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