When can I adopt another family member?

• You have remarried and want to adopt your step-child. This is called a step-parent adoption.
• Someone in the family can no longer care for their child. You want to adopt that child. This is called a relative adoption. According to the legislation, a relative is a:
  • grandparent
  • uncle or great uncle
• aunt or great aunt

You don't have to be related to the child by blood. For example, you could adopt a child of your spouse's sister.

How do I adopt a family member?

• If you live in Ontario:

  If you, the birth parents and the child are all residents of Ontario, you apply to an Ontario Family Court. To find out how to do this, visit the Ontario Court Services website. Or, you can ask a lawyer to help you.

  You might also want to talk to an adoption practitioner or an adoption agency that is licensed by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services. These people are familiar with the steps for adopting a child.

• If the child lives outside of Canada

  If the child you want to adopt lives in another country, you have to following the same process that you follow for an international adoption.

What if you are related in a way that is different from the legal definition?

If you want to adopt an Ontario child who is related to you, but in a way that is different from the legal definition, you have to follow the same steps as all other adoptions:

• have a homestudy done
• involve an adoption practitioner
• get approval by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.