Family law services safeguard the child’s well-being and balanced development, for example, when the parents divorce. The services provide assistance with agreements and reports concerning the child in matters related to parenthood, custody and maintenance, among other things.
Establishing parenthood
The purpose of establishing parenthood is to obtain information to verify and confirm paternity or maternity. The establishing investigation most often concerns children born out of wedlock. The establishing of paternity may be accompanied by a forensic genetic paternity test (DNA test).
Custody, right of access and residence of child
The custodians of a child can be both parents jointly, one parent alone or other persons to whom the custody of the child has been confirmed. The parents may agree on the parent with which the child will live with and how the child will meet the other parent. The parents may also agree that the child lives alternately with both parents. An agreement confirmed by a child supervisor is enforceable in the same way as a court decision.
If the parents cannot reach an agreement on the custody, residence or right of access of the child, they can apply for family mediation from a family counselling centre, family matters negotiation centre or district court. Mediation requires the consent of both parents. If the parents are unable to agree on the custody, residence or right of access of the child between themselves, with a child supervisor or through mediation, they may submit the matter to the court.
Child’s maintenance
A child has a right to sufficient maintenance, and the parents have an obligation to take care of this based on their abilities. Maintenance payment is a payment of money by which the non-resident parent contributes to the costs of maintaining the child. The parents may conclude a maintenance agreement with a child supervisor. An agreement confirmed by a child supervisor is enforceable in the same way as a court decision.