Från skepticism till lovprisande – vad nu? - Synen på gemensam vårdnad över tid i svensk rätt
(2026) JURM02 20261Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract
- Until 1976, parents’ options for joint custody were limited. This type of child custody was only permitted for married parents living together. Since then, the rules on joint custody have undergone extensive reform.
This thesis examines whether the view of joint custody has changed over time in Swedish law. This is done through two sub-studies. The first sub-study is legal-dogmatic and addresses how parents can obtain joint custody, as well as how this type of child custody is affected in the event of a divorce or separation. This section also outlines the circumstances that the court must consider when examining the custody issue and its authority to decide on joint custody. The second sub-study is legal-historical and describes the... (More) - Until 1976, parents’ options for joint custody were limited. This type of child custody was only permitted for married parents living together. Since then, the rules on joint custody have undergone extensive reform.
This thesis examines whether the view of joint custody has changed over time in Swedish law. This is done through two sub-studies. The first sub-study is legal-dogmatic and addresses how parents can obtain joint custody, as well as how this type of child custody is affected in the event of a divorce or separation. This section also outlines the circumstances that the court must consider when examining the custody issue and its authority to decide on joint custody. The second sub-study is legal-historical and describes the views on joint custody that have been presented in parliamentary publications and other preparatory works from 1973 up to the present day. The legal-historical study contributes to an understanding of the historical perspectives that have influenced current law. In this way, the two-sub studies are linked.
The study reveals that the historically most prominent argument for joint custody has been that this type of child custody serves the child’s need for close and good contact with both parents. However, since 1 January 2025, the contact principle is no longer mentioned in the provision on the best interests of the child. This change was introduced despite preparatory works indicating that it could potentially lead to fewer court decisions on joint custody. The thesis concludes that there has been a shift in the view of joint custody over time. Joint custody is still described as a desirable type of child custody, and this is reflected in current law in several respects. However, the objective no longer appears to be to promote an increased use of joint custody. The interest in protecting children from harm has grown stronger.
The thesis also shows that joint custody has been described as a type of child custody that may have both conflict-reducing and conflict-inducing effects. The current legal framework can be said to reflect both perspectives. On the one hand, joint custody remains after divorce and separation to prevent further conflict between parents. On the other hand, unmarried parents do not automatically receive joint custody upon establishment of paternity, due to concerns that this could lead to more disputes. Moreover, the wording of Chapter 6, Section 5, second paragraph of the Children and Parents Code may be understood as reflecting the view that provisions on joint custody can affect the level of conflict between parents. Joint custody has also been considered to promote equal parenting. This view is still expressed today through the relatively simple procedures offered to unmarried parents who agree to establish joint custody. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Fram till 1976 var föräldrars möjligheter till gemensam vårdnad begränsade. Vårdnadsformen var endast tillåten för gifta föräldrar som bodde tillsammans. Sedan dess har reglerna om gemensam vårdnad genomgått en omfattande reformering.
I uppsatsen undersöks om synen på gemensam vårdnad har förändrats över tid i svensk rätt. Detta sker genom två delstudier. Den första delstudien är rättsdogmatisk och behandlar hur föräldrar kan få gemensam vårdnad samt hur denna vårdnadsform påverkas vid en eventuell äktenskapsskillnad eller separation. I denna del fastställs även vilka omständigheter domstolen ska beakta vid prövningen av vårdnadsfrågan samt vilken behörighet den har att besluta om gemensam vårdnad. Den andra delstudien är rättshistorisk... (More) - Fram till 1976 var föräldrars möjligheter till gemensam vårdnad begränsade. Vårdnadsformen var endast tillåten för gifta föräldrar som bodde tillsammans. Sedan dess har reglerna om gemensam vårdnad genomgått en omfattande reformering.
I uppsatsen undersöks om synen på gemensam vårdnad har förändrats över tid i svensk rätt. Detta sker genom två delstudier. Den första delstudien är rättsdogmatisk och behandlar hur föräldrar kan få gemensam vårdnad samt hur denna vårdnadsform påverkas vid en eventuell äktenskapsskillnad eller separation. I denna del fastställs även vilka omständigheter domstolen ska beakta vid prövningen av vårdnadsfrågan samt vilken behörighet den har att besluta om gemensam vårdnad. Den andra delstudien är rättshistorisk och beskriver vilka uppfattningar om gemensam vårdnad som har framställts i riksdagstryck och övriga förarbeten från 1973 fram till idag. Den rättshistoriska metoden bidrar till en förståelse för vilka historiska synsätt som har påverkat gällande rätt. På så sätt sammankopplas de två delstudierna.
