CanadaCan a court order supervised access or deny access entirely?
Yes, a Canadian court can order supervised access or deny access entirely if it determines that unsupervised parenting time would not be in the child’s best interests.
What the Law Says
The Divorce Act gives courts broad authority to tailor parenting arrangements—including access—to protect children’s well-being. Supervised access or denial of access is permitted where necessary to uphold the child’s best interests.
Under section 16 of the Divorce Act, courts may make orders about parenting time (formerly called 'access') and decision-making responsibility. This includes specifying conditions—such as supervision—under which parenting time occurs.
Section 16.1 makes clear that the court’s sole consideration in making any parenting order must be the best interests of the child. The law requires the court to assess the child’s needs and each parent’s ability to meet them—factors that may justify supervision or denial of access where safety, stability, or development is at risk.
Statutory TextCourt may make orders regarding decision-making responsibility and parenting time for children of the marriage.
— Divorce Act, s. 16 — Parenting orders
Statutory TextThe court shall consider only the best interests of the child when making parenting orders, considering the child's needs and each parent's ability to meet them.
— Divorce Act, s. 16.1 — Best interests of child
What to Do
Gather evidence showing risks to the child’s safety or well-being during unsupervised time (e.g., history of violence, substance misuse, or neglect).
File an application for a parenting order—or variation—under the Divorce Act in the appropriate provincial superior court.
Request specific terms: e.g., supervised parenting time with a designated supervisor or third-party agency, or temporary suspension of parenting time pending assessment.
Attend court-ordered assessments (e.g., by a psychologist or social worker) if the court deems them necessary to evaluate the child’s best interests.
Comply with all interim orders while the matter is before the court.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.