Divorced parents argue longer and harder over child custody

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By Leena Sandström
     
      Social workers in Finland’s larger cities report that disputes over custody of children have become more complicated and more acrimonious than before.
      "There can be two or three rounds in a court of appeals, after which a new round starts in district court. The situations are increasingly difficult and complicated", says Ella Mäntylä, head social worker at the family affairs unit of Tampere.
      Maritta Pesonen, head of social affairs in the City of Vantaa, says that the disputes increasingly involve the courts, and that quite ruthless measures are sometimes employed in disputes over children.
     
The increasingly difficult disputes have caused a backlog of requests by courts to social welfare officials for reports on individual cases. The situation is worst in Espoo, where it can take up to a year to get such a report.
      In Helsinki, Tampere, and Vantaa, work on a report generally can begin within a couple of months. In Vantaa it can go even faster. In Turku the time varies, but no serious delays have been reported.
     
The reports, which are very time-consuming, are usually completed and sent to the court in just over six months in most cities. However, in Espoo the investigation has often not even begun at that point.
      "In some large areas, especially Leppävaara, unreasonably long backlogs have emerged. We often have to ask for more time, and judges have even complained to Espoo about it. We must now seriously look in to this issue", says Marja-Leena Remes, head of family and social services in Espoo.
      The backlog is made worse by the fact that the increased demand for child protection services takes a large part of social workers’ time. In addition, in a city where there are many families with children, the need for statements has multiplied in recent years, and officials were not prepared for that.
      The large turnover in regional social workers is also a problem.
     
More complaints are made to provincial authorities about child custody and visitation issues in Espoo than in Helsinki or Vantaa.
      "Handling these kinds of matters takes very long in Espoo. The situation is reflected in the fact that Espoo does not adhere to time limits", says Kristiina Hehku, social affairs inspector of the Province of Southern Finland.
     
The effects of living in the midst of disputes is also reflected in the well-being of the children, although most parents do not notice it.
      "Last year nearly half of the children in these reports were getting some assistance, or were in need of it. About one quarter of them were getting help from child welfare authorities, and the number appears to have grown", Ella Mäntylä says.
      The number of divorces involving parents of two different cultures has also increased in recent years. In extreme cases the disputes can lead to the abduction of the child to another country.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 29.10.2004

More on this subject:
 BACKGROUND: A child has the right to both parents

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Court of Appeals suspends return of boys in international custody dispute (29.10.2004)

LEENA SANDSTRÖM / Helsingin Sanomat
leena.sandström@sanoma.fi