How to fill in and file a Defence (Form 9A) in 20 days

Filling and filing Form 9A in Ontario: what each box asks, the $77 fee, the 20-day count, and how to serve it. Free builder.

By the Make Them Pay team · reviewed 2026-08-23 · updated 2026-09-14 · 2 min read

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Legal information, not legal advice. Results depend on the facts of your case.

Legal information, not legal advice. This guide and our free tools give legal information. They do not give advice about your case. A licensed lawyer can give legal advice.

The answer

You must file a Defence (Form 9A) within 20 days after the day of service. If you do not, the plaintiff can get judgment against you without a trial.

Do not ignore the claim. If you do not answer, the clerk can note you in default. The plaintiff can then ask for default judgment. A judgment can lead to garnishment of your wages or your bank account.

What to do

  1. Read the claim and every attached page.
  2. Find the date of service. Count 20 days from the next day. Use the calculator: /calculators/deadlines.
  3. Choose your answer: dispute all, admit part, or admit all and propose payment terms.
  4. Fill in Form 9A. State your side: the dates, the events, and your reasons.
  5. Attach a copy of each document you rely on.
  6. File the Defence and pay the $77 fee. Outside Toronto, use Submissions Online; in Toronto, use the Ontario Courts Public Portal.
  7. Does the plaintiff owe you money? File a Defendant's Claim (Form 10A) within 20 days after your Defence. The fee is $108.

If you missed the 20 days

Default is not automatic. The clerk notes you in default only when the plaintiff files a request and proof of service. If that has not happened, file your Defence now. If default judgment exists, you can ask the court to set it aside. Move fast. The motion fee is $127.

Deadlines and fees

  • Defence: due 20 days after service; the fee is $77.
  • Day count: exclude the day of service, include the last day. If the last day is a holiday, the deadline moves to the next day the court is open.
  • Defendant's Claim (Form 10A): within 20 days after your Defence; the fee is $108.
  • Motion to set aside a default judgment: $127.

Common mistakes

  • A phone call is not a Defence. Only the filed form stops a default.
  • Do not miss the 20 days because of settlement talks. File the Defence; you can still settle.
  • Do not admit the full claim without thought. You can admit part and dispute the rest.
  • Do not forget your own claim against the plaintiff. The 20-day window after your Defence is short.

When to get a lawyer

Get legal advice fast if the claim is large or you are not sure of your position. Legal services provided by Mithril Law — Jonathan Kleiman, licensed Ontario lawyer.

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