Services – Florence Legal Services

Our Services

Ontario Small Claims Court is a division of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that handles civil cases for claims of money or personal property up to $50,000, not including interest and costs. The Small Claims Court provides an efficient and cost-effective forum for Ontarians to resolve civil disputes.
Disputes commonly resolved in Small Claims Court include:
Claims for unpaid goods or services, loans, and rent, as well as non-sufficient funds (NSF) cheques.
The return of personal property or for damages to personal property.
Breach of contract: Claims for damages resulting from a contract that was not fulfilled.
Poor workmanship
Personal injuries: Claims for damages related to personal injuries.
As a paralegal, Florence Legal Services can represent individuals before the Small Claims court. Whether you require assistance as the Plaintiff or the Defendant, we have the knowledge and expertise you will need to prove or defend the matter.

As a creditor, you may have to enforce the judgment. In order for you to collect, the debtor must have one of the following:
Money
Assets that can be seized and sold
A debt owing to the debtor by a third party (e.g. a bank account, employment income) that can be garnished.
It is important to know which type of enforcement that will be most appropriate based on the court judgment.
If you’re unsure about the debtor’s financial situation, we can assist you in the process of requesting a Judgment Debtor Examination. This is a court-ordered process that involves the debtor to appear in the Small Claims Court, and to go before the court to answer questions under Oath, including the disclosure of income, assets, and liabilities. The purpose of the Examination is to determine the best method of Enforcement to obtain your funds.

If the debtor is employed, or they have a bank account, we can help you issue a Notice of Garnishment to garnish the employment wages or bank account funds.
Writ of Seizure and Sale
If the debtor owns property, you can file a Writ of Seizure and Sale with the court. This allows the sheriff to:
Seize and sell personal property (e.g., vehicles, equipment)
Register the writ against land, which can block sales or refinancing
Writ of Delivery or Possession
If your judgment involves the return of specific property (not money), a Writ of Delivery can compel the debtor to return it. This is often used in cases involving leased or loaned items. If you have obtained an Order from the Small Claims Court or the Landlord and Tenant Board, Florence Legal Services can offer assistance in enforcing the Order, assisting you in receiving what is owed to you.

The Landlord and Tenant Board is a tribunal, which means they are given their powers by statutes (laws). The Landlord Tenant Board handles disputes between landlords and tenants in the Province of Ontario and has exclusive jurisdiction over all issues pertaining to residential tenancies. Proceedings before the Landlord Tenant Board can result in an Oder. Orders made by the Landlord Tenant Board can be enforced by the courts.
If you have been given a notice, or application, it is important for you to understand exactly what the document means, and how you should respond to it. Florence Legal Services represents landlords, and tenants, including organizations and Co-operatives.
Common Landlord-Tenant cases include:
Non-payment of rent
Persistently late rental payments
Interference with the right to reasonable enjoyment
Maintenance of the rental unit
Evictions for the landlord’s own use
Unlawful evictions
Unauthorized Occupants

A Provincial offence is a non-criminal offense that violates a provincial statute or regulation, or a municipal by-law, and is governed by the Provincial Offences Act (POA) in Ontario. Examples include traffic violations such as speeding, or entering a prohibited area, which is covered under the Trespass to Property Act, or Municipal infractions such as excessive noise, and violations of other Provincial laws such as the Liquor Licence Act.
Florence Legal Services offers paralegal representation in a variety of Provincial Offences, with the predominate being traffic violations under the Highway Traffic Act. Minor tickets might only have minor consequences, but serious offenses can have severe penalties.
If not properly handled, a traffic offence conviction may result in fines, demerit points staying on your driving record for several years, an increase in your car insurance premiums, and sometimes even a driver’s license suspension. The long-term financial and personal impacts can be significant, making it important to understand your options for contesting the ticket.

Florence Legal Services offers the service of a notary public. A Notary Public’s position is to administer oaths, affirmations, and declarations by acting as an impartial witness to authenticate legal documents, by verifying a person's identity, witnessing signatures, and certifying that a document is a true copy of an original.
Common documents that may require to be notarized
Statutory declarations
Wills, deeds, trusts
Medical documents
Power of attorney

A Commissioner of Oaths is an individual authorized by provincial/territorial law to witness signatures and administer oaths, affirmations, or declarations on documents such as affidavits, statutory declarations, and pension papers. They verify the identity of the person signing but do not certify the truth of the content.
Common documents that may require commissioning:
Affidavits for court proceedings
Loan forms, insurance claims
ODSP or Ontario Works applications

A Canadian Record Suspension (formerly known as a pardon) seals your criminal record, keeping the convictions “separate and apart” from a criminal record search in the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database. It doesn't erase the conviction, but it does “hide it”, thereby meaning your record will come back clean on standard background checks.
A Record Suspension can assist with employment, housing, volunteer opportunities, or to remove any stigmatization that one may feel with a criminal record. In effect, a record suspension is a formal way to demonstrate you've rehabilitated and reintegrated into society, allowing you to move forward in life and put your past behind you.

A U.S. Entry Waiver (Form I-192) allows individuals deemed inadmissible—typically due to criminal records, immigration violations, or misrepresentation—to legally enter the United States. Obtaining an I-192 waiver to travel to the United States will require fingerprints (we provide this service) and we can also help you with the US Entry Waiver application process. At Florence Legal Services, we offer a confidential setting where your individual rights and privacy are assured.

888-609-4414