What Is Crown Wardship and Can Parents Still See Their Child in Ontario?

Existing access orders end when the court orders extended society care. When it is ordered, the court can make or vary access only if that is in the child's best interests.

The court must consider whether the relationship is beneficial and meaningful to the child and whether access will impair the child's future adoption opportunities. It must end an access order once it is no longer in the child's best interests. If the child has been placed for adoption and still lives with that family, no access application can be made.

An extended society care order lasts until the court terminates it or it expires when the child turns 18 or marries, whichever comes first. In practice the child stays in society care until a judge changes the order, the child is adopted, or the child turns 18. Before that stage, interim society care is capped at 12 months for a child under six and 24 months if six or older, counting temporary care agreements and earlier time in care unless the child spent five continuous years or more out of care, subject to extensions. Whether an openness order or other contact after adoption is possible depends on the facts, so ask a lawyer.