1. Understand a parent’s rights and responsibilities

The law gives parents certain rights and responsibilities toward their children. Rights are what the law says you can get. Responsibilities are what the law says you have to do.

Sharing responsibilities

If a judge decides a person is your child's other parent, it means that they share some of the responsibilities you have as a parent. For example, they have a responsibility to financially support your child. They must support your child even if they:

• do not live with your child
• do not see your child
• are not married to you
• did not live with you
• do not have an ongoing relationship with you
• have other children from a new or previous relationship

Financial support may also include your child's right to get a share of the other parent's property after they die.

Sharing rights

But proving a person is your child's biological parent also gives them some of the rights you have as a parent. For example, they might get the right to:

• Ask for parenting time, which used to be called access, so that your child spends time with them.
• Ask for decision-making responsibility, which used to be called custody, so that they can make major decisions for your child. For example, decisions about their education, religion, health care, and important extra-curricular activities.
• Apply for government benefits like parental leave and the Canada Child Benefit.