I received an access request — how should I respond?

Child and family service providers must respond to access requests within 30 calendar days  and cannot charge fees. In limited cases, you may extend the deadline for a full response by up to 90 days.

If you plan to extend the deadline, you must provide written notice of the time extension and the reason for it, within 30 days of the request.

Granting access means giving the individual a chance to examine the record and giving them a copy on request. A summary of the record is not sufficient.

If you refuse all or part of an individual’s request, you must notify them in writing within 30 days, and inform them of their right to file a complaint about the access decision with the IPC.

Learn more in the IPC’s guide to Providing Access to Personal Information under the CYFSA