavit for Enforcement Request (Form 20P) with the balance owing (rule 20.07).

  3. 03

    Complete Form 20D, and name the sheriff for the area where the land is (rule 20.07).

  4. 04

    File both forms at the court office on paper, and pay the fee (rule 20.07; O. Reg. 332/16).

  5. 05

    Deliver the issued writ to the sheriff, and pay the sheriff's fee [VERIFY].

  6. 06

    Renew the writ with Form 20N before it expires on its 6th anniversary (rule 20.07).

Questions people ask about Form 20D

Can I put a lien on someone's house for a Small Claims judgment?
In effect, yes. A Writ of Seizure and Sale of Land (Form 20D) is issued by the court to the sheriff you name (rule 20.07). Filed with the sheriff, the writ binds the debtor's land in that area and shows on a title search [VERIFY]. The writ stays in force for 6 years, and you can renew it with Form 20N (rule 20.07). The Rules of Civil Procedure govern enforcement after issue (rule 20.07).
Can the sheriff sell the debtor's house?
Yes, but the process is long. Once issued, the writ is enforced under the Rules of Civil Procedure (rule 20.07). The sheriff cannot sell the land in the first 6 months after the writ is filed [VERIFY]. Many creditors wait for the debtor to sell or refinance instead, because the writ then has to be dealt with. Get advice before you ask the sheriff to sell.
Can I file Form 20D online?
No. Form 20D cannot be filed through Small Claims Court Submissions Online [VERIFY]. File it on paper at the court office that gave the judgment, with the Form 20P affidavit and the fee (rule 20.07; O. Reg. 332/16). The clerk issues it to the sheriff you named (rule 20.07). Then deliver it to that sheriff's office, with the sheriff's own fee.
How long does a writ against land last?
6 years from the date of issue. It expires on its 6th anniversary unless you renew it with Form 20N (rule 20.07). You need leave of the court to issue a writ more than 6 years after the judgment (rule 20.07). The 6-year term and Form 20N came with the October 6, 2025 amendments (O. Reg. 222/25). Track the anniversary in your case record.

Legal information, not legal advice. Rules are from the Rules of the Small Claims Court, O. Reg. 258/98; fees from O. Reg. 332/16 as stored 2026-01-06. Items marked [VERIFY] have not been checked against the current consolidation. Legal services provided by Mithril Law — Jonathan Kleiman, licensed Ontario lawyer.