Court of King's Bench - Manitoba Courts
Small Claims Filing and Hearing Locations
Small Claims Court is a part of the Manitoba Court of King's Bench and hears claims for an amount of money that does not exceed $15,000.00 (excluding interest, costs and disbursements). The claim may include general damages up to $2,000.00. General damages are not specific damages but a general amount that may be awarded by the court. You may also bring a claim to dispute liability resulting from a Motor Vehicle Accident Claim.
There may be alternatives to filing a Small Claim, such as mediation services that may lead to a mediated settlement of your dispute with the other person. For example, in the case of disputes involving automobile warranties, the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP) at: www.camvap.ca, may be an option.
If you do decide to file a Small Claim, the Court Officers who hear Small Claims may also be able to resolve your claim through mediation, if you and the defendant are open to trying to settle the dispute that way.
Small Claims Court procedures are set out in The Court of King's Bench Small Claims Practices Act and the Manitoba Court of King’s Bench Rules, Rule 76. Follow this link to view Acts and Court Rules: Court of King's Bench Rules, M.R. 553/88 (gov.mb.ca).
Small Claims are usually heard by Court Officers who may or may not be legally trained but have experience and training in the court system. Some Small Claims may be heard by judges of the Court of King’s Bench.
Small Claims Court is designed to hear claims in a less formal way. Evidence rules that must be followed in the Court of King’s Bench do not have to be followed in Small Claims Court.
A Court Officer may hear as evidence anything that they consider relevant to the issue(s) involved in the claim. The hearing is recorded and a transcript can be ordered.
Hearings and documents are available in French and English. The Government of Manitoba provides Interpretation Services for both official languages at no cost, contact 204-945-3138 in advance of your hearing for more information. If you require an interpreter for any other language, please contact the Language Bank at 204-943-9158 to make arrangements in advance of the hearing at your own cost.
Small Claims Court cannot hear a claim involving the following kinds of disputes:
The Court Services Fees Regulation regulates all court fees. Acceptable methods of paying court filing fees are described at: Province of Manitoba | Justice - Courts Division.
For claimants outside of Manitoba, there is an additional fee of $150 for security for costs. The court will retain this amount until the hearing. The court will order the payment returned or will make another order concerning the funds at the hearing.
*If your claim exceeds $15,000.00, you may waive the excess amount to allow for the claim to be heard in Small Claims Court.
Court office staff can:
The information provided by court staff is not legal advice and is offered to help you prepare for Small Claims Court.
Court staff cannot:
give you advice on who should be named as claimants or defendants. If you require advice, you may need to speak with a lawyer,
NOTE: The Legal Help Centre provides free legal information and assistance to persons who qualify: Phone: 204-258-3096 or Email: info@legalhelpcentre.ca
Small Claims Filing and Hearing Locations
Small Claims can be filed at various court centres in Manitoba and the hearing of the claim can take place either in that court centre or one of its circuit locations. The general rule is that a claim should be heard at the court centre or circuit location nearest to where the defendant lives or where the dispute happened. Below is a list of all court centres in Manitoba where a claim can be filed and where the hearings of those claims can be held.
| Brandon | 100 - 1104 Princess Ave, R7A 0P9 | Phone: 204-726-6240 Fax: 204-726-6547 |
| Dauphin | 114 River Ave West, R7N 0J7 | Phone: 204-622-2087 Fax: 204-622-2099 |
| Flin Flon | 104 - 143 Main St, R8A 1K2 | Phone: 204-687-1670 Fax: 204-687-1673 |
Killarney (circuit location) | Filing: 100 - 1104 Princess Ave, Brandon, R7A 0P9
Hearings: 415 Broadway Ave, Killarney, R0K 1G0 | Phone: 204-726-6240 Fax: 204-726-6547 |
| Minnedosa | 70 - 3rd Ave Southwest, R0J 1E0 | Phone: 204-867-4722 Fax: 204-867-4720 |
| Morden | 301 Wardrop St, R6M 1X6 | Phone: 204-822-2882 Fax: 204-822-2883 |
| Portage la Prairie | Filing: 25 Tupper St North, Portage la Prairie, R1N 3K1
Hearings: 20 – 3rd St Southeast, Portage la Prairie, R1N 1M9 | Phone: 204-239-3383 Fax: 204-239-3402 |
| Russell (circuit location) | Filing: 70 - 3rd Ave Southwest, Minnedosa, R0J 1E0
Hearings: 106 Shell River Ave South, Russell, R0J 1W0 | Phone: 204-867-4722 Fax: 204-867-4720 |
| St. Boniface | 100 - 614 Des Meurons St, Winnipeg, R2H 2P9 | Phone: 204-945-8010 Fax: 204-945-5562 |
| Selkirk | 101 - 235 Eaton Ave, Selkirk, R1A 0W7 | Phone: 204-785-5122 Fax: 204-785-5125 |
| Steinbach | Unit A - 284 Reimer Ave, Steinbach, R5G 0R5 | Phone: 204-346-6070 Fax: 204-346-6072 |
| Swan River | 201 - 4th Ave South, Swan River, R0L 1Z0 | Phone: 204-734-2252 Fax: 204-734-9544 |
| The Pas | 300 - 3rd St East, The Pas, R9A 1L2 | Phone: 204-627-8420 Fax: 204-623-6528 |
| Thompson | 59 Elizabeth Dr, Thompson, R8N 1X4 | Phone: 204-677-6757 Fax: 204-677-6686 |
| Virden (circuit location) | Filing: 100 - 1104 Princess Ave, Brandon, R7A 0P9
Hearings: 232 Wellington St West , Virden, R0M 2C0 | Phone: 204-726-6240 Fax: 204-726-6547 |
| Winnipeg | Filing: 100 - 408 York Ave, Winnipeg, R3C 0P9
Hearings: 3rd floor, 373 Broadway, Winnipeg, R3C 4S4 | Phone: 204-945-3138 Fax: 204-948-2369 Email: smallclaims@gov.mb.ca |