Parenthood
The parents of a child have a joint responsibility to ensure the child’s well-being and balanced development. Parents should avoid anything that could harm the child and their development. Above all, children must be protected from violence and abuse.
‘Maintenance obligation’ means that the parent must provide for the child’s care, education and welfare. The maintenance obligation is determined by the needs of the child. As a child grows up, their needs change; for example the maintenance obligations for a preschool child are different from those of a teenager.
The rights of a child
The rights of a child apply to everyone under the age of 18. The four main aspects of the rights of the child are
- prohibition of discrimination
- the right to a good life
- the right to inclusion and to be heard
- the best interests of the child
The rights of a child are based on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (unicef.org).
Confirming parenthood
The birth mother and her husband are automatically confirmed as the child’s parents when that child is born. If the parents are not married to each other or the child has two mothers, the parenthood of one of the parents must be acknowledged and confirmed.
Parenthood can be confirmed at a maternity clinic before the birth of the child, or at a child welfare officer’s office after the birth. Parenthood can also be confirmed in the same way when a child is born through fertility treatment, with the written consent of both parents.
District courts also deal with disputes over the establishment of parenthood.
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Adoption
Adoption is open to married couples and single people over the age of 25. An applicant cannot be over 50 years of age, and the age difference between the minor being adopted and the adoptive parent cannot be more than 45 years. International adoptions may also be subject to other country specific conditions.
To become an adoptive parent, you must first apply to the adoption advice service of your wellbeing services county, which will explain the adoption process and assess your suitability. The advice is free of charge. During the meetings, it is also decided whether the aim is domestic or international adoption.
Confirming adoption
Once a child has been placed with their adoptive parents, the adoption must be confirmed so that the child’s details are correctly recorded in the Population Information System. The adoptive parents apply for confirmation of the adoption of a Finnish child by submitting a written application to the district court of their home municipality. In international adoptions, the adoption is confirmed either by the local court in the child’s country of birth or later in Finland.
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