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Free Guide to Hiring a Family Lawyer
Child custody in the Netherlands is governed by national law, so families in Ruinen follow the same legal framework as the rest of the country. The legal term for custody is gezag. Custody is the authority and responsibility to make important decisions for a child, such as about health care, education, religion, residence, and finances. Parents can have joint custody or one parent can have sole custody. Guardianship, called voogdij, is when someone other than a parent has legal responsibility for the child.
When parents separate, the law focuses on the best interests of the child. Parents with custody must create a parenting plan, called an ouderschapsplan, that sets out where the child lives, how time is shared, how decisions are made, how information is exchanged, and how child expenses are paid. If parents cannot agree, the court can set a care and contact arrangement, called a zorg- en omgangsregeling, and decide the child’s primary residence.
Ruinen is part of the municipality of De Wolden in Drenthe. Family cases from Ruinen are heard by the District Court of Noord-Nederland, typically the Assen location. Local youth services and protection agencies may be involved when safety or development concerns arise, but final custody decisions are made by the court.
You may need a lawyer if you are separating or divorcing and must draft or negotiate a parenting plan, if you and the other parent disagree about where the child will live, school choice, medical decisions, or holiday schedules, or if one parent is denying contact or not complying with an existing arrangement. A lawyer can help you apply for joint custody if you are not married, ask the court to modify orders when circumstances change, or seek permission to relocate with a child when the other parent does not consent.
Legal help is especially important in urgent or sensitive situations, such as domestic violence, child safety concerns, suspected neglect, requests for supervised contact, or international issues like travel consents and potential abduction. A lawyer can also guide you through mediation, represent you in court, prepare documents, and help you enforce court orders or resolve matters through child-focused agreements.
Custody framework. If parents are married or in a registered partnership when the child is born, they usually have joint custody automatically. If parents are not married, the mother has custody by default. Joint custody can be arranged by registering a joint custody declaration with parental consent or by court order if consent is refused. Guardianship by a non-parent can be ordered if parents are not able to exercise custody.
Parenting plan requirement. Parents who divorce or end a registered partnership and who have custody must submit a parenting plan to the court. The plan addresses the division of care and upbringing, decision-making, information exchange, and financial arrangements for the child. Even outside divorce, courts expect parents to try to agree on a plan before litigating.
Best interests of the child. Courts decide based on the child’s best interests. Stability, safety, continuity of care, practical arrangements, and the ability of parents to cooperate are central. Children aged 12 and older are typically heard by the judge, and younger children can be heard if appropriate.
Relocation and travel. A parent with joint custody needs the other parent’s consent to move with the child or to travel abroad. If consent is refused, the court can grant permission after weighing the child’s interests and the impact on contact with the other parent.
Care and contact. When parents do not live together, the court can set a care schedule or contact arrangement. Non-compliance can lead to enforcement measures, including a penalty payment, called a dwangsom, but courts often encourage practical solutions and support before imposing sanctions.
Child protection measures. If there are serious concerns about a child’s safety or development, the child judge can impose a supervision order, called ondertoezichtstelling, and in urgent cases order out-of-home placement. The Child Care and Protection Board, called the Raad voor de Kinderbescherming, investigates and advises the court in such cases.
Financial support. Child maintenance, called kinderalimentatie, is based on the child’s needs and each parent’s ability to pay, using widely applied judicial guidelines. Maintenance can be revised when circumstances change.
Procedure and venue. Cases from Ruinen are filed by petition at the District Court of Noord-Nederland, usually the Assen seat for Drenthe. Urgent interim measures are possible during divorce or by separate urgent proceedings. Mediation is encouraged and can be initiated independently or through the court.
Custody, called gezag, is the legal authority to make major decisions for the child and the duty to care and raise the child. Contact or care arrangements govern where the child lives and how time with each parent is organized. A parent can have contact without having custody, and parents can share custody even if the child primarily lives with one parent.
