Family Law
Family Law in Finland – Legal Support During Life’s Turning Points
Family matters are deeply personal – and when legal issues arise, it’s essential to have clear, compassionate, and professional support. At Annia, our English-speaking family law attorneys help individuals and families navigate life’s most challenging transitions with confidence and care.
We provide legal assistance in a wide range of family law matters, including:
Divorce and separation – including asset division, housing and spousal maintenance
Child custody, visitation rights and child support
Domestic violence and restraining orders
Prenuptial and cohabitation agreements
Inheritance and estate planning in blended families
International family law questions (e.g. cross-border custody or relocation)
Here to assist you with family matters throughout life’s journey. Tax matters, prenuptial agreements, separation situations, custody issues, and property distribution all become more manageable with the support of an experienced attorney. Every case is different, and we tailor our services to fit your personal situation and goals.
For convenience, many services can also be handled remotely through secure online tools, making the process smoother – wherever you are in Finland or abroad.
Finnish family law emphasizes the best interests of the child, fairness, and individual rights. We help our clients reach solutions that are sustainable, lawful, and tailored – whether through negotiation, mediation, or court proceedings when necessary.
Need help with a family law matter in Finland?
Annia offers reliable legal advice and representation in English, with professionalism, discretion, and genuine care.
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Continuing Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney for Legal Representation – Plan Ahead with Confidence
A Power of Attorney for legal representation allows you to formally appoint someone you trust to act on your behalf if you are ever unable to manage your own affairs. This may become necessary due to illness, accident, or diminished mental capacity.
With a valid and properly prepared document, your chosen representative can handle important matters such as:
Legal decisions
Banking and financial management
Real estate transactions
Everyday administrative tasks
Planning ahead by granting legal authority to a trusted person gives you peace of mind – and avoids uncertainty for your loved ones during a crisis. In Finland, a continuing power of attorney (edunvalvontavaltuutus) can be created to take effect only if you lose legal capacity.
At Annia, we help you:
Draft clear and legally sound powers of attorney
Ensure the document meets Finnish legal requirements
Define the scope and limits of the representative’s authority
Submit the necessary documentation when the power of attorney is activated
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Marriage and Prenuptial Agreement
Marriage and Prenuptial Agreements in Finland – Protecting Your Rights and Assets
Marriage is both a personal and legal commitment. In Finland, entering into marriage also has significant legal effects, especially when it comes to property rights and financial responsibilities between spouses. That’s why it is often wise to consider a prenuptial agreement (avioliittosopimus).
A prenuptial agreement is a legally binding contract between two spouses that defines how assets and property will be treated during the marriage and in the event of divorce or death. Without one, Finnish law assumes that all property is subject to equal division in a divorce, regardless of individual ownership during the marriage.
When to Consider a Prenuptial Agreement
One or both spouses own significant personal or business assets
There are children from a previous relationship
Spouses want to protect family inheritance or property
There is a large difference in income or wealth
One spouse is entering the marriage with debt or financial obligations
A prenuptial agreement provides clarity and protects both parties, helping prevent conflicts, uncertainty, or costly legal disputes later.
Legal Support for International and Domestic Marriages
At Annia, we help you:
Draft and review prenuptial agreements that comply with Finnish law
Understand the legal effects of marriage under Finnish marital property law
Advise on postnuptial agreements (entered into after marriage)
Assist with cross-border situations and international family law matters
Our services are discreet, tailored, and available in English. We work with couples before or after marriage to ensure legal peace of mind – now and in the future.
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Cohabitation and Separation
Cohabitation and Separation in Finland – Legal Clarity for Unmarried Couples
Many couples in Finland choose to live together without getting married. While cohabitation (avoliitto) can resemble marriage in daily life, it is not treated the same under Finnish law, especially when it comes to property rights, inheritance, and separation.
Unlike married couples, cohabiting partners do not automatically share assets, and there is no legal obligation to divide property equally after separation. That’s why it’s highly recommended to prepare a cohabitation agreement to protect both parties’ interests.
Why Consider a Cohabitation Agreement?
A cohabitation agreement can clarify:
Ownership of property and assets acquired before or during the relationship
Responsibility for shared expenses
Division of household goods in case of separation
Arrangements for jointly owned real estate or loans
This agreement reduces uncertainty and helps prevent legal disputes if the relationship ends.
Legal Matters After Separation
If cohabiting partners separate, legal questions may arise about:
Property division
Housing rights
Child custody and support (if applicable)
Unfair enrichment claims when one party has contributed significantly to the other’s property or finances
Unlike in divorce, there is no automatic legal process for dividing assets – which makes legal advice especially important.
