Assessment of circumstances
A clarification of circumstances is performed at the request of a district court when there is disagreement related to the care of the child.
If parents cannot agree on custody, residence, or visitation matters, they may seek a court decision. The court can request an assessment of the family's situation from the local Wellbeing Services County's social services.
An assessment, which takes 3 to 6 months, carefully examines the child's and parents' circumstances, including their interactions. Meetings with the child and parents occur regularly throughout this period. The assessment may also gather information from schools, daycare centres, child welfare services, or other relevant institutions. Confidential information is accessed legally during this process, and expert opinions can be included if needed.
Should the court find the assessment insufficient, additional evaluation or court testimony from the assessor may be requested.
Conditions for receiving the Service
If parents are unable to reach an agreement, they may petition the court for a ruling. Under Section 16 of the Act on Child Custody and Right of Access, the court may order an assessment of circumstances by the local social services. This assessment is provided solely at the court's request.Executive assistance: Requests for executive assistance coming from other municipalities can be sent using Securedmail to the e-mail address olosuhdeselvityspyynnot@luvn.fi.
Do as follows:
- We invite the parents to the initial meeting by letter. Along with the letter, we will also send a client information form to be returned at the initial meeting as well as more detailed information on the clarification process.
- The process does not include actual mediation, but we will help the parents to conclude an agreement if they wish to settle the matter during the process. The court will set a deadline for the preparation of the report.