Adoption in Ontario

Adoption in Ontario

The process of adoption is legally taking in an individual as your responsibility, usually a child, as your own including all legal rights and obligations that comes with it. 
The are several ways by which a child may be Adopted in Ontario:
1. By a privately licensed individual or adoption agency;
Adopting a child through a private adoption agency is referred to as a private domestic adoption.  All agencies or individuals must obtain a licence through the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services to facilitate a private adoption.  These children are available for adoption because their parents feel they are unable to raise their child and believe that adoption is the best way to provide a good home for the child.  The fees for this process varies.  Contact an adoption licensee for further details. 
2. By a step-parent or other relative;
A step-parent adoption or an adoption by a relative requires an application to be made by the step-parent of the child or the relative of the child to the Ontario Court of Justice or the Superior Court of Justice, Family Court wherein the applicant will request an order for the adoption of the child.  The legislation governing this process can be found in the Child and Family Services Act.  The law requires both the applicant and the child to be residents of Ontario.  An application for adoption can be made for an individual both over and under eighteen years of age. 
This process of adoption may be made on the consent of all of the parties and the child if the child is aged 7 or older.  If the consent of a party is not obtained the Court may consider an order dispensing with the consent of a party if proper notice has been given to that party and if it is determined by the Court to be in the best interests of the child to dispense with consent.  If a party files a dispute to the adoption application a hearing will be required before the Court.  The Court will always make a determination as to whether or not to grant the adoption order based upon the best interests of the child.
If you would like to receive more information with respect to the step-parent or other relative adoption process please contact Mark Borden & Associates.  Our firm can assist you with this process as act as counsel for the Applicant or Respondent in these Court proceedings. 
3. Through a Children’s Aid Society of Ontario;
Adopting a child through a Children’s Aid Society is referred to as a public adoption.  A child is placed for adoption either because their parents have decided to let someone else parent them or a Court of Ontario has decided that the parents are unable to parent the child.  There are not costs associated with adoption a child through a Children’s Aid Society.
4. From a licensed international adoption agency.
If an adoption of a child from another country is sought this is referred to as an international adoption.  You will be required to contact an international adoption agency that is licensed by the Ministry of Children and Your Services to help you facilitate the adoption. Children available via international adoption are usually placed for adoption as a result of socio-economic conditions in their country.  The fees for this process varies.  Contact and international adoption licensee for further details.