Chartier v Chartier

Chartier v Chartier

Supreme Court of Canada

Hearing: November 12, 1998(*)
Judgment: January 28, 1999
Citations [1999] 1 S.C.R. 242
Court Membership
Chief Justice: Antonio Lamer
Puisne Justices: Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, Charles Gonthier, Beverley McLachlin, Frank Iacobucci, John C. Major, Michel Bastarache, Ian Binnie, Louise Arbour
Reasons given
Unanimous reasons by Bastarache J.

Chartier v Chartier, 1999 1 S.C.R. 242 is a leading Canadian case decided by the Supreme Court of Canada on the legal role of step parents in a marriage. The Court held that a step parent who is found to be in loco parentis cannot unilaterally withdraw from the family relationship.

Gerald Chartier was married to Sharon Chartier who had a child from a previous marriage. Gerald had helped care for the child and took the role a father. The two were separated and Sharon applied for child support. Gerald had argued that he had severed his in loco parentis role and so was not responsible for supporting the child.

Justice Bastarache, writing for a unanimous Court, held in favour of Sharon and stated that Gerald could not unilaterally sever ties to the child. To determine if a spouse is in the role of parent, the court must look at a number of factors including:

See also

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