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According to the law, both parents must provide for their
children to the best of their abilities. If the parents do
not live together, they should agree how much maintenance
and when the non-resident parent pays for the children. This
should be done with a maintenance agreement drawn up with
the child support officer at the Department of Family
Affairs.
Divorce in a family with children
Divorce is a crisis which affects all members of the family.
Social workers and child support officers at the City’s
Department of Family Affairs provide practical help and
guidance for divorcing families. Agreements regarding the
children are drawn up with a child support officer.
The children’s legal guardian has the right to make all
decisions concerning the children, including the way the
children are brought up, where they live, where they are
educated and cared for and what they are called. He/she also
has the right to apply for passports for the children, open
bank accounts for them and decide on their religion and
language. The authorities only disclose information related
to the children to the legal guardian.
If you have any questions regarding guardianship, please
contact the Department of Family Affairs.
Department of Family Affairs
Tuira Social Services, Tuirankartano
Kangastie 16, 4th floor
Postal address: Department of Family Affairs, P.O. Box 25,
90015 City of Oulu
Information: 08 5584 4858
Secretary: 08 5584 4863
The Department of Family Affairs employs child support
officers and social workers.
Child support officers
Child support officers verify the paternity of children
born outside marriage. They also provide help for divorcing
families and draw up agreements on the care, living
arrangements, access rights and maintenance of children
whose parents are separated.
Appointments can be made during the phone consultation
hour on Mon–Fri from 10 am to 11 am.
The applicable telephone number varies according to the
surname of the person liable to pay child maintenance (in
matters related to maintenance agreements) or the surname of
the father (in matters related to the establishment of
paternity).
A–K, tel. 08 5584 4875
L–Pe, tel. 08 5584 4876
Pf–Ö, tel. 08 5584 6236
Social workers
Social workers at the Department of Family Affairs give
reports on child care, living arrangements and access rights
in civil cases if requested to do so by the court.
During the assessment period, social workers work with
all family members, make home visits and cooperate with
other relevant authorities if necessary. Based on the
negotiations and meetings, social workers create a written
report for the court.
Social workers also give general phone guidance regarding
the best possible care, living arrangement and access rights
option for the child.
Social worker: 08 5584 4945
Social worker: 08 5584 4946
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