Welcome to JFCY’s Legal Wiki which provides information about the legal rights of children and youth in Ontario. Click here to download this information from our Publications page. Please contact us if you have any questions or trouble finding the information that you seek. You should speak to a lawyer for legal advice since laws often change.
There are no laws on “emancipation” in Ontario.
In other jurisdictions (eg. Quebec and some USA states), there are emancipation laws that allow someone who is 16 years or older apply to a court to be free from the custody and control of their parent(s) or guardian(s).
*Comic with some information, more in the text below:
In general, if you are 16 or 17, you can decide where you want to live and you do not need a legal guardian. You can leave home against the wish of your legal guardian and live somewhere else. If you are living with another person, they will not be charged with a criminal offence as long as they do not assist you in leaving home.
If you are under 16 years old, (or if you and your parents live in another province where the age for leaving home is older), your parents can contact the police to have you returned home if you are living in a place that is not safe; in other words, a place where you are at risk of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or being neglected.
If your parents live apart and both want custody of you but cannot agree on what to do, then they may have to go to court.
If you are under 16, one of your parents can ask the judge in court to appoint the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL)to represent your views and wishes on where you live. You may be able to ask the court to appoint a lawyer for you if your parents refuse to ask for the OCL appointment.
In general, if you are 16 or 17, you can make the decision.
Any person who believes a child under 16 is being harmed or at risk of harm, must make a report to the local Children’s Aid Society (CAS). Harm can be physical, emotional, sexual, or based on neglect.
After a report is received, CAS will usually start an investigation by talking to people who know you to determine if you are in need of protection from harm. CAS may take you into their care if they believe that you are in need of protection; eg. if you are being abused or kicked out. CAS may place you with a relative, in a foster care home, or in a group home. If you have already left home and staying with a person who CAS believes you are safe with, then the CAS may allow you to stay with that person.
If you and your parents cannot get along, and CAS does not believe you are in need of protection, then you may be able to get a Temporary Care Agreement with CAS. This means you can stay in a foster home or a group home for a while and then return home when things get better.
Any person, including you, may make a report to CAS if there is a belief that someone 16 or 17 years old is at risk of harm or facing harm. Harm can be physical, emotional, sexual, or based on neglect.
After a report is received, CAS will usually start an investigation by talking to people who know you to determine if you are in need of protection from harm. If you do not consent to the investigation, the CAS worker will have to decide how much risk you are in and consider other ways to determine safety concerns about you. If you are found to be in need of protection, you can ask CAS for help and enter into a Voluntary Youth Service Agreement (VYSA) with CAS.
16 and 17 year olds who want help, can ask the CAS to enter into a Voluntary Youth Service Agreement (VYSA) with CAS. On a request for a VYSA from the CAS, the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL) will be notified and a lawyer from the OCL will talk to you about your request.
A VYSA is a contract between you and the CAS to receive services. You have a right to consent or refuse to enter into a VYSA; and you can end a VYSA if you no longer want to be part of the agreement. Before signing a VYSA, you will be given a lawyer through the Office of the Children’s Lawyer for legal advice and representation.
If you enter into a VYSA with CAS, a Voluntary Youth Services Plan must be created within 30 days. This plan will include finding you a place to live and provide other supports, such as financial and social supports, planning for transitioning into adulthood, and assisting with developing and/or maintaining cultural connections.
If you are 16 or older and you were forced to leave home, your parents may still have to support you. For example, you are entitled to support if you were kicked out without a very good reason, or you left home because you were abused or being at home was unsafe, unbearable or impossible. Your parents do not have to support you if you are 16 or 17, and left home on your own free will.
Your parents must make sure that you have food, clothes and a place to live. Otherwise, they must provide enough money to get these necessities for you.
You can apply for a Legal Aid Certificate from Legal Aid Ontario to pay a lawyer to help you seek child support from your parents. The amount of support you will get is based on your parents’ income, not on what you need. In general, your parents must provide support until you are 18 years old or longer if you are enrolled in a full-time educational program.
If you have withdrawn from parental control (voluntarily or involuntarily), you have a right to take all of your personal property with you whether you bought it yourself or it was given to you as a gift. This includes all identification such as your health card, birth certificate and passport. These documents are very important and you should take them with you. If your parents are refusing to let you take your own property, you can contact the police or a lawyer for help. Sometimes a family member or friend can help pick up your property for you.
