Children's wellbeing

Parental responsibility

Parents should care for children's wellbeing even after divorce.

The rising number of international couples and families is resulting in a rising number of cross-border disputes, which often affect children's wellbeing.

Parental responsibility: when parents live together, they usually share responsibility for their children. But if they divorce or separate, they have to decide on how this responsibility is exercised in future and who should have custody of the children.

Maintenance obligations: family members are required by law to help each other. Parents must look after their children, usually in the form of maintenance payments, depending on who has custody of the children.