The Finnish concept of a family is narrower than in many other countries.

Typically, a Finnish family is considered to consist of:

  • Parents and their children: This is the most common definition.
  • A childless couple: A couple is considered a family even without children.
  • A single parent and their child(ren): Single-parent families are also recognised as families.
Important points to remember:
  • Extended family: While grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are considered family in a broader sense, they are not typically included in the legal definition of a family in Finland.
  • Same-sex couples: Finland has legalised same-sex marriage, and same-sex couples are recognised as families.
  • Cohabitation: Unmarried couples living together are considered a family for many purposes.
Family Benefits

Finland offers comprehensive support to families. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Parental leave: Both parents are entitled to generous parental leave, allowing them to spend quality time with their newborn.
  • Child allowance: A monthly cash benefit provided to families with children.
  • Free education and healthcare: Children and adolescents receive free education and healthcare.
  • Childcare: Finland strongly emphasises early childhood education, with affordable and high-quality childcare options available.
Family Law
  • Marriage and divorce: Marriage and divorce laws are relatively straightforward in Finland.
  • Child custody: In case of divorce, the child’s best interests are the primary consideration for custody arrangements.
  • Child support: Child support is generally determined based on the parents’ income.

Materials and web resource

234/1929 English – Translations of Finnish acts and decrees – FINLEX ®
Families in all colours of the rainbow – Sateenkaariperheet ry
Marriage – Tuomioistuinlaitos (oikeus.fi)
REQUEST – Marriage in Finland or another Nordic country (dvv.fi)
Changing surname | Digital and population data services agency (dvv.fi)
Prenuptial agreement | Digital and population data services agency (dvv.fi)
rakkautta-ja-vanhemmuutta-web-en.pdf (familiary.fi)
Children, young people and families – Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (stm.fi)
Home page – Oikeusapu