Your parents can be sued in court for not returning your personal belongings. For legal advice, you can call Justice for Children and Youth.
The letter below is one that a youth worker, or other person, could send to your parent(s) to help you get your belongings:
<date>
Dear ________,
I am ________. I was consulted by ______regarding their personal belongings that are currently in your possession. On their behalf, I request the return of the following items:
These items are their legal property. You have no legal authority to withhold them. It is important that they have their identity documents.
We ask that you arrange to have ______’s documents securely returned to this address: (provide address)
If we do not hear from you by ______<insert date>, I will be contacting a lawyer to give _______ legal advice in respect of the legal actions available to seek the return of their property.
Yours, {signature}
<name and title, if applicable>
Yes, you have the right to keep going to school; the law says you must go to school until you are 18 years old or have graduated from high school. If you are 16 years old and have withdrawn from parental control (voluntarily or involuntarily) then you can attend school in the school board district where you live and you will have all the same rights as an 18 year old, for example: you do not need a legal guardian to register for school.
The school will need proof of your new address and you may have to show some proof that you have withdrawn from parental control. For example, they may ask how you are supporting yourself. You should call Justice for Children and Youth if the school is refusing to register you.
You may need to write a letter to the school or Principal to make sure that you are signed up independently, especially if you want your school information to be kept private from your parent/guardian. Sample letter:
<your name and full address>
<Principal’s name and full school address>
< date>
Dear Principal ________,
My name is ________. I am writing this letter to inform you that I have withdrawn from parental control. This letter has information about my independent living situation so the school can provide appropriate supports if I need them and so that the school can respect my rights under the Education Act.
The legal information in this letter is from Justice for Children and Youth, a legal clinic in Toronto that provides legal assistance to young people in Ontario; their website is www.jfcy.org.
In Ontario, a person who is 16 or 17 years old has the legal right to withdraw from parental control. This usually means that the young person is not living with their parents. There is no court process involved. There are no court documents or official documents required. Once the young person has left home, the parent’s custody rights are immediately terminated.
The Education Act recognizes and respects students who have withdrawn from parental control. The Education Act treats students who have withdrawn from parental control differently from other students in certain ways. For example, students who have withdrawn from parental control:
By default, only parents and students can access a student’s OSR. But when a student withdraws from parental control, the parent no longer has a right to access the student’s OSR. Section.266(11) of the Education Act views a parent as a person who has custody of the student. But no one has custody of a student who has withdrawn from parental control. Therefore, no one else is entitled to access the OSR other than the student.
In my case, I am now living separately and independently from my parents. I have made an independent decision to attend your school. I ask that you respect my legal right to withdraw from parental control and to not share any information about me with anyone else.
Thank you for supporting me by respecting my rights under the Education Act.
Sincerely,
{Student Signature}
<Student Name>
Yes, you are legally entitled to rent your own apartment. If you are receiving social assistant (Ontario Works / OW), your worker has the right to approve where you live.
It is against the law for a landlord to refuse to rent to you because you are 16 or 17. It is also against the law to refuse to rent to you because you are receiving OW.
In general, you can to see a healthcare practitioner and make your own decisions at any age as the law deems you to be “capable” unless the healthcare practitioner says you are “incapable”. If you are found incapable, your “substitute decision-maker” will be asked to make decisions for you. This is often your parent(s).
At the age of 16 and up, you can write a Power of Attorney for Personal Care to choose who your substitute decision-maker is. For more information and a Power of Attorney Kit with forms to complete visit: www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/family/pgt/incapacity/poa.php
See also the Health and Mental Health sections that cover Consent & Privacy and Decisions & Capacity.
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) provides unique rights and procedures for young people between the ages of 12 - 17 who are charged with a criminal offence in Canada.
Going to school is a legal requirement for young people between the ages of 6 and 17. The Education Act gives parents and children specific rights in the publicly funded school system.
In Ontario, you can choose where you live when you are 16 years old. The decision to leave is often not easy and can lead to difficulties in getting all your belongings, having enough money to support yourself and attending school.
There are no laws on “emancipation” in Ontario.
In other jurisdictions (eg. Quebec and some USA states), there are emancipation laws that allow someone who is 16 years or older apply to a court to be free from the custody and control of their parent(s) or guardian(s).
