
Financial & Legal Resources
None of these services can give you legal advice over the phone, but they may be able to provide general information.
If a legal clinic does not exist in a particular community, a Legal Aid Certificate should still be obtainable. .
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Provides information, advice, and representation on Landlord/Tenant issues, Social Benefits appeals, Assists with affidavit and notarizing documents, and Criminal Injuries Compensation Board. It is also involved in public legal education, and community development activities.
Email: info@nlslm.com
Website: Neighbourhood Legal Services
Address: 910-383 Richmond St., London, Ont. N6A 3C4
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CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario) has developed clear, accurate, and practical legal rights education and information to help people understand and exercise their legal rights. Their work focuses on providing information to people who face barriers to accessing the justice system, including income, disability, literacy, and language. As a community legal clinic and part of Ontario's legal aid system, they work in partnership with other legal clinics and community organizations across the province.
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Community Legal Services, Faculty of Law, Western University is a law student based legal aid clinic that has been serving members of the community since 1969, that provides free legal services and representation. Law students represent clients in the areas of criminal law, family law, landlord tenant, Small Claims Court civil matters, academic appeals, and student Code of Conduct matters. The law students work on cases and represent clients under the direct supervision of a lawyer, (Review Counsel).
Tel: 1-519-661-3352
Website: Western Community Legal Services
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Provides free mediation services to the London and Middlesex County area, for people who wish to resolve their dispute quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
Tel: 519-661-4044
Address: Room 126, Faculty of Law, U.W.O., London, Ont. N6A 3K7
Website: Western Dispute Resolution Centre
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Helps you locate a lawyer in your area and will refer you to a lawyer who knows your first language, if available. They can also refer you to Legal Aid if you qualify.
Telephone: 416-947-3300
TTY: 415-644-4886
Email: lawsociety@lso.ca
Website: Law Society of Ontario
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Pardons Canada is a federal non-profit that assists individuals with removing their past criminal offences from the public record.
Website: Pardons Canada
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Court-attached mediation services are available to individuals seeking to resolve their disputes efficiently and inexpensively. They aim to eliminate much of the confusion in family law. A lawyer walk-in help service is available at the Courthouse.
Address: 651 Talbot St., London, Ont. N6A 2T6
Telephone: 519-673-1219
Website: The Family Mediation Centre
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St. Leonard’s Society of London offers purposeful programs for adults and youth who are or could be in conflict with the law. Their mission is to support, advocate with, and empower individuals who are, or who are at risk of being justice-involved.
Address: 405 Dundas St., London, Ont. N6B 1V9
Telephone: 519-850-3777
Website: St. Leonard’s Society Of London
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Provides approximately 130 pre-recorded tapes on legal concerns. Free tape guide available.
Telephone: 1-800-387-2992
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The Self-Counsel Press sells “how-to” books online, regarding the law. Call for a full publishing list and prices. Prices range from $15-$30 per volume, and some topics include Divorce Guide for Ontario, Power of Attorney Kit, Marriage, Separation, Divorce and Your Rights.
Telephone: 1-800-663-3007
Website: Self-Counsel Press
Empower Yourself With Knowledge
If you want more help with budgeting and saving, LIFE*SPIN offers additional financial education programming on how to build a more secure financial future, including post-secondary education savings.
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If you are unable to pay your credit card debts, if cheques bounce, or you can’t pay your loans and it is impossible to pay the full amount all at once to a collection agency, write a letter to the agency, explaining why, and offer some alternative schedules of repayment. They may review your case every 6 months to see if you can arrange to pay in full.
If they refuse to take monthly payments, call the business to which you owe money, and explain. Collection agencies may not pass along the option of monthly payments to them, but the businesses can enforce the creditor to accept monthly payments.
If you feel that you are being treated unfairly by a collection agency, ask to speak to the manager. If you are still not satisfied, file your complaint, in writing, with the nearest Consumer Services Bureau.
The Collection Agencies Act sets out a code of ethics for Ontario’s collection agencies. The regulations stipulate that collection agencies cannot:
Try to collect a debt without first notifying you, in writing, at the last known address they have been assigned to your account
Initiate legal action on the collection of a debt without first notifying you and obtaining the creditor’s written permission
Contact your friends, employer, relatives, or neighbours for information other than your telephone number or address
Call or visit your home frequently (This is harassment.)
