Insights Hub
Contract Disputes in Ontario
What happens when an agreement isn't honoured — breach, demand letters, damages, remedies, and the paths Ontario parties use to resolve a dispute.
A contract dispute usually starts the same way: one side believes the other didn't do what they promised. From there, the path forward depends on what was agreed, what evidence exists, and how much is at stake.
This hub walks through the practical side of an Ontario contract dispute — from recognizing a breach, to putting a demand in writing, to understanding what a court can and can't award, to the different ways a dispute can actually get resolved.
Popular in Contract Disputes
More guides in this hub
Demand Letters in Ontario Contract Disputes: What They Should Include
How a well-written demand letter is structured, what it should say, and why it's often the most useful first step in a dispute.
How Long Do You Have to Sue for Breach of Contract in Ontario?
A plain-English walkthrough of Ontario's general limitation period for contract claims, and the exceptions worth knowing about.
Related Tools
Practical tools for this topic
Breach of contract next-steps wizard
A step-by-step way to think through what may have happened and what comes next.
Limitation-period guide
A plain-English walkthrough of Ontario's general time limits for contract claims.
Demand-letter checklist
The core elements a demand letter typically needs to be taken seriously.
Evidence checklist for a contract dispute
What to gather and preserve as soon as a disagreement becomes likely.
FAQ
Contract Disputes: frequently asked questions
What is the first thing I should do if I think a contract was breached?
Start by re-reading the agreement and gathering anything relevant — messages, invoices, photos, payment records. Understanding exactly what was promised and what evidence you have shapes every decision that follows.
Do I need to send a demand letter before suing?
It isn't always a legal requirement, but a clear written demand often resolves a dispute without going further, and it creates a record showing you gave the other side a chance to fix the problem.
Is mediation faster than going to court?
Mediation is often faster and less costly than litigation, since it doesn't follow a court's schedule and aims to reach an agreement rather than a ruling. It isn't right for every dispute, though.
What if the other side ignores my demand letter?
Common next steps include proposing mediation, filing a Small Claims Court claim for smaller amounts, or starting a Superior Court action for larger or more complex claims.
Understand your agreement. Know your next step.
Ontario-wide, plain-English contract law information — built to help you make sense of your situation before you decide what to do next.