*Comic with some information, more in the text below:
In general, if you are 16 or 17, you can decide where you want to live and you do not need a legal guardian. You can leave home against the wish of your legal guardian and live somewhere else. If you are living with another person, they will not be charged with a criminal offence as long as they do not assist you in leaving home.
If you are under 16 years old, (or if you and your parents live in another province where the age for leaving home is older), your parents can contact the police to have you returned home if you are living in a place that is not safe; in other words, a place where you are at risk of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or being neglected.
If your parents live apart and both want custody of you but cannot agree on what to do, then they may have to go to court.
If you are under 16, one of your parents can ask the judge in court to appoint the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL)to represent your views and wishes on where you live. You may be able to ask the court to appoint a lawyer for you if your parents refuse to ask for the OCL appointment.
In general, if you are 16 or 17, you can make the decision.
Any person who believes a child under 16 is being harmed or at risk of harm, must make a report to the local Children’s Aid Society (CAS). Harm can be physical, emotional, sexual, or based on neglect.
After a report is received, CAS will usually start an investigation by talking to people who know you to determine if you are in need of protection from harm. CAS may take you into their care if they believe that you are in need of protection; eg. if you are being abused or kicked out. CAS may place you with a relative, in a foster care home, or in a group home. If you have already left home and staying with a person who CAS believes you are safe with, then the CAS may allow you to stay with that person.
If you and your parents cannot get along, and CAS does not believe you are in need of protection, then you may be able to get a Temporary Care Agreement with CAS. This means you can stay in a foster home or a group home for a while and then return home when things get better.
Any person, including you, may make a report to CAS if there is a belief that someone 16 or 17 years old is at risk of harm or facing harm. Harm can be physical, emotional, sexual, or based on neglect.
After a report is received, CAS will usually start an investigation by talking to people who know you to determine if you are in need of protection from harm. If you do not consent to the investigation, the CAS worker will have to decide how much risk you are in and consider other ways to determine safety concerns about you. If you are found to be in need of protection, you can ask CAS for help and enter into a Voluntary Youth Service Agreement (VYSA) with CAS.
16 and 17 year olds who want help, can ask the CAS to enter into a Voluntary Youth Service Agreement (VYSA) with CAS. On a request for a VYSA from the CAS, the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL) will be notified and a lawyer from the OCL will talk to you about your request.
A VYSA is a contract between you and the CAS to receive services. You have a right to consent or refuse to enter into a VYSA; and you can end a VYSA if you no longer want to be part of the agreement. Before signing a VYSA, you will be given a lawyer through the Office of the Children’s Lawyer for legal advice and representation.
If you enter into a VYSA with CAS, a Voluntary Youth Services Plan must be created within 30 days. This plan will include finding you a place to live and provide other supports, such as financial and social supports, planning for transitioning into adulthood, and assisting with developing and/or maintaining cultural connections.
If you are 16 or older and you were forced to leave home, your parents may still have to support you. For example, you are entitled to support if you were kicked out without a very good reason, or you left home because you were abused or being at home was unsafe, unbearable or impossible. Your parents do not have to support you if you are 16 or 17, and left home on your own free will.
Your parents must make sure that you have food, clothes and a place to live. Otherwise, they must provide enough money to get these necessities for you.
You can apply for a Legal Aid Certificate from Legal Aid Ontario to pay a lawyer to help you seek child support from your parents. The amount of support you will get is based on your parents’ income, not on what you need. In general, your parents must provide support until you are 18 years old or longer if you are enrolled in a full-time educational program.
If you have withdrawn from parental control (voluntarily or involuntarily), you have a right to take all of your personal property with you whether you bought it yourself or it was given to you as a gift. This includes all identification such as your health card, birth certificate and passport. These documents are very important and you should take them with you. If your parents are refusing to let you take your own property, you can contact the police or a lawyer for help. Sometimes a family member or friend can help pick up your property for you.
Your parents can be sued in court for not returning your personal belongings. For legal advice, you can call Justice for Children and Youth.
The letter below is one that a youth worker, or other person, could send to your parent(s) to help you get your belongings:
<date>
Dear ________,
I am ________. I was consulted by ______regarding their personal belongings that are currently in your possession. On their behalf, I request the return of the following items:
These items are their legal property. You have no legal authority to withhold them. It is important that they have their identity documents.
