In Ontario, step-parent adoptions are governed by the Child and Family Services Act. Section 146(2)(c) provides that the court may make an order for the adoption of a child by the spouse of a child’s parent. “Spouse” includes individuals who are married or living in a common law relationship and same sex couples. The step-parent will be considered the Applicant and typically the other biological parent will be named as the Respondent. When a step-parent adopts their spouse’s child, the parental rights of the other biological parent (the non-spouse parent) are terminated. Therefore, that parent’s consent may be required or an order dispensing with the consent of the biological parent may have to be obtained. In some cases the other biological parent may not be known or it may not be in the best interests of the child for that person to have notice of the adoption application. In that case, permission to dispense with consent of a parent will need to be obtained, by means of a court order.