Paternity, Child Custody and Maintenance

The Centre of Social and Health Services offers legal aid in the following matters concerning families with children.

Establishing and Confirming the Paternity of a Child

The paternity of a child to be born to a single mother, or a mother in a common-law marriage is established by the child protection supervisor.

Child Custody and Visiting Rights/Right of Access

In a divorce situation (registered and common-law marriages), joint discussions are held with the parents about, among other things
- how the custody of the child will be arranged
- where the child will live
- how the child will meet the parent living separately from him or her

The decision is always made by the parents together. Social workers’ task is to help the parents find a solution that is the best for the child. If no common agreement is achieved, the case can be taken to court. If the child in question is 12 years old or more, his/her opinion is listened to.

Child Maintenance Agreement

Parents have a statutory responsibility to provide for their under-age children. If the parents do not live together, the parent living with the child is entitled to child
maintenance payments from the other parent. The amount of the payments can be agreed by the parents informally or it can be set down in an agreement confirmed by the City social welfare office. If the parents are unable to come to an agreement, the amount will be specified by a court of law.

Child maintenance agreements are drawn up with and confirmed by child protection officer/social workers.

Child Maintenance Allowance

The administration of the child maintenance allowances scheme was transferred from the local governments to Kela on 1 April 2009. If you are currently being paid Child Maintenance Allowance that has been awarded by the local authority, you need not make a new application. Kela will continue to pay you automatically.

Child maintenance = amount based on a child maintenance agreement or court decision, which a parent liable for maintenance pays in respect of his or her child.
Child maintenance allowance = Kela benefit aimed at providing economic security to the child.
Person liable for maintenance = parent required to pay child maintenance under a child maintenance agreement or court decision.

For more details go to: Kela/Child Maintenance Allowance