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Richmond Hill’s Trusted Paralegal Firm Since 1994
Judi Simms Paralegal Professional Corporation provides paralegal services in Richmond Hill, Ontario, from our office at 41 Regent Street. Our team of six handles immigration matters, Small Claims Court claims and defences, and landlord and tenant disputes before the Landlord and Tenant Board. We have served Richmond Hill and York Region since 1994.
Judi Simms is a licensed paralegal and member of the Law Society of Ontario, a full member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, and has served as President of the Paralegal Society of Canada since 2008. With a Master’s Degree in English, teaching experience, small business ownership, and certification in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Windsor Law School, Judi brings a breadth of knowledge and real-world perspective to every case that few practitioners in the region can match.
Our team of six skilled legal professionals — including a fully licensed immigration consultant and dedicated support staff — is committed to one guiding principle: Service First. That means prompt communication, thorough preparation, and dedicated representation from your first consultation through to the resolution of your matter.
Richmond Hill’s Paralegal Firm of Choice
Richmond Hill is one of York Region’s most vibrant and diverse communities, home to a large and growing population that reflects the multicultural character of the broader GTA. With established Chinese, Iranian, South Korean, and South Asian communities, a thriving small business sector, and one of the most active real estate markets in Ontario, the legal needs of Richmond Hill residents are as varied as the community itself.
Since 1994, Judi Simms Paralegal has grown alongside Richmond Hill — serving the newcomer families putting down roots in the city, the landlords and tenants navigating its competitive rental market, the small business owners pursuing or defending claims in court, and the long-established residents who need trusted legal support for life’s unexpected challenges.
We are not a distant firm offering generic services to clients across the GTA. We are your neighbours — present in this community, invested in its people, and proud to have served generations of Richmond Hill families and businesses for over three decades.
Our international partnerships with agencies in Romania, Moldova, Hungary, and Iran, and our connections to educational institutions in Canada and abroad, further extend our ability to serve Richmond Hill’s global community — including the foreign students and newly arrived families who continue to make this city their home.
Our Services for Richmond Hill Clients
Immigration Law
Immigration is at the core of what we do — and in Richmond Hill, it reflects the daily reality of a significant portion of our community. Whether you are a newcomer taking your first steps in the Canadian immigration system, a permanent resident sponsoring a spouse or parent, a temporary foreign worker pursuing a path to permanency, or someone facing a serious immigration challenge, our licensed immigration consultants are here to guide you with expertise, care, and a genuine commitment to your outcome.
We provide Richmond Hill clients with comprehensive immigration services, including:
- Permanent residency and Express Entry applications
- Provincial Nominee Programs (all provinces and territories)
- Spousal and parental sponsorship
- Parent and grandparent Super Visas
- Student visas and study permits
- Temporary resident visas and permits
- Work permits and LMIA applications
- Refugee and humanitarian and compassionate claims
- Pre-Removal Risk Assessments (PRRA)
- Detention reviews
- Immigration appeals before the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada
- Citizenship applications and PR card renewals
- Revocation of landed immigrant status
Our team has successfully represented clients before Immigration and Refugee Board Tribunals and various courts and tribunals throughout Ontario. We also maintain international partnerships and contacts within educational institutions worldwide — resources that allow us to serve Richmond Hill’s diverse newcomer population with a depth of reach that few local firms can offer.
Small Claims Court
Since October 1, 2025, Ontario’s Small Claims Court limit has stood at $50,000 — making it the most accessible and cost-effective venue for resolving a wide range of personal and business disputes without the complexity and expense of Superior Court litigation. For Richmond Hill residents and business owners, this is a significant opportunity.
Whether you are pursuing an unpaid debt, seeking compensation for property damage, disputing a contractor’s shoddy workmanship, or defending against an unfounded claim, Judi Simms Paralegal has the experience to guide your case from evaluation through to resolution. With the court’s growing emphasis on professional representation, thorough documentation, and evidence-based proceedings, having a qualified paralegal in your corner is no longer just an advantage — it is a meaningful factor in the outcome of your case.
Our Small Claims Court services for Richmond Hill clients include:
- Comprehensive case evaluation and honest strategic advice
- Preparation of all claim forms, defences, and supporting court documentation
- Evidence gathering, organization, and strategic presentation
- Representation at settlement conferences, motions, and trials
- Mediation and negotiated settlement support
Richmond Hill clients benefit not only from our legal expertise but from our proximity — we are right here in the community, available to meet with you, review your documents, and prepare your case with the attention it deserves.
Landlord and Tenant Matters
Richmond Hill’s real estate market is among the most active in York Region, with a large and growing rental sector that includes purpose-built rental units, basement apartments, townhouses, and investment condominiums throughout the city. As rental activity continues to grow, so do the landlord and tenant disputes that require resolution before the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).
