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Free Guide to Hiring a Family Lawyer
This guide explains basic principles and practical steps for people dealing with child visitation - called umgänge - in Solna, Sweden. Visitation concerns a child’s right to maintain contact with a parent or other important adults after parents separate or when contact is otherwise in dispute. Swedish family law prioritizes the child’s best interests and physical and psychological well-being. Key legal frameworks include the Swedish Parental Code - Föräldrabalken - and national practice that involves municipal family services, the district court, and sometimes national authorities when cross-border issues arise.
Family law disputes about visitation can involve complex legal, factual and emotional issues. You may want a lawyer if you face any of the following situations:
- The parents cannot agree on contact arrangements and a court application is likely.
- There are allegations of abuse, neglect or substance misuse that affect the child’s safety.
- You need help applying for or responding to a court order about custody, residence or visitation.
- The other parent is refusing to comply with a signed or court-ordered visitation schedule.
- You are planning to move with the child inside Sweden or abroad and need to understand legal limits and consent requirements.
- You need to enforce an existing court decision or modify it due to changed circumstances.
- You want advice on preserving evidence, preparing witness statements, or using mediation and social services effectively.
Key local legal and administrative elements relevant in Solna include:
- Parental responsibility, custody and contact are governed by the Parental Code - Föräldrabalken. The law focuses on the child’s best interests in deciding custody (vårdnad), where the child lives (boende), and visitation (umgänge).
- Solna stads socialtjänst - familjerätten is the local municipal family services unit where many cases start. Family services can offer mediation, assessments, recommendations and support services aimed at facilitating contact in the child’s best interest.
- If parents cannot agree, an application for a decision on custody, residence or contact is made to the district court - Solna tingsrätt. The court can make legally binding orders and interim decisions when urgent action is required.
- The child’s views are taken into account according to age and maturity. There is no fixed age at which a child can decide the outcome, but courts give weight to the child’s expressed wishes when they are sufficiently mature.
- In cases involving safety concerns, social services can conduct investigations and propose protective measures. The court can order supervised contact, restrictions, or change custody if necessary to protect the child.
- International matters - for example relocation abroad or cross-border abduction - may involve the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Sweden participates in international cooperation to resolve such disputes.
Start by contacting your municipal familjerätt (family law office) in Solna. Family services can offer mediation and guidance. If mediation does not resolve the issue, you may need to seek legal advice and consider an application to the district court for a formal decision on custody, residence and visitation.
The court uses the child’s best interests as the guiding principle. Relevant factors include the child’s relationship with each parent, the child’s need for stability, the parents’ ability to cooperate, the child’s safety and well-being, and the child’s own views depending on age and maturity.
No. A parent does not have an automatic right to prevent contact unless there is a legally justified reason connected to the child’s safety. If one parent denies access, the other parent should seek help from family services and consider court action. If there is immediate danger, contact emergency services.
Report concerns to Solna stads socialtjänst immediately so that an assessment can be made. Social services can arrange protective measures and coordinate with other authorities. A family law lawyer can help present evidence to the court and seek supervised contact or temporary custody arrangements when necessary.
Grandparents or other persons with a close relationship to the child can apply to the court for contact rights, but there is no automatic legal right. The court assesses each case on its merits and in light of the child’s best interests.
Supervised visitation means contact that takes place under the supervision of a neutral adult or professional. It is used when there are safety concerns, conflicts, or a need to rebuild trust between a parent and child. Family services or specialized facilities often arrange supervised contact.
Enforcing contact orders can be challenging. If a court issues an order and the other parent refuses to comply, you should document breaches and consult a lawyer. Social services can sometimes assist with mediation or supervised contact. In severe cases, the court can consider changing custody arrangements or take other measures to secure the child’s interests.
Yes. If circumstances change materially - for example the child’s needs change, a parent’s situation changes, or new safety issues arise - you can apply to the court for modification. Evidence of the change in circumstances is crucial for success.
If you plan to move within Sweden and it affects the child’s residence or contact, you generally need the other parent’s consent or a court decision. For moves abroad, consent from the other parent or a court order is typically required. International moves can trigger additional legal processes and international law considerations.
Cost depends on the lawyer and the complexity of the case. Many people use legal expenses insurance (rättsskydd) that is included in some home insurance policies. There is also the possibility of legal aid (rättshjälp) for those who qualify. Ask potential lawyers about fees, fixed-price consultations, and whether they can estimate total costs before you proceed.
When you need help in Solna consider the following local and national bodies and organizations:
- Solna stad - socialtjänst, familjerätten - first point of contact for mediation and family assessments.
- Solna tingsrätt - district court where custody and visitation disputes are decided if parents cannot agree.
- Advokatsamfundet - the Swedish Bar Association - for finding and checking qualified family law attorneys in the Stockholm area.
- Barnombudsmannen - the Swedish Children’s Ombudsman - for information on children’s rights and interests in Sweden.
- BRIS - an independent organization that provides support and information for children and young people.
- Police and emergency services - if the child or a person is in immediate danger, call emergency services in Sweden.
- Your insurance company - to check whether you have legal expenses insurance that can cover family law disputes.
If you need legal assistance with child visitation in Solna, follow these practical steps:
- Gather documentation - records of communication, written agreements, calendar of missed or denied visits, school or health records and any evidence relevant to the child’s welfare.
- Contact Solna familjerätt - start with municipal family services to seek mediation, support and an assessment.
- Seek legal advice - consult a lawyer who specializes in family law to understand your rights, likely outcomes and practical options. Ask about fees, timelines and whether legal aid or insurance can help fund the case.
- Consider mediation and supported solutions - courts favor solutions that enable parental cooperation when safe and appropriate. Mediation may be a faster, less adversarial route.
- Take urgent action if there is risk - if the child is in immediate danger, contact emergency services and social services right away.
- Keep the child’s best interests at the center of every step - decisions and actions that prioritize the child’s stability and safety are more likely to be effective and supported by authorities.
If you are unsure what to do next, a short consultation with a qualified family law attorney or a call to Solna familjerätt can clarify your options and help you build a safe, practical plan for securing the contact arrangements that are best for your child.
