ASAgent Santé#hospital ADSQAgent de sécurité Québec#security AAAgent Ambulancier#paramedic APAgent Policier#police APOAgent Pompier#pompier
Espace à louerVotre annonce iciAnnoncez ici Espace à louerVotre annonce iciAnnoncez ici

After a DPJ report: the steps

After a report, the DPJ analyzes the situation, decides whether to retain the report, then assesses the child's situation if it does. The Youth Protection Act frames each step: 48 hours at most for immediate protection measures, 60 days for a short-term agreement, one year for an agreement on voluntary measures. Choose below the step you are at.

Checked November 2, 2026.

Where are you in the process?

Choose your step. The tool explains what happens, the time limit set by the Act, your rights and the section that applies. The second part gives the maximum length of a placement by the child's age.

The tool requires JavaScript. The steps are also described below.

Time limits set by the Act

StepMaximum lengthSection
Immediate protection measures48 hours, extendable by the court for up to 5 working days46 and 47
Provisional agreement30 days, extendable once by 30 days47.1
Short-term intervention agreement60 days, not renewable51.3
Time to reach an agreement on voluntary measures10 days, otherwise the DPJ goes to court if the situation is still in danger52
Agreement on voluntary measures1 year per agreement, 3 years for all agreements53

Maximum length of a placement

When the child is entrusted to another living environment, the Act limits the total length of the placement according to the child's age. At the end of that period, if the child must stay there, the DPJ must go to court (section 53.0.1). The court applies the same limits to its orders (section 91.1).

Child's ageMaximum total length
Under 212 months
2 to 518 months
6 and over24 months

Your rights during the intervention

Québec.ca lists the main rights of the child and parents throughout the DPJ intervention: to be consulted at every step, to be informed, to be heard by the DPJ and the court, to use a lawyer, to refuse some DPJ decisions (the situation may then go to court), to be accompanied by a person of their choice and to access the child's file, with some exceptions. Section 74.2 allows the child or the parents to go to court when they disagree with a DPJ decision. This guide explains the law. It is not legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

What happens after a report to the DPJ?

The DPJ makes a brief analysis and decides whether to retain the report. If it is retained, the DPJ assesses the child's situation and decides whether the child's security or development is in danger. If so, it offers an agreement or goes to court.

Does a report always lead to a placement?

No. According to Québec.ca, the DPJ and the court favour keeping the child at home when it is in the child's interest. A report may also not be retained, or the assessment may find that the situation is not in danger.

How long do immediate protection measures last?

48 hours at most, under section 46. Beyond that, the agreement of the parents and of a child aged 14 or over is needed, or a court decision.

Can we refuse an agreement with the DPJ?

Yes. Parents and a child aged 14 or over may refuse a provisional agreement, a short-term agreement or an agreement on voluntary measures. If the situation is still in danger, the DPJ must then go to court.

Can a DPJ decision be challenged?

Yes. Section 74.2 allows the child or the parents to go to court if they disagree with a DPJ decision, including on whether the situation is in danger or on the chosen orientation.

Sources