Family Law Matters

This section contains information on the international family law matters for which the Ministry of Justice is responsible in the capacity of the Central Authority under different international treaties. Such matters are, for example, international child abductions, right of access to a child, reports on the situation of a child, placement of a child abroad, and recovery of maintenance.

The Ministry of Justice functions as the Central Authority that aims to facilitate the communications with the authorities of a foreign country. The responsibilities of the Central Authority vary depending on the treaty to be applied.

It is important to remember, however, that when a family law matter is considered in a foreign country, the national legislation of that country must be complied with and the procedures to be followed are determined based on the national legislation of the foreign country in question. The Finnish authorities cannot influence the decisions made and measures taken by the authorities of a foreign country. The duration of proceedings varies from one country to another.