Suing for Money Owed
Unpaid invoices, loans, deposits or damages — we draft and issue your Plaintiff's Claim for amounts up to $50,000.
Owed money, or facing a claim of your own? De Palma & Associates represents plaintiffs and defendants in claims up to $50,000 — from your first consultation through settlement, trial and enforcement, anywhere in Ontario.
Tell us about your claim — we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
De Palma & Associates is a team of licensed paralegals with extensive experience across many areas of law. We take the time to understand each client's situation and goals, and we've built a strong reputation with courts, tribunals and fellow legal professionals.
Founded by Christina De Palma — a York University and Humber College graduate, Georgian College professor and LSO CPD speaker — our firm serves Simcoe County in person and clients across Ontario virtually.
Whether you're owed money or defending a claim, our paralegals guide you through every stage — from the first form to the final payment.
Unpaid invoices, loans, deposits or damages — we draft and issue your Plaintiff's Claim for amounts up to $50,000.
Been served? We prepare and file your Defence on time and build your side of the case.
Have a claim of your own against the plaintiff or a third party? We file a Defendant's Claim alongside your defence.
Many claims settle before trial. We negotiate on your behalf and prepare formal offers to settle.
Preparation and representation at the mandatory settlement conference with a judge.
If your case doesn't settle, we prepare your evidence and witnesses and represent you at trial.
Won but haven't been paid? We pursue garnishments, writs of seizure and sale, and examination hearings.
Every form drafted, served and filed correctly, with court deadlines tracked and handled for you.
We review the facts, the amount at stake and your limitation deadline, and explain your options.
We decide together whether to negotiate, file, or defend — and what evidence you'll need.
We draft, issue and serve your Plaintiff's Claim or Defence, correctly and on time.
We prepare your materials and represent you at the mandatory settlement conference.
If the case doesn't settle, we present your evidence and witnesses at trial.
If you win and aren't paid, we pursue garnishment, writs and examination hearings.
Experienced paralegals, cost-effective solutions. Our team knows Small Claims Court procedure inside out, so you get extensive knowledge and expertise on your side.
Flat-rate fees mean you know your total cost upfront — no surprise hourly invoices. Payment plans are available through Affirm, so there's no large retainer to start.
We take care of the complicated parts so you can focus on what matters most to you.
We work closely with you to understand your specific situation and goals.
You stay informed and involved at every step — and we don't charge for communication.
Licensed paralegals with extensive experience, backed by a growing team that collaborates on your matter.
Christina and her team are wonderful to work with! They're very knowledgeable of tenant's rights, and very supportive. Even during a busy holiday season, they were able to answer all of my questions so I had peace of mind, and helped resolve my case in a timely manner. Thank you again to her and her team for all their help!
We cannot say how grateful we are for the services from Sophia and Christina. As landlords trying to navigate a confusing and convoluted system that feels very much in favour of tenants rights and not landlords and owners of the actual property they were always available for a call, an email and next steps. We would 100% recommend de Palma and Associates to anyone who finds themselves as landlords needing legal services. Thank you so much.
Christina De Palma was very effective in resolving a complex eviction situation that had persisted for almost a year. She was consistently professional, knowledgeable and insightful in dealing with the Landlord and Tenant Board. We highly recommend the excellent legal services of the whole De Palma and Associates team.
Many thanks to Christina De Palma for all of her help navigating a stressful and challenging dispute my wife & I found ourselves embroiled in with our tenants. Her expertise helped us resolve our issues in a timely manner, with minimal financial fall out. We highly recommend her firm, and have heard similar positive accounts from several other local landlords who have used De Palma & Associates in the past. Thanks again, C & T from Collingwood
Christina is a dynamo - she knows the Residential Tenancy Act like no other. I appreciate her straightforward insight and deep knowledge of the law. I'm very grateful for her expertise and would not hesitate to recommend her services.
I had to evict a tenant from hell for various behavioural issues. It took about one and half year including a sheriff's visit in its final moments. Christina and her team were very supportive, efficient and professional thru out the long process. I recommend highly her team for any landlord legal needs.
Small Claims Court is a branch of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice that handles civil claims for money or the return of personal property worth up to $50,000, not including interest and costs.
Yes. Paralegals licensed by the Law Society of Ontario can represent plaintiffs and defendants in Small Claims Court, from drafting the claim or defence through to trial and enforcement.
In most cases you have two years from the day you discovered the problem to start a claim, under Ontario's Limitations Act. There are exceptions, so contact us as early as possible.
Act quickly. You generally have 20 days after being served to file a Defence. If you miss the deadline, the plaintiff can ask for default judgment against you.
We offer flat-rate fees, so you know the total cost upfront instead of receiving hourly invoices. Payment plans are available through Affirm, and we don't charge for communication. Court filing fees are separate, and we'll explain them before you commit.
A settlement conference is a mandatory meeting with a judge before trial. It is a chance to settle the case, narrow the issues in dispute and make sure both sides have shared their evidence.
No. We serve clients across Ontario virtually, and many Small Claims Court appearances happen by video. If you prefer to meet in person, we have office in Wasaga Beach.
A judgment is not the end of the road. We can help you enforce it through tools such as wage or bank garnishment, a writ of seizure and sale, or an examination hearing about the debtor's finances.
Tell us about your claim — whether you're owed money or being sued — and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Contact De Palma & Associates today to take control of your legal matters with confidence.