Rebuilding the Bond: A Parent’s Right to Parenting Time in Ontario

Family separation sometimes results in a parent becoming absent from a child's life, in some cases, from birth. But prolonged absence does not permanently extinguish a parent's legal right to seek a relationship with their child. Ontario family law is anchored in the best interests of the child, and courts generally recognize that a child benefits from a meaningful connection with both parents.

The Law Office of Natalia Denchik helps parents in Ontario navigate parenting time disputes. Whether you are seeking to re-establish contact with your child, or you are a primary caregiver concerned about how reintroduction should be managed safely and fairly.

A Biological Parent's Right to Re-Establish Contact

Under Ontario's Children's Law Reform Act and the Divorce Act, every parent, including one who has been absent, has the right to apply to the court for parenting time. The court will not automatically deny an application simply because a parent has been out of the child's life for an extended period.

The court will carefully assess the child's current circumstances, the reasons for the absence, the parent's genuine commitment to rebuilding the relationship, and the arrangement that would best serve the child going forward. A parent's willingness to follow a structured, gradual approach carries significant weight in these proceedings.

What a Gradual Parenting Time Schedule Looks Like

All parenting decisions in Ontario are made according to the best interests of the child. The court considers the child's physical, emotional, and psychological well-being, including the benefit of a relationship with both parents.