We ask that you arrange to have ______’s documents securely returned to this address: (provide address)
If we do not hear from you by ______<insert date>, I will be contacting a lawyer to give _______ legal advice in respect of the legal actions available to seek the return of their property.
Yours, {signature}
<name and title, if applicable>
Yes, you have the right to keep going to school; the law says you must go to school until you are 18 years old or have graduated from high school. If you are 16 years old and have withdrawn from parental control (voluntarily or involuntarily) then you can attend school in the school board district where you live and you will have all the same rights as an 18 year old, for example: you do not need a legal guardian to register for school.
The school will need proof of your new address and you may have to show some proof that you have withdrawn from parental control. For example, they may ask how you are supporting yourself. You should call Justice for Children and Youth if the school is refusing to register you.
You may need to write a letter to the school or Principal to make sure that you are signed up independently, especially if you want your school information to be kept private from your parent/guardian. Sample letter:
<your name and full address>
<Principal’s name and full school address>
< date>
Dear Principal ________,
My name is ________. I am writing this letter to inform you that I have withdrawn from parental control. This letter has information about my independent living situation so the school can provide appropriate supports if I need them and so that the school can respect my rights under the Education Act.
The legal information in this letter is from Justice for Children and Youth, a legal clinic in Toronto that provides legal assistance to young people in Ontario; their website is www.jfcy.org.
In Ontario, a person who is 16 or 17 years old has the legal right to withdraw from parental control. This usually means that the young person is not living with their parents. There is no court process involved. There are no court documents or official documents required. Once the young person has left home, the parent’s custody rights are immediately terminated.
The Education Act recognizes and respects students who have withdrawn from parental control. The Education Act treats students who have withdrawn from parental control differently from other students in certain ways. For example, students who have withdrawn from parental control:
By default, only parents and students can access a student’s OSR. But when a student withdraws from parental control, the parent no longer has a right to access the student’s OSR. Section.266(11) of the Education Act views a parent as a person who has custody of the student. But no one has custody of a student who has withdrawn from parental control. Therefore, no one else is entitled to access the OSR other than the student.
In my case, I am now living separately and independently from my parents. I have made an independent decision to attend your school. I ask that you respect my legal right to withdraw from parental control and to not share any information about me with anyone else.
Thank you for supporting me by respecting my rights under the Education Act.
Sincerely,
{Student Signature}
<Student Name>
Yes, you are legally entitled to rent your own apartment. If you are receiving social assistant (Ontario Works / OW), your worker has the right to approve where you live.
It is against the law for a landlord to refuse to rent to you because you are 16 or 17. It is also against the law to refuse to rent to you because you are receiving OW.
In general, you can to see a healthcare practitioner and make your own decisions at any age as the law deems you to be “capable” unless the healthcare practitioner says you are “incapable”. If you are found incapable, your “substitute decision-maker” will be asked to make decisions for you. This is often your parent(s).
At the age of 16 and up, you can write a Power of Attorney for Personal Care to choose who your substitute decision-maker is. For more information and a Power of Attorney Kit with forms to complete visit: www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/family/pgt/incapacity/poa.php
See also the Health and Mental Health sections that cover Consent & Privacy and Decisions & Capacity.
Become informed about your legal rights when it comes to decisions about your healthcare and mental healthcare treatment. This includes any procedure carried out or prescribed by a health practitioner to diagnose or treat a physical or mental health condition.
The Ontario Human Rights Code protects you from discrimination on many grounds and in many social areas. Specific legal concerns raised by youth identifying in LGBTQI2S communities are about GSAs, Trans and Gender Inclusive Spaces and changing their ID.
You can be given a ticket for breaking a provincial law if you are over the age of 16. Some of the common laws that young people are given tickets for is covered in this section.
In family law, the rights of children are unique. Become informed about going into and being in the care of a Children's Aid Society, when parents can assault you (corporal punishment / spanking exemption to assault), and your right to be heard when your parents are splitting up.
JFCY's Childhood Arrivals and Support & Advocacy Program (CASA) provides services to young people who arrived in Canada as children and are living in Ontario without immigration status.
Street Youth Legal Services (SYLS) is a program that provides information and services for homeless youth between the ages of 16 - 25. These are some of the common issues that the SYLS lawyer is asked about.