The above information is from the Consumer’s Guide to Collection Agencies, which can be obtained for free from:
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
P.O. Box 5600, Main Floor
80 Dundas St., London, Ont. N6A 1E7
Phone: +15196603000
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Credit Bureaus are private companies that serve retailers, landlords, lending banks, trust companies, etc., by providing them with information about your credit record. This information may be used to verify and access your credit rating.
The rating system goes from R-1 (best) to R-9 (worst). More information is available from the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations.
Many circumstances and situations can affect your credit rating:
Unpaid bills
Bounced Cheques
Having no credit history (i.e. loans or debts paid off, or paid regularly)
Inconsistent employment history
If you want to check your own credit rating, contact Equifax Canada Inc. at their toll-free number: 1-800-465-7166
Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations
P.O. Box 5600, Main Floor 80 Dundas St., London, Ont. N6A 1E7
Phone: 519-660-3000
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There is a “last resort” measure. If the situation is such that there is no possibility of paying your debts, bankruptcy may be an option. There are a number of bankruptcy trustees listed in the yellow pages who offer free initial consultations.
Do not be afraid to ask questions. It is your life and you have a right to make an informed decision about your finances. If you are considering declaring bankruptcy, do not be too hard on yourself. Large corporations and businesses often find themselves in the same situation.
Important points to consider before filing for bankruptcy:
· A bankruptcy trustee will charge roughly $1800 to handle your bankruptcy case. A payment plan can often be arranged. Until this fee is paid, you debt will not be discharged.
· You will most likely lose your income tax and GST rebates for a period of time, depending on individual circumstances.
· If you own your home, you may not have to sell it
· Bankruptcy will destroy your credit rating for seven years
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Ontario Renovates applications are open until the funds are fully allocated.
Financial Assistance Options:
A one-time grant of up to $5,000 for home accessibility modifications.
A one-time forgivable loan up to $15,000 for home repairs. The grant/loan does not have to be repaid, provided that the Homeowner agrees to continue to occupy the dwelling for at least 6 months, commencing on the first day of the month after the final payment is issued for home accessibility modifications. The Homeowner agrees to a forgivable loan, with the loan forgiven at a prorated rate over 10 years for home repairs.
Who is eligible?
Seniors 60 years or older
Persons with disabilities
Families with household member(s) who are a senior or person with a disability may be eligible, if property value and income criteria are also met.
Ontario Renovates has other Housing Programs and Services, including programs for Landlords/Tenants.
Website: Ontario Renovates Program
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Social Assistance Benefits (OW) is not a taxable income. However, if you are working and receive a top-up from OW, your wages are taxable income.
People receiving a top-up from OW will not actually pay income tax on their employment income if it does not exceed the basic income tax exemption of the current fiscal year. In any case, you must file a tax return declaring your income.
If you are a low-wage earner, and too much tax is deducted from your wages, you can have the amount of the deduction reduced. A form called TD1 (E) is available at Revenue Canada, or from your employer. On this form, you and your employer can calculate how much income tax (if any) you will be required to pay. Tax forms for this and prior years are available at Revenue Canada.
If you need help filling the income tax form, Revenue Canada offers a volunteer tax service that operates during the regular tax season. Outside the regular tax season, you may contact LIFE*SPIN, to make an appointment with our Community Volunteer Income Tax Program for up to 10 years of back filing for your taxes.
Revenue Canada
451 Talbot St., London, Ont. N6A 5E5
Phone: 1-800-959-8281
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Open Policy Ontario, a social policy consultancy of John Stapleton, provides an extensive document on how to plan for retirement on low-income. Open Policy Ontario’s website has more information and translations of the package in French, Gujarati, and Simple Traditional Chinese.
Download: Low Income Retirement Planning (Updated 2025
Download: The Council of Aging of Ottawa - Low Income Retirement In Canada (July 2024)
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If you are a single mom who is considering going back to school, this is an educational scholarship valued at $1,500 that you can apply to. Applications are due in the beginning of September every year.
Website: S.W.I.M