JFCY represented a 17 year-old transgender youth who sought to have her name changed. The Change of Name Act in Ontario requires parental consent for a person under the age of 18 who seeks a name change, or the young person can make an application to the court who can then authorize the name change if it’s in the best interests of the child. In this case, the parent refused to accept the youth’s gender identity and the youth had left home, was living elsewhere and had withdrawn from parental control.
The court found that no person had custody of the youth and therefore, no consent of a parent was required. The name change was granted.
Ontario Court of Justice decision
