Divorce in Finland is a no-fault process that does not require agreement from both parties. Here is how it works.
Either spouse can apply for divorce at the district court (käräjäoikeus). No grounds need to be stated. You can apply alone or jointly. The application can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. The court fee is about 260 euros.
After filing, there is a mandatory 6-month reconsideration period. After this period, you must file a second application to finalise the divorce. If both spouses agree and have lived separately for at least 2 years, the reconsideration period can be skipped.
Parents are encouraged to agree on custody, living arrangements, and child support through mediation. If parents cannot agree, the court decides based on the best interest of the child. Joint custody is the most common arrangement. Child support is calculated based on both parents incomes and the child needs.
After divorce, marital property is divided. Unless a prenuptial agreement exists, both spouses have a right to equalisation of property (the wealthier spouse compensates the other). This applies to the total assets, not individual items. A partition can be done by agreement or by a court-appointed distributor.
Free family mediation is available through your municipality social services. Legal aid (oikeusapu) is available for low-income individuals. Many municipalities offer support groups for people going through divorce. The child welfare services can also provide support for families in transition.
Common mistake
Not filing the second application after the reconsideration period. The divorce does not happen automatically — you must actively request it after 6 months, within one year.
Good to know
Finland has no-fault divorce, meaning neither spouse needs to prove wrongdoing. This makes the process less adversarial and faster than in many other countries.