Parents who are separating need to make decisions about matters concerning their children. Any solution that parents can find by working together is better than having a court decide.
Lawyer and legal aid
Outside Uppsala?
Find help in your municipality
The links on the page below are for those who live in Uppsala municipality and for those who need help with questions about Region Uppsala's activities.
If you live elsewhere in Sweden, you can start by contacting student health services, social services or child and adolescent psychiatry for help. In some places in Sweden there are local children's ombudsman.
The role of the Ombudsperson for Children
What we can do in counselling
We can only help within Uppsala municipality and when it concerns care or other issues within Region Uppsala.
Our perspective is the child and the rights of the child. We are keen to talk directly to the children concerned if it is appropriate/possible. Find out more about our counselling services.
Outside Uppsala? Read more here.
If a married couple wants to divorce, they apply for a divorce at the district court of the municipality where they are registered. If they have a child together under the age of 16, it takes 6 months before the divorce can be granted. This is called the reflection period. This applies even if the parents agree that they should divorce.
Best interests of the child
By law, the best interests of the child must be a decisive factor in all decisions on custody, residence and access. This means that no one else's interest should take precedence over what is best for the child.
Any conflicts between the parents must not influence decisions concerning the child.
If a court has to make a decision on custody, access and residence, the court should make the decision based on what is best for the child. The needs of the parents or what they think is fair are not more important than what is best for the child.
It is not easy to describe what is in the best interests of the child. It should always be decided on the basis of the unique child and their situation. The legal text has a number of criteria and when a court makes a decision on custody issues, it should always be based on these criteria:
- It is important that the child's right to good and close contact with his or her parents is recognised
- The child's own will should be recognised and given greater importance as the child grows older and matures.
- Special consideration shall be given to whether there is a risk of the child or another member of the family being abused, otherwise harmed or abducted.
Go directly to
More on divorce and custody
-
Divorce information
If there is a conflict
Publicerat: 2024-04-19
Any solution that parents can find by working together and agreeing is better than having a court decide. Divorce and custody Parents who are separating need to...
Fortsätt läsa >
-
Divorce information
What is custody?
Publicerat: 2023-06-22
Being a guardian of a child means having primary responsibility for the child. The guardian must ensure that the child develops, is cared for, is safe and has a...
Fortsätt läsa >
-
Divorce information
Deciding on divorce
Publicerat: 2023-06-21
Parents who are separating need to make decisions on three key areas concerning children: custody, access and residence. Divorce and child custody Parents who are separating need to ...
Fortsätt läsa >