Child Visitation

Visitation is intended to ensure that a child can maintain contact with the parent they do not live with.

It is also the right of the parent to spend time with their child, and they have a responsibility to facilitate this visitation.

Parents can agree on visitation arrangements, as long as it serves the child’s best interests and needs. If parents cannot agree, they can request the district commissioner to issue a ruling on visitation based on what is deemed best for the child.

Ruling by the District Commissioner on Visitation

In a visitation ruling, the frequency and conditions of visitation are determined. Various factors are considered when deciding on the extent of visitation, such as:

Relationship between the child and the visitation parent/other visitation party (if not the parent)

The existing level of contact is important. After a divorce or separation, substantial visitation is generally recommended for both parents.

Age of the child

A child’s age is a significant factor in determining visitation. For very young children, the length of visits and whether the child should stay overnight with the visitation parent can be important considerations. Visitation with overnight stays is not ordered for very young children against the custodial parent’s wishes.

The child’s wishes

For older children, their preferences are important. A ruling will not go against the wishes of an older child.

Residence of the parents/other visitation party

If the parents live in different regions, the ruling must take this into account.

If a parent resides abroad and requests visitation there, this is generally denied, except for visits to other Nordic countries. Here, however, the custodial parent‘s views are taken into considerataion.

Visitation with siblings

If siblings live with different parents, efforts should be made to facilitate their contact with each other.

Supervised Visitation

The district commissioner may rule that visitation must take place under the supervision of a child welfare expert. This is often necessary when the safety of the child is in question or when there are significant conflicts between the parents during pick-up or drop-off.

Costs of Travel for Visitation

The parent with whom the child does not live is generally responsible for travel costs related to visitation, unless otherwise specified by agreement or ruling. The parent with whom the child lives typically pays for local travel, such as trips to and from the airport.

Parents’ Rights

Correspondence and phone contact

If a parent cannot physically spend time with the child, the district commissioner may rule that the parent is entitled to correspondence, email, and/or phone contact with the child.

Right to information about the child

A non-custodial parent has the right to receive information about the child from the custodial parent, such as information about the child’s health and education. The non-custodial parent also has the right to obtain information from schools, hospitals, healthcare centers, child protection agencies, and the police. This right does not include information about the custodial parent’s personal circumstances.

Moving the child abroad

The custodial parent cannot move abroad with the child without informing the visitation parent at least 30 days in advance.

Temporary Visitation Ruling

The district commissioner or judge may also issue a temporary ruling on visitation, for example, while a custody case is ongoing.