Background & Purpose

There is a need to better protect vulnerable children from domestic violence and ensure that custody decisions and foster care placements prioritize the child's safety above all else.

Proposals & Debate

The government proposed several legislative changes to improve court evaluations in custody disputes, mandate expert psychological assessments in difficult cases, restrict child visitation rights if they conflict with the child's best interests, and make it easier to transfer custody to appointed guardians.

The Decision

Following a parliamentary vote where 267 members voted yes and 21 voted no, the Swedish parliament approved the government's legislative package.

Does this affect you?

  • Children in custody disputes: Will benefit from improved court evaluations and mandatory psychological expert opinions to safeguard their well-being.
  • Foster care children: Gains increased stability and clearer pathways for transferring custody when remaining with biological parents is unsafe.
  • Parents involved in custody battles: Will face stricter legal assessments regarding visitation rights and the risk of the child suffering harm.

In Practice

  • Courts must request expert statements from licensed psychologists in difficult custody cases to assess if a child is at risk.
  • A child's right to visit a parent they do not live with will only apply if it is strictly compatible with the child's well-being.
  • Clearer rules will determine when custody should be moved permanently from biological parents to appointed guardians.
  • Public counsels will as a main rule be appointed for both the child and the parents during custody transfer reviews.