Can a former stepparent apply for parenting time after separating from the child's parent?

A former stepparent isn't the child's legal parent just by virtue of the relationship with the biological or adoptive parent, so they don't automatically have the same standing as a parent to seek parenting time or decision-making responsibility. But Ontario's parenting law does allow a non-parent to apply for parenting time or contact where they can show they had a genuine, settled relationship with the child - often described as standing "in the place of a parent" - and that continuing contact serves the child's best interests.

What matters is the reality of the relationship, not the label: how long the stepparent lived with the child, whether they took on a parenting role such as attending school events or making day-to-day decisions, and how the child understood that relationship. A stepparent who was in the household only briefly, or who had little direct involvement with the child, has a much weaker case than one who effectively co-parented for years. If you're a former stepparent considering this, gather evidence of your actual role in the child's life and get legal advice early, since establishing standing is often the first real hurdle in these applications.