Four political parties support legal recognition for more than two parents per child

Four of Finland’s parliamentary parties have expressed support for allowing a child to have more than two legal parents, according to a survey by the Rainbow Families Association (Sateenkaariperheet ry). The proposal received more backing than opposition, though party positions remain divided.

Under current Finnish law, a child may have a maximum of two legal parents, who hold rights to visitation, inheritance, and child support obligations. However, an increasing number of children grow up in households where more than two adults function as parents in practice, the association notes.

Juha Jämsä, executive director of Rainbow Families, highlighted visitation rights as a key concern. “If there’s a separation, conflict, or death, the risk is that the child loses contact with some of their parents,” he said. Only legal parents are guaranteed these rights, along with financial responsibilities and inheritance claims.

The survey, conducted earlier this year, found clear support from the National Coalition Party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Left Alliance, and the Green League. SDP MP Lotta Hamari, chair of the parliamentary Diverse Families group, emphasized the gap between legal recognition and family realities: “This is primarily about children’s rights. The situation on paper doesn’t always match the actual family dynamic.”

Maggie Keskinen, secretary of the governing National Coalition Party, stressed that recognizing a child’s important relationships “wouldn’t take anything away from anyone.” The party supports exploring a multi-parent model and assessing its implications.

Opposition came primarily from the Christian Democrats, who explicitly rejected the proposal. The Swedish People’s Party (RKP) acknowledged the need to review legislation amid growing family diversity, while the Centre Party—historically opposed—left room for potential policy shifts at its upcoming summer conference. The Finns Party and the Movement Now did not respond to the survey.

The issue affects various family structures, including co-parenting arrangements where, for example, a same-sex couple and a single individual share parental responsibilities from birth. Jämsä estimated hundreds, if not thousands, of such families exist in Finland’s rainbow community alone. Uusperheet (blended families) and foster families may also involve more than two de facto parents.

A 2022 government report identified legal challenges faced by diverse families. Implementing multi-parent recognition would require amendments to both the Parenthood Act and adoption laws. The topic is expected to surface in several party conferences in the coming months.