Office of the Children's Lawyer in Ontario Parenting Cases

Published October 5, 2026 · Meysami Law Professional Corp. · Ottawa

The Office of the Children's Lawyer is an independent law office within Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General. In parenting, contact and decision-making cases, a court may request its involvement when information about a child's views, preferences or circumstances may assist. The OCL does not automatically accept every request, does not act as a parent's lawyer and does not make the judge's final decision.

Understand the services the OCL may provide

Ontario states that the OCL may assign a lawyer to represent a child, a clinician—usually a social worker—to meet with the family and prepare a report, or both. A lawyer generally advances a position consistent with the child's views and preferences, while a clinician preparing a Children's Lawyer Report may make recommendations about the child's best interests. The appropriate service depends on the referral and the OCL's assessment.

A parent asks the court; the court asks the OCL

The OCL generally does not become involved in a parenting case before it is in court. A party may ask the judge to make an order requesting OCL involvement in a dispute about parenting time, contact or decision-making responsibility. A request is not an acceptance and does not guarantee a particular professional, report or timeline.

Complete the ordinary OCL intake within 14 days

Ontario's current instructions say that, after the court makes the request order, each party must complete a separate Parenting and Contact Orders OCL Intake Form and send it to the OCL within 14 days. Answer every question, use 'not applicable' where appropriate, and follow the current delivery instructions. Preserve the order, proof of delivery and a copy of the completed form.

Prepare for acceptance or a declined request

If the OCL accepts, it will assign a lawyer, clinician or both and provide further instructions. If it declines, its involvement ends and the parties return to court at the next appearance; Ontario says a party may request a review of the decision. Continue complying with existing orders and court dates while the decision is pending, and do not tell a child that the OCL will participate before acceptance is confirmed.

Do not confuse representation, a full report and a Voice of the Child report

A child's lawyer does not file the same kind of report as a clinician. A full clinician report can involve interviews, other information and recommendations. A Voice of the Child report is narrower: Ontario says it summarizes a child's statements, typically for children over seven, without formal party interviews, observation visits, collateral information or recommendations. The court identifies the specific issues for that report.

Keep the child out of adult litigation strategy

The child's views are one factor in the best-interests analysis, not a vote that decides the case. Avoid coaching, repeated questioning or asking the child to carry documents or messages. Organize a concise chronology, current orders, parenting proposals and relevant records for the professional who is assigned. The judge—not the OCL, lawyer or clinician—makes the final parenting decision.

This article is general information as of October 5, 2026, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and circumstances can change. Contacting the firm does not create a lawyer-client relationship.