At Annia, we assist individuals and couples with:
Drafting and reviewing cohabitation agreements
Navigating separation fairly and efficiently
Handling child-related matters in the context of separation
Resolving financial claims between former cohabiting partners
All services are available in English and tailored to your situation.
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Divorce Finland and Division of Marital Property Finland
Divorce and Division of Marital Property in Finland – Fair Solutions During Separation
Divorce is not only an emotional transition – it also involves significant legal and financial consequences, especially when it comes to dividing shared property. In Finland, the process is governed by the Marriage Act, which provides clear rules for the division of assets.
At Annia, we help individuals navigate both the legal steps of divorce and the often-complex process of marital property division, always with clarity, professionalism, and discretion.
Divorce Process in Finland
A divorce begins with filing an application with the district court.
After a 6-month reconsideration period, the divorce becomes final.
During or after the process, couples may need to resolve issues related to child custody, support, housing, and finances.
How Property Division Works
In Finland, all property owned by spouses is, by default, considered marital property subject to equal division, unless otherwise agreed (for example, through a prenuptial agreement). This includes, among other things:
Real estate and housing
Bank accounts and investments
Vehicles, valuables, and personal belongings
Pensions and other financial rights
If one spouse owns significantly more than the other, the spouse with fewer assets may have the right to receive a balancing payment (tasinko) from the wealthier spouse to ensure fairness. In practice, this usually means a monetary payment.
However, property excluded from marital rights, such as through a prenuptial agreement or due to a condition attached to an inheritance or gift, is not included in the calculation of the property to be divided.
How Annia Can Help?
We assist clients with, among other things:
Negotiating and drafting property settlement agreements
Representing in disputes over asset valuation, ownership, or division during court-appointed property distribution proceedings (pesänjakaja)
Clarifying rights related to housing, debts, or jointly owned property
Advising on tax matters and asset protection
Enforcing prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, whether made before or during the marriage
Handling international divorces and cross-border property issues
We always aim to resolve matters amicably and efficiently – but when needed, we are ready to represent you in property distribution proceedings conducted by a court-appointed executor or to seek changes to the decision in court.
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Children in Divorce Situation
Children in Divorce – Supporting Families Through Transition
When parents divorce or separate, the most important question is often: what is best for the child?
In Finland, family law emphasizes the best interests of the child in all decisions related to custody, living arrangements, visitation, and support. At Annia, we help parents find sustainable, child-focused solutions – whether through agreement or legal proceedings.
Key Legal Questions in Divorce Involving Children:
Child custody (huoltajuus): Who makes decisions about the child’s health, education, and other important matters? Custody can be joint or sole.
Living arrangements: Where will the child live? One home or alternating homes?
Visitation (contact rights): How often and in what form will the child see the non-residential parent?
Child support: How are expenses shared? What amount is fair and legally compliant?
Parental communication and cooperation: How can we build a functioning parenting relationship after divorce?
Each family is unique, and the right solution depends on the child’s age, needs, routines, and the parents’ ability to cooperate.
How Annia Can Help?
We assist with:
Drafting and negotiating parenting agreements
Handling custody disputes in court when necessary
Ensuring fair and lawful child support arrangements
Advising on international custody and relocation cases
Guiding you in making child-centered decisions during divorce
Whenever possible, we aim for amicable solutions through negotiation or mediation – but we’re ready to protect your rights and your child’s well-being in court if needed.
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Paternity Finland
Paternity Matters in Finland – Legal Clarity for Parents and Children
Establishing legal paternity is essential for securing a child’s rights and for determining parental responsibilities. In Finland, paternity affects not only custody and child support, but also the child’s legal identity, inheritance rights, and access to both parents’ care.
Our family law team assists with paternity matters in all situations – whether you’re establishing, confirming, or disputing paternity.
Establishing Paternity in Finland
Paternity can be established in different ways:
Automatically if the mother is married at the time of birth – the spouse is presumed to be the legal father
Through voluntary acknowledgement, typically signed at the maternity clinic or later before the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV)
Through court proceedings and DNA testing, if the father is unknown, unwilling to acknowledge, or paternity is in dispute
Establishing paternity secures the child’s right to:
Financial support from both parents
Inheritance rights
Official family ties and access to parental care
Disputing Paternity
In some cases, paternity may need to be challenged. This can involve:
DNA testing
Timely legal action, as there are strict deadlines for contesting paternity under Finnish law
Consideration of the best interests of the child
Legal support is crucial in both initiating and responding to paternity claims, as these matters can have lifelong implications for everyone involved.
At Annia, we provide:
Legal advice and representation in paternity establishment and disputes
Support in child custody, visitation, and support matters linked to paternity
Assistance with cross-border paternity issues and international family situations
Services in English with full discretion and clarity
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