Divorce or separation

After the divorce, parents can continue to have joint custody of their children. Sometimes, however, it is better that one parent becomes the children's single parent.

A guardian’s duty is to safeguard the child’s development and well-being. The guardian makes decisions on issues such as the child’s upbringing, place of residence and many other matters concerning the child. The guardian also has the right to know about matters concerning the child.

For example, the children can live 

• alternately with the parents 
• permanently with one parent
• permanently in the family’s old home, where the parents live with them alternately.

If the children live alternately with the parents

• the homes must be located close to each other
• the child may only have one official home address. 

If the children live permanently with one parent, agree on how the children can meet the other parent.

Both parents must take care of the child's maintenance also after the divorce or separation.

• If you live alone with your child, you can apply for a single-parent supplement to the child benefit from Kela even if you have joint custody with your former partner.
• If your children do not live with you, you must pay child support.
• If the child lives with you alternately, you will have to agree with your former spouse, which one will apply for the child benefit and any single-parent supplement.
• In cases where children alternate between the homes of the parents, one parent could also be required to pay child support.

You can apply for your children child maintenance allowance from KelaOpens in a new window.. Your children may also receive this allowance if the child support is smaller than the child maintenance allowance.

If you apply for child maintenance allowance for your children, you will need either a maintenance agreement confirmed by the child welfare officer or a court decision on the matter to accompany the application.

• The divorce should be reported to the daycare centre and, in the case of a small child, to the school.
• Think about the need to change access rights to, for example, the children’s bank accounts or the children’s insurance policies or telephone subscriptions.
• Agree on how children's hobby fees will be paid in the future.
• If your child has to change schools, read the instructions on page Change of school during the academic year.

You may have to wait for several months for an appointment with a child welfare officer.

Familiarise yourself carefully with the parenting plan (thl.fi) (in Finnish or Swedish)Opens in a new window. and take the completed plan with you to the meeting with the child welfare officer.

A child in a LGBTI family may only have one legal parent, yet more than two guardians. The child may also have close adults who have no formal relationship with the child.

As a result, divorce or breakup in a LGBTI family may involve more complicated arrangements on the children’s living arrangements, custody and maintenance compared to other forms of family.

For advice, support and information, visit the Sateenkaariperheet.fi websiteOpens in a new window..

Try to maintain a respectful attitude towards the child's other parent and their culture. In this way, you will support the child's multicultural identity and keeping in contact with both parents.

In addition to the child welfare officer of your wellbeing services county, you can also seek information and support from various organisations:

• FamiliaryOpens in a new window. provides advice to families of two cultures online, by telephone and in one-on-one meetings.
• Lastensuojelu.infoOpens in a new window. is a website specifically aimed at immigrant parents, which also contains information on the divorce or separation situations of families with children.
• On the website of Kaapatut LapsetOpens in a new window. you can find information to a situation in which another parent intends to take your child abroad without your permission.

1. If the parents cannot come to an agreement, you can request mediation from the District Court alone or with the other parent.
2. If agreement still fails, the matter is decided by the District Court in court proceedings.
3. If you are dissatisfied with the decision of the District Court, you can appeal to the Court of Appeal. 

Please note that legal proceedings are often a long-lasting and expensive way of resolving matters concerning children.

You do not have to wait until your divorce enters into force, instead you can already complete the distribution of property during the reconsideration period.

The distribution of property is agreed upon in writing in the deed of distribution, i.e. in the distribution agreement. The agreement must indicate

1. how the distribution of matrimonial property has been calculated
2. how the division of property takes place in practice.

The deed of distribution of matrimonial property must contain the signatures of two competent witnesses.

While spouses can make an agreement on the distribution of matrimonial property, it is advisable to get legal assistance for the process: 

• A legal aid office can provide you with a public legal aid attorney if you are entitled to legal aid due to your financial situation. The State may pay all or part of the costs of the legal aid attorney.
• You are responsible for the costs of the services of a private attorney-at-law. However, you should check whether the expenses are covered by a legal expenses insurance included in your home insurance, for instance.

It may also be a good idea to register deed of division of property with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. Read more about registering a deed of division of property on the website of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.Opens in a new window.

The spouses may restrict each other's marital rights by drawing up a prenuptial agreement together. In this case, the property will be divided as determined in the agreement. You can read more about the prenuptial agreement on the How do you make a prenuptial agreement page. 

The prenuptial agreement is valid if it has been made in writing and registered. You will no longer be able to make or change a prenuptial agreement once the first divorce application has been submitted to the district court.

Check or change your prenuptial agreement at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

If you cannot agree on the distribution of the property, you can ask the District Court to appoint an estate distributor who will submit a proposal for the distribution of the property. 

Using an estate distributor should be considered a last resort decision, as the services provided by the estate distributor are subject to a charge and getting a decision may take a long time.

Spouses may require a so-called separation of property if either of the following conditions is met: 

• You have lived together for at least five years 
• You have or have had a child together or joint custody of a child.

In connection with the separation of property, one of you may be entitled to compensation from the other spouse. The compensation is based on how you have contributed to your household finances.

You may agree on the separation of property by drawing up a separation deed that explains what each party receives.  A separation deed and agreements on compensation are to be registered with the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.

If the distribution of shared property cannot be mutually agreed upon, you can submit a request to the District Court to appoint an estate distributor. In this case, the estate distributor performs the separation. The services provided by the estate distributor are subject to a charge and getting a decision may take a long time. Each party pays half of the fee and costs of the estate distributor.