Counselling by a child expert in the event of a break-up

When you as parents break up, it can be helpful to get some counselling by a child expert

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If you need help with your parental cooperation and to reach an agreement that works well for your child, the Agency of Family Law can offer you, among other things, counselling by a child expert. Such counselling is offered free of charge.

The content of the counselling may vary, depending on the needs of the 2 parents. Many parents need help in simply beginning to cooperate, while others need to talk about what is best for the child or the child’s reactions concerning visitation and the new family situation.

The starting point for counselling by a child expert is that you, as parents, want to cooperate well for the benefit of your child.

Counselling by a child expert is offered to parents – married or unmarried – who need help with parental cooperation and to make agreements that work well for the children. For example, you may disagree about where the child shall live or you may be uncertain about who shall have custody.

Counselling by a child expert is also offered to children.

As a rule, the child expert speaks with the parents first. The parents and child expert then agree on whether or not the child or other parties shall be involved in the conversations. In many cases, doing so succeeds in getting things discussed more constructively, which benefits the child and better satisfies the parents.

If the parents do not wish to receive counselling by a child expert, the counselling can be offered to the child alone. In order for the child to be pleased with, and benefit from the counselling, the child shall have a certain degree of maturity.

If you and the child’s other parent wish to make use of the Agency of Family Law’s offer of counselling by a child expert, you can use the application form ‘Request for counselling by a child expert or conflict mediation’ or apply via familieretshuset.dk. You are also welcome to contact the Agency of Family Law for more information.

Counselling by a child expert is offered free of charge to all parents who have separated.

Counselling by a child expert is a discussion that seeks to find the best solution for your child in the situation at hand. Both you, the child’s other parent, and possibly the child receive advice and guidance from the child expert.

Conflict mediation is a method of helping parents in conflict to arrive at a solution. The conflict mediator steers the process, but you and the child’s other parent are responsible for the outcome.

  • The Act on Parental Responsibility (in Danish)

Written by the Agency of Family Law

Last updated: 23 February 2024

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