Undersökningen visar att det historiskt sett mest framträdande argumentet för gemensam vårdnad har varit att vårdnadsformen tillgodoser barnets behov av en nära och god kontakt med båda föräldrarna. Sedan den 1 januari 2025 omnämns dock inte kontaktprincipen i portalparagrafen om barnets bästa. Ändringen infördes trots att det i förarbetena angavs att den potentiellt kunde leda till färre domstolsbeslut om gemensam vårdnad. I uppsatsen nås slutsatsen att det har skett en förskjutning i synen på gemensam vårdnad över tid. Gemensam vårdnad beskrivs fortfarande som en bra vårdnadsform och denna uppfattning speglas i gällande rätt i flera avseenden. Målsättningen tycks dock inte längre vara att främja en ökad användning av gemensam vårdnad. Intresset av att skydda barn från att fara illa har vuxit sig starkare.
Uppsatsen visar även att gemensam vårdnad har beskrivits som en vårdnadsform som kan verka både konfliktdämpande och konfliktdrivande. Nuvarande regelverk kan sägas spegla båda synsätten. Å ena sidan kvarstår den gemensamma vårdnaden efter äktenskapsskillnad och separation för att förhindra ytterligare konflikter mellan föräldrarna. Å andra sidan får ogifta föräldrar inte gemensam vårdnad automatiskt från faderskapsfastställelsen på grund av farhågan att det skulle leda till fler tvister. Utformningen av 6 kap. 5 § andra stycket FB kan även förstås utifrån uppfattningen att reglerna om gemensam vårdnad kan påverka konfliktnivån mellan föräldrar. Gemensam vårdnad har därutöver ansetts främja ett jämställt föräldraskap. Detta synsätt kommer till uttryck än idag genom de förhållandevis enkla rutiner som erbjuds ogifta föräldrar som är överens om att få till stånd gemensam vårdnad. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9227145
- author
- Landgren, Tova LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- From skepticism to praise – what now? - Views on joint custody over time in Swedish law
- course
- JURM02 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
- subject
- keywords
- familjerätt, rättshistoria, gemensam vårdnad
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9227145
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-09 14:57:56
- date last changed
- 2026-06-09 14:57:56
@misc{9227145,
abstract = {{Until 1976, parents’ options for joint custody were limited. This type of child custody was only permitted for married parents living together. Since then, the rules on joint custody have undergone extensive reform.
This thesis examines whether the view of joint custody has changed over time in Swedish law. This is done through two sub-studies. The first sub-study is legal-dogmatic and addresses how parents can obtain joint custody, as well as how this type of child custody is affected in the event of a divorce or separation. This section also outlines the circumstances that the court must consider when examining the custody issue and its authority to decide on joint custody. The second sub-study is legal-historical and describes the views on joint custody that have been presented in parliamentary publications and other preparatory works from 1973 up to the present day. The legal-historical study contributes to an understanding of the historical perspectives that have influenced current law. In this way, the two-sub studies are linked.
The study reveals that the historically most prominent argument for joint custody has been that this type of child custody serves the child’s need for close and good contact with both parents. However, since 1 January 2025, the contact principle is no longer mentioned in the provision on the best interests of the child. This change was introduced despite preparatory works indicating that it could potentially lead to fewer court decisions on joint custody. The thesis concludes that there has been a shift in the view of joint custody over time. Joint custody is still described as a desirable type of child custody, and this is reflected in current law in several respects. However, the objective no longer appears to be to promote an increased use of joint custody. The interest in protecting children from harm has grown stronger.
The thesis also shows that joint custody has been described as a type of child custody that may have both conflict-reducing and conflict-inducing effects. The current legal framework can be said to reflect both perspectives. On the one hand, joint custody remains after divorce and separation to prevent further conflict between parents. On the other hand, unmarried parents do not automatically receive joint custody upon establishment of paternity, due to concerns that this could lead to more disputes. Moreover, the wording of Chapter 6, Section 5, second paragraph of the Children and Parents Code may be understood as reflecting the view that provisions on joint custody can affect the level of conflict between parents. Joint custody has also been considered to promote equal parenting. This view is still expressed today through the relatively simple procedures offered to unmarried parents who agree to establish joint custody.}},
author = {{Landgren, Tova}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Från skepticism till lovprisande – vad nu? - Synen på gemensam vårdnad över tid i svensk rätt}},
year = {{2026}},
}