If a child does not live with one parent, contact can mean visits, overnight stays or calls. In Sweden, the arrangement should fit the child’s needs and be safe for them.
Sweden · Checked 17 September 2026
Umgänge is the Swedish word for this contact. There is no standard timetable giving every parent half the child’s time or a fixed share of nights.
For a child, contact may include a weekend together, a shorter visit or another way of staying in touch.
A written contact agreement approved by the municipal social welfare committee can be enforced like a court judgment. The committee checks that it is suitable for the child.
A private calendar entry does not have the same effect. Familjerätten, the municipal family law service, can explain agreements and voluntary cooperation talks.
A parent bringing a disputed claim normally first attends an information meeting within the previous year. This can be an individual meeting. Exceptions are possible, including urgent protection needs.
The district court can decide contact and make a temporary arrangement while a case continues. The child should be informed and heard without being made responsible for choosing.
Swedish law gives particular weight to risks of violence, abuse and other harm. Contact can be adapted, limited or stopped where necessary. Supported contact means help is provided during contact for a period; it does not make an unsafe arrangement suitable.
Travel costs may also need to be shared reasonably, taking both parents’ finances and other circumstances into account.
This guide explains general rules and services. It does not assess your individual case.
Information checked on 17 September 2026.
Based on the original article by Elisabeth Scholander.
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