Ontario’s rental legislation changed substantially under Bill 60, passed in November 2025. Richmond Hill landlords and tenants need to understand these updates clearly before taking action:
- Landlords may now apply to the LTB for eviction due to non-payment of rent within 7 days of serving an N4 Notice, reduced from the previous 14-day period
- Fixed-term leases no longer automatically convert to month-to-month tenancies at expiry, giving landlords the ability to negotiate new lease terms
- Landlords issuing an N12 Notice for personal use are no longer required to provide one month’s rent compensation, but must provide the tenant with 120 days’ notice
- The LTB appeal period has been shortened from 30 to 15 days
- Stricter evidentiary standards and compressed processing times mean that preparation quality directly affects hearing outcomes
As a Richmond Hill firm representing both landlords and tenants, we are acutely aware of the local rental landscape and the specific challenges it presents. Whether you are a landlord seeking to recover unpaid rent, initiate an eviction, or navigate a fixed-term lease renewal under the new rules, or a tenant who has received an unexpected notice and needs to understand your rights, our team is ready to help.
Our landlord and tenant services include:
- Preparation and review of all required LTB forms, notices, and applications
- Lease agreement review and strategic guidance
- Representation at all LTB hearings
- Guidance on eviction proceedings and tenant defences
- Advice on rent arrears, maintenance disputes, illegal rent increases, and quiet enjoyment issues
Additional Legal Services
Richmond Hill clients have full access to our complete range of supplementary legal and professional services:
- Notarization — certified notarization of affidavits, statutory declarations, and official documents for immigration, legal, business, and personal purposes
- Commissioner of Oaths — Judi Simms is a Commissioner of Oaths authorized to administer oaths and verify documents in all forums, with trained support staff available for timely, accessible service throughout Richmond Hill
- Translation Services — professional document translation for immigration, legal, business, and personal contexts, formatted to satisfy official requirements. Given Richmond Hill’s linguistic diversity, our translation services are among the most frequently requested in our practice
- Contract Review and Negotiation — clear, practical guidance on contract terms, obligations, and enforceability for Richmond Hill homeowners, small business owners, and individuals entering into significant personal or commercial agreements
- Mediation — Judi Simms is a trained mediator certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution through the University of Windsor Law School, offering professional mediation for business disputes, civil matters, and family conflicts as a practical, cost-effective alternative to formal legal proceedings
Frequently Asked Questions from Richmond Hill Clients
Since 1994 — over 30 years of continuous practice in Richmond Hill and York Region.
Our core practice areas are immigration law, Small Claims Court, and landlord and tenant matters. We also offer notarization, Commissioner of Oaths services, professional translation, contract review and negotiation, and mediation. If you are unsure whether your matter falls within our scope, contact us — we are happy to discuss your situation and point you in the right direction if we are not the right fit.
As of October 1, 2025, the Small Claims Court monetary limit in Ontario is $50,000. This is a significant increase from the previous limit and means a wider range of disputes can now be resolved through this more accessible and cost-effective venue.
Three changes matter most. For N4 notices given on or after September 21, 2026, the termination date can be no earlier than the 7th day, down from 14. Since July 1, 2026, a request to review an LTB order must be made within 15 days, down from 30. For N12 notices given on or after September 21, 2026 that give at least 120 days’ notice, the landlord no longer owes one month’s rent as compensation.
We guarantee that if our staff cannot address your inquiry immediately, a paralegal will return your call or email within one business day. Prompt communication is a cornerstone of the way we operate.
For immigration tribunal matters, Small Claims Court, and Landlord and Tenant Board proceedings, a licensed paralegal in Ontario is fully authorized to represent you — and can do so with the same professional rigour as a lawyer, often at a lower cost. Judi Simms and her team have handled hundreds of cases across these areas over 30 years of practice. If your matter falls outside a paralegal’s authorized scope, we will tell you honestly and help direct you to the right resource.
We are located at 41 Regent Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9E2. We welcome walk-ins and scheduled appointments, and offer consultations by phone and email for clients who prefer to start that way.
Book a Consultation – Richmond Hill’s Paralegal Firm Since 1994
Judi Simms Paralegal Professional Corporation is proud to call Richmond Hill home. For over 30 years, we have served this community with the dedication, expertise, and personal attention that our clients — and their legal matters — deserve. From immigration hearings to Small Claims Court to the Landlord and Tenant Board, our team is ready to stand beside you and advocate for your best interests.
If you have a legal matter that needs attention, do not wait. The sooner you reach out, the more options you will have.
Call us today at 905-737-9747 Email: jsimms@rogers.com Visit: 41 Regent Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9E2
We respond to all inquiries within one business day. We look forward to helping you.
