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The child's place of residence and contact arrangements

Parents are free to agree on arrangements regarding parental responsibility, the child's place of residence, and access and contact arrangements. In the event of a separation, married and cohabiting parents with children under the age of 16 are

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility includes the rights and responsibilities of a parent in relation to the child or the property of the child. Parental responsibility shall be exercised according to the child’s interests and needs. The opinion of the child

Parental responsibility and travelling abroad with children

You will find information here about the Norwegian regulations relating to parental responsibility and the right to travel abroad with children.

Abduction from the Child Welfare Services

When the Child Welfare Services have taken over care of a child, it will be considered wrongful child abduction to travel to another country with the child without the consent of the Child Welfare Services.

Emergency situation

If you have parental responsibility for a child that is about to be abducted from Norway, you should contact the police immediately by going to your nearest police station or by calling the following telephone number: 02800. The police can assist in

From Norway to another country – lawyer in Norway

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security and / or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide extensive assistance and guidance in child abduction cases, and are also responsible for forwarding applications for the return of the abducted child and

From Norway to another country – lawyer abroad

If your child has been abducted and you need support with foreign legal fees, you must first find out what kind of support is available in the country to which the child has been abducted.

From another country to Norway – lawyer in Norway

If your child has been abducted and you need help with legal fees in Norway, you can apply for support through the Norwegian legal aid scheme.

Legislations

Legislation The Children Act The Child Abduction Act Act relating to free legal aid General Civil Penal Code (see section 216) Conventions Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction of 25 October 1980 (the Hague

Forms

For applications in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1980, please use the following forms: Forms in English: Application for repatriation/access (PDF) Application for repatriation/access (Word) Forms in Norwegian: Søknad om tilbakelevering/

International conventions

To or from a signatory state - the Hague Convention To or from a signatory state - the Counsil of Europe Convention Guides to the Hague convention Guide to Good Practice Child Abduction Convention: Part I - Central Authority Practice Guide to Good

Other political staff

Settlement of refugees

Settlement with public assistance is a voluntary service offered by the Norwegian government. The Norwegian Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) and municipalitices decides where refugees are setteled.

Division of responsibility in the Child Welfare Services

Both the local and central authorities have duties and responsibilities in the child welfare field. The municipality is responsible for performing those functions under the Child Welfare Services Act which are not assigned to a central government

Legal assistance

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide guidance in child abduction cases. There is often also a need for legal assistance from a lawyer/legal practitioner.

Financial assistance

As a general rule, you must cover your own legal expenses. However, you may apply for support under the free legal aid scheme.

Assistance provided by the Norwegian authorities

The kind of assistance provided by the Norwegian authorities will depend on whether the child has been abducted to/from a country that has signed an international convention on child abduction. The information on these pages is therefore divided

Parental responsibility and travelling abroad with children

Mediation and parental cooperation

Married couples and cohabitants who have children under 16 and who move apart and parents considering legal action may be allowed up to seven hours of free mediation.

The best interests of the child

Children’s right to be heard and to make their own decisions is regulated in sections 31–33 of the Children Act. There may also be special provisions in other Acts concerning children’s right to be heard and to make their own decisions. Before