Family law services
View connections →The aim of family law services is to secure the child’s wellbeing and balanced development in the event of a divorce and to determine parenthood.
Published by: Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county · Regional organisation
Description language: English
Coverage: Selected municipalities, regions or wellbeing services counties
About this service
Description
Family law services include:
Family mediation
You can seek family mediation in the event of a divorce when you need support in adjusting to a new life situation and agreeing on the child's affairs. Family mediator provides support if there is a dispute over compliance with a decision or agreement on child custody and right of access.
Securing child custody and right of access
Securing child custody and right of access is a service in which a child welfare officer assists parents in making an agreement on their child’s custody and right of access. The child welfare officer draws up an enforceable agreement on the agreed matters.
Securing of child support
Children have the right to adequate support from their parents. Child support is determined based on the child’s need for support. You can make an agreement about child support by visiting a child welfare officer in the child’s place of residence. The child welfare officer confirms your written agreement if it is in the best interests of the child.
Determination of parenthood
Determination of paternity
The purpose of determining paternity is to obtain information that can be used to determine the father of a child. After the child is born, paternity can be determined with a child welfare office if it has not been acknowledged at a maternity and child health clinic. You can also contact a child welfare officer if the child is born during marriage but the husband is not the father.
Determination of maternity
You can acknowledge maternity before the child is born at a maternity clinic. After the child is born, maternity can be acknowledged with a child welfare officer.
Supervision of meetings
A meeting place allows a child and a parent living apart from the child to meet each other in a safe environment. The meeting place can be used for supervised exchanges and supported and supervised meetings.
Adoption counselling
If you wish to adopt a child alone or with your spouse, you (both) need to seek adoption counselling. Adoption counselling is also for parents who consider giving their child for adoption and for children who want to find out more about their adoption.
Reports to the court
In a custody dispute, a social worker prepares, at the request of the court, a report for the social welfare board about the situation of the child and the family.
Conditions
Family law services are for clients of the wellbeing services county. Family mediation services are for couples. Custody, right of access and child support services are for divorced families with children. Paternity determination services are for parents or mothers of children born out of wedlock. Maternity determination services are for mothers who have given their joint consent to fertility treatment after 1 April 2019. Supervised meetings are arranged based on an agreement confirmed by the child welfare supervisor or a court decision. Adoption counselling is provided to clients of the wellbeing services county. Reports to the court are drawn up at the request of the courts.
You can contact family law services on matters relating to securing custody, rights of access and child support and determining paternity and maternity.
Child welfare officers’ telephone counselling is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12.00–13.30, tel. 09 4191 5400.
Appointment booking for child welfare officers is open on Mondays and Wednesdays at 12.30–15.00 and on Fridays at 8.30–11.00, tel. 09 4191 5450.
You can seek family mediation by contacting the counselling service for families with children at 09 4191 5200 and choosing line 2.
If you are looking for supervised meetings, you can contact the meeting place booking and counselling at 050 302 4150.
Reports to the court are prepared at the request of the courts, and becoming a client is through a legal process. The client will be contacted at the start of the reporting process.
Where and how to get help
East and North Family Counselling Centre, Kultasepänkatu · Visit in person
The Family Counselling Centre provides support in questions related to parenting and children’s growth and development.
Description: English · Service languages: Swedish, Finnish
Visit address: Kultasepänkatu 7, 3. krs 04250
Phone: 358 941915200 · Charged
Check the official service page for current hours, exceptions, identification requirements and further contact details.
Kultarikontie Family Law Unit · Visit in person
The unit provides meeting place activities, reports to the court and divorce counselling.
Description: English · Service languages: Swedish, Finnish
Visit address: Kultarikontie 1 A, 2. krs 01300
Homepage →
Check the official service page for current hours, exceptions, identification requirements and further contact details.
East and north family counselling centre, Karsikkokuja · Visit in person
The Family Counselling Centre provides support in questions related to parenting and children’s growth and development.
Description: English · Service languages: Swedish, Finnish
Visit address: Karsikkokuja 17 01360
Phone: 358 941915200 · Charged
Check the official service page for current hours, exceptions, identification requirements and further contact details.
Western Family Counseling Team, Myyrmäki Family Centre · Visit in person
The Family Counselling Centre provides support in questions related to parenting and children’s growth and development.
Description: English · Service languages: Swedish, Finnish
Visit address: Rajatorpantie 8 B, 3. krs 01600
Phone: 358 941915200 · Charged
Check the official service page for current hours, exceptions, identification requirements and further contact details.
Family Law Unit 2* · Visit in person
The unit provides services related to the determination of parenthood, child custody, living arrangements, right of access and child maintenance.
Description: English · Service languages: Swedish, Finnish
Visit address: Vernissakatu 4, 3. krs 01300
Phone: 358 941915400 · Charged
Homepage →
Check the official service page for current hours, exceptions, identification requirements and further contact details.
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