If parents are not married or in a registered partnership, the mother has custody by default. The other parent can obtain joint custody by filing a joint declaration in the custody register with the mother’s consent. If consent is refused, the court can grant joint custody if it is in the child’s best interests.
Yes, if you share custody and are divorcing or ending a registered partnership, you must submit a parenting plan to the court. Even if you are not divorcing, a written parenting plan is strongly recommended. It should cover living arrangements, schedules, decision-making, information sharing, and financial contributions.
If you share custody, you need the other parent’s consent to relocate. If consent is not given, you must ask the court for permission. The judge will consider the child’s interests, the reasons for moving, the impact on contact, travel time, and the feasibility of a new schedule.
Document the issue and try to resolve it in writing. If that fails, a lawyer can help you request enforcement or a revised arrangement. The court can impose penalty payments or give specific orders. Support services can also help improve cooperation and reduce conflict.
Children from age 12 are generally invited to share their views with the judge in a private conversation. Younger children can also be heard if the judge considers it helpful. The child’s opinion is taken seriously but does not alone decide the outcome.
Maintenance is based on the child’s needs and each parent’s financial capacity. Courts and lawyers use nationally applied guidelines and standard calculations. You can ask to adjust maintenance if income, expenses, or the care schedule change significantly.
Grandparents and others who have a close personal relationship with the child can request a contact arrangement. They must show a sufficient interest and that contact benefits the child. The court decides based on the child’s best interests.
The court can order protective measures, such as supervised contact or temporary suspension of contact. Agencies like Veilig Thuis and youth protection services may become involved. Safety planning is prioritized, and the court may request reports from the Child Care and Protection Board.
Yes. If circumstances change substantially, such as a new job, a move, changes in the child’s needs, or persistent conflict, you can ask the court to modify custody, residence, contact schedules, or maintenance. Mediation is often attempted before a court decision.
Gemeente De Wolden - For civil affairs such as birth registration, recognition, and questions about the custody register. Contact the municipality via its customer contact center.
Rechtbank Noord-Nederland, locatie Assen - The district court that handles family cases for residents of Ruinen and the wider Drenthe area. Contact the court’s family law desk for filing information and hearing schedules.
Raad voor de Kinderbescherming - The Child Care and Protection Board that investigates and advises courts in custody and protection cases. You can be contacted by the Board if the court requests an investigation.
Veilig Thuis Drenthe - Advice and reporting point for domestic violence and child abuse. Offers confidential guidance and can coordinate safety measures.
Jeugdbescherming Noord-Nederland - Youth protection organization that carries out court-ordered measures such as supervision and supports families to improve safety.
Het Juridisch Loket - Free first-line legal information and referrals. Useful for understanding your options before hiring a lawyer.
MfN-registermediators - National register of accredited family mediators who can help you draft or adjust a parenting plan and resolve disputes.
Centrum voor Jeugd en Gezin or Sociaal Team De Wolden - Local support for parenting, family stress, and practical help that can complement legal steps.
Clarify your goals and your child’s needs. Think about residence, school, healthcare, holidays, and how you will share information and decisions. Keep the focus on what works best for your child.
Collect key documents. Gather birth certificates, recognition or custody register entries, any prior court orders, school or medical notes relevant to decisions, and a draft parenting plan if you have one.
Try to reach agreement. If it is safe to do so, discuss arrangements with the other parent or use a mediator to create a workable parenting plan. Written agreements reduce conflict and cost.
Consult a family lawyer. A local lawyer familiar with the District Court of Noord-Nederland can advise on strategy, draft documents, and represent you in negotiations or court. Ask about timelines, costs, and chances of success.
Act quickly in urgent cases. If safety is at risk or a move or travel is imminent without consent, seek legal advice immediately about interim measures and protective orders.
Take care of enforcement and follow-up. If orders are not respected, document issues and ask your lawyer about enforcement or modification. Reassess the parenting plan as your child’s needs change.
This guide provides general information, not legal advice. For a solution tailored to your situation in Ruinen, consult a qualified Dutch family lawyer.
