Family
Family law inside the Civil Code, with partnership reform in 2024
Family law was absorbed into the 2014 Civil Code. Divorce may be granted without inquiry into breakdown where the spouses agree and have lived apart for six months, and from 2025 same-sex couples may enter a partnership with nearly all marital effects.
Key rules
- Uncontested divorce requires one year of marriage, six months of separation and agreement on property and children.
- Arrangements for minor children must be approved by a court before divorce.
- Statutory joint property of spouses arises on marriage and may be varied notarially.
- Maintenance for children is set by reference to statutory guideline percentages of income.
Governing law
- Civil Code, Part Two (89/2012)Marriage, parentage and guardianship.
- Act on Special Court Proceedings (292/2013)Family procedure.
- Partnership amendment (2024)Effective 2025; partnership with most marital effects.
In practice
The child arrangements decision comes first in practice: without an approved parenting agreement the divorce itself cannot be pronounced.