Legal Support & Resources Blog

In our daily lives, we often encounter situations requiring formal verification of our documents and signatures. From buying a new home to travelling abroad or even managing estate affairs, the need for notarized documents is more common than one might think. Notarization serves as a powerful tool for authentication, ensuring that legal documents are valid and binding. Let's delve into why people in Ontario might need to get a document notarized and the significance of this process.

In Ontario, navigating landlord-tenant disputes can be a complex process, governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) and adjudicated by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Given the intricacies of the law and the procedural nuances of the LTB, individuals often wonder whether to hire a paralegal or a lawyer for these matters. In my professional experience, there are several compelling reasons why working with a paralegal is not only advantageous but also highly effective for both landlords and tenants.

In Ontario, the Human Rights Code is a cornerstone of our legal system, ensuring fair treatment and protection against discrimination in various aspects of life, including housing and employment. As legal professionals specializing in these areas, the De Palma & Associates team has seen firsthand how knowledge and enforcement of these rights can make a significant difference in people's lives.

Breaking up is hard to do, but what can be even more difficult is being repaid for any money you might have lent during the relationship. In Canada, the law requires repayment of any money loaned between partners during the relationship. If a breakup occurs, the person who owes money has an obligation to pay their former partner back.

As a contractor, you might be unaware that having a paralegal represent you can save you time and money when you’re dealing with clients who have chosen to be difficult by holding out on your rightfully earned payment.

Are you a tradesperson who has completed the job, but now you are struggling to recover the funds on an unpaid invoice? Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon occurrence. If this is happening to you, you might want to consider taking the client to Small Claims Court to recoup the unpaid funds. De Palma & Associates can help!

Navigating the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board can be confusing for both landlords and tenants. Recent changes to legislation, as well as a backlog due to the lengthy shutdown from March to August in 2020, have made it even more challenging. In this month’s guest blog, a landlord and recent client relates her experience and why it is so beneficial to use the services of a paralegal when dealing with the Landlord and Tenant Board.

2020 has certainly been an interesting year to be a paralegal. With the ongoing pandemic, the way we work has drastically changed. This is mainly due to the justice system coming to a complete halt in March of this year. The effects of the halt are still being felt due to the system not being fully recovered.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, we are reminded of what a costly time of year this can be. Many Canadians are struggling to live paycheque to paycheque and simply can’t make ends meet, let alone provide gifts and holiday surprises. The added struggles and economic strain of COVID-19 will undoubtedly make this holiday season even more challenging for many families in our region.

Bill 184, otherwise known as Ontario’s “Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act”, was passed by the provincial government into law in July of 2020. Bill 184 is an act to amend the Building Code Act, 1992, the Housing Services Act, 2011 and the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and to enact the Ontario Mortgage and Housing Corporation Repeal Act, 2020. The Ford government has stated that the new law will better protect both Landlords and Tenants.

Mediation is the process of trying to solve disagreements between two parties without having to go to court. Mediation is a form of negotiation that is chaired by a neutral person, called the mediator. The mediator has no personal interest in the outcome of the mediation and is present by the agreement of all the parties.

Premarital discussions can be difficult to have with your partner because who plans for an end to a marriage before it hasn’t even begun? However, sometimes it is prudent for both parties to have these discussions ahead of marriage.

During the pandemic, I took it upon myself to become educated in another area – mediation.

Every successful team relies on a number of players all pulling one another in the same direction to achieve the same goal. Having successful rental properties is no different. Starting with the right team will make the process of owning rental properties easier to manage. A good team consists of many players, from an agent that will help you find and secure the right properties, to a mortgage broker to help you set up the appropriate financing, right down to a property manager.

With the current pandemic, selling or renting a property can be difficult. Selling one that is currently occupied by a tenant is even more challenging. The pandemic has created a shift in how landlords and realtors are able to show homes that are currently listed for sale. Instead of potential buyers getting an in-person walkthrough and inspection, realtors are using photos and creating virtual tours of the property to lure potential clients.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on so many aspects of our lives, including many contracts that were to be executed during this time. Orders implemented by the Province of Ontario prohibiting gatherings of more than five people have impacted the ability to hold events that may have been scheduled quite some time ago. Trade shows, home and craft shows, conferences, fundraising events, hall rentals, wedding vendors and so much more are all impacted at this time.

Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of people that require legal services. With this, there is a need for more affordable legal service providers. This means more and more people are looking towards paralegals to assist them with their legal needs.

Time is money and, when mistakes get added into the equation, things can add up and definitely get costly! There is no exception when it comes to landlord and tenant issues. Dealing with tenants can be stressful at times, especially once legal matters are involved.