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Who can adopt in Ontario?
- Applicants must be 18 years of
age and over and a resident of Ontario.
- A single person
- A couple, married or common law
- A spouse in the case of a stepparent
adoption
- Two persons jointly as permitted
by the court (including same sex couples)
Do we need a homestudy to adopt
in Ontario?
Yes. All applicants must complete the homestudy
process (SAFE) and an education program (PRIDE). Ontario residents
may have a homestudy completed by a Children's Aid social
worker or pay for a private adoption practitioner to do their
homestudy. The homestudy takes approximately 2 to 4 months
to complete and your social worker will explore a variety
of topics with your family. These topics may include the following:
- Motivation for adopting and understanding
of adoption's life long issues
- Strengths and limitations in parenting
styles/attitudes
- Stability of relationships (with partners,
family, friends) and sources of support
- Financial and employment situation, health
status, lifestyle, home and neighbourhood environments,
interests and hobbies
- Understanding of open and closed adoption
and their implications
- The age, ethnicity, health status and
other characteristics of children that would best match
the applicants.
- Understanding of sharing adoption information
with the child
You will also be required to complete documentation
that includes medical reports, proof of marriage (if applicable),
police clearance reports, child welfare record checks, home
safe checks, letters of reference and a financial statement.
Who must give their consent for
an adoption in Ontario?*
- A birth mother
- A birth father
- A child who is 12 years of age or older
must consent.
* NOTE: Consent for an adoption applies to situations where
biological parents willingly place their child(ren) for adoption.
For children who are crown wards and legally free to be adopted,
the only consents required is from the Minister and the child
(if he/she is 12 years of age or older).
When can a birth parent(s) consent
be given?
The consents can only be signed by birth
parent(s) when the child is 8 days old.
Can adoption consents be withdrawn?
Yes. A birth parent has 21 days after the consent is signed
to revoke consent and have the child returned to them. A consent
to adoption cannot be signed until seven days after the baby's
birth.
What about the rights of birth fathers
in Ontario?
If the birth father is acknowledging paternity,
has lived with or supported the mother, he must also sign
the consent for adoption.
Can prospective adoptive parents
advertise their desire to adopt?
Yes. In Ontario, families who are hoping
to adopt can network and advertise for adoption.
Can the agency
or adoptive family help with a birth parent’s expenses?
No. In Ontario it is illegal for a birth
parent or third party to receive payment for the adoption.
It's illegal for an adoptive parent to give, or offer to give
payment to a birth parent or a non-licensed intermediary.
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