Consultations have begun in an effort to update the regulations for small claims court in the territory.

The update comes nearly two years after amendments to the Small Claims Court Act were made.

Among other items, they changed the $5,000 maximum limit to be claimed through the court process to a maximum of $25,000, Dan Cable, a Department of Justice spokesman, said today.

Those changes were made to reflect changes over the last time the act was altered in 1995. Vehicle prices, for example, rose significantly between 1995 and 2006.

'The Small Claims Court Act regulations have not been updated in 12 years,' Justice Minister Marian Horne said in a statement last week.

'It is necessary that the business and legal communities, judiciary and those who represent themselves in small claims court are consulted to ensure the regulations reflect the will of Yukoners.'

The 2006 amendments triggered a number of other changes in regulations that must now happen, Cable explained.

He noted filing fees, for example, must be updated to now reflect the $25,000 maximum rather than the previous $5,000 maximum that was in place.

'We're looking at all the regulations,' Cable said.

Yukoners can view the current regulations through the government website at www.gov.yk.ca/legislation/regs /oic1995_152.pdf and submit their comments until Feb. 15 to the Department of Justice through the government website as well.

Cable said it's expected the regulations will be finished in the fall, then go to the cabinet for internal approval.