One of the contractual matters concerning a child is child maintenance. Child support is a monthly sum of money that the non-resident parent pays to the child, thereby contributing to the child's maintenance.
Child support is confirmed by an agreement or a District Court decision.
The parent who, after the separation, no longer lives at the same address as the child pays child support to the parent with whom the child is registered as living.
If the child lives alternately with both of you, the possible child support can be ordered to be paid by either parent, regardless of which one the child is registered as living with. Our walk-in service can support you on matters relating to child maintenance. You can come to us together with the other parent to agree on continuing or amending your child maintenance agreement or decision.
This may be the case, for example, when your ability to contribute to the child's maintenance is affected by unemployment.
However, if you and the other parent are preparing your first child maintenance agreement or if determining the amount of child support requires more investigation than usual due to entrepreneurship, for example, please book a normal negotiation appointment through the centralised appointment booking service.
The walk-in service requires the presence of both parents, and it is only intended for handling child support matters.
The walk-in service is open once a month on 26.8., 16.9., 28.10., 25.11. ja 16.12.2025
Queue numbers are available from 8.30-9.30 when both parents are present and forms have been filled in. You can get a queue number when both parents are present. Queue numbers and the forms for providing a statement of assets and preliminary information are handed out in the lobby area on the ground floor.
The service point is at the City of Helsinki's Family Law Services Unit, Vironkatu 2, 4th floor.
When can I use the walk-in service?
The service can be used to continue or amend a child maintenance agreement in cases such as:
- The main income of the person liable for maintenance comes from, for example
- unemployment benefit
- sickness allowance
- student allowance
- other Kela benefits.
- The person liable for maintenance is unable to pay the confirmed payments due to low income.
- The parents wish to continue the maintenance agreement for an amount they have agreed on together, which exceeds the child maintenance allowance from Kela.
Both parents must be present to use the service.
When can the walk-in service not be used?
The service is not suitable if:
- The parents are entering their first maintenance agreement.
- The child has moved from one parent to another.
- One of the parents is self-employed.
- The child alternates between living with each parent.
- The parents have assets beyond basic social security (e.g., investments or real estate).
- The matter concerns an education grant agreement for a child aged 18 or over.
Unsure of what to do?
If you are unsure, contact the Child Welfare Supervisors' telephone counselling service at +358 9 310 43447 before your visit. The service is open Mon–Fri 9.00–11.00 and Wed 15.30–17.30.
Walk-in service dates and location
| Service dates in 2025 |
|---|
| Tue 16 September |
| Tue 28 October |
| Tue 25 November |
| Tue 16 December |
Address: Vironkatu 2, 4th floor, Helsinki
Registration: Lobby, 8.30–9.30
The service operates on a queue number system.
A queue number will be issued once both parents are present and the necessary forms have been completed (see links below). Filling in the forms in advance will speed up the process.
The maximum time spent with the child welfare supervisor is 30 minutes per family.
Forms to complete in advance:
Preliminary information form (.docx, in Finnish)
Asset information form (.docx, in Finnish)
What to bring?
Bring the following documents to the visit:
- Identification for both parents
- Any previous maintenance agreements concluded outside Helsinki
- Any court decisions concerning the child
- Receipts of income and expenditure listed on the asset statement. Receipts may be shown on your phone as screenshots or sent securely to the child welfare supervisor during the meeting. Ensure they are easily accessible.
Please note: Without the necessary documents, your case cannot be processed at the walk-in service.
