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Oslo - Divorce

The divorce law in Norway requires that the spouses go through a period of separation lasting one year, when they live apart and are financially independent, but legally still married. If there are children involved, the divorcing spouses are required by law to go through mediation (mekling), arranged by a family counsellor, in order to come to an agreement about arrangements for the children. When an agreement has been reached, this will go into the certificate of mediation (meklingsattest), which is to be enclosed with the divorce paperwork. A divorce can also be granted (without separation) if the spouses have lived apart for two years, if there has been abuse or if the spouses are closely related. If one of the divorcees struggles financially as a result of the divorce, is unemployed or faces hardship when responsible for the children, he or she can claim financial support (økonomisk støtte) from the other parent/divorcee. In any case, the parent who has custody of the children has the right to receive child support (barnebidrag) from the other parent (deducted from the salary).

If you are a foreign citizen getting divorced while you live as an ex pat in Norway, there might be consequences for your residence permit. The dependent spouse might not get his or her residence permit renewed, if it was obtained based on a relationship (cohabitation) or marriage to a Norwegian citizen. Special rules apply, depending on your circumstances and the situation for the children (education, under the age of 18, etc). For more information, contact the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration at:

Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI)
Hausmannsgt. 21
Oslo
Norway
Tel: + 47 (23) 35 1500/+ 47 (23) 35 1600 (info. 9-14)
website: http://http://www.udi.no

To apply for a divorce, you need to contact the County Governor (fylkesmann) for application papers, at the following address:

Fylkesmannen i Oslo, Asker and Bærum
Tordenskioldsg. 12
Oslo
Norway
Tel: + 47 (22) 00 3500

You can also contact a solicitor or one of the following family counsellors.

Family counselling offices in Oslo:

  • Aker familiekontor 
     Smedg. 49
    Oslo
    0651
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (23) 24 4580
    Fax: + 47 (23) 24 4590
  • Sentrum familiekontor
    Holbergsg. 5
    Oslo
    0166
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (22) 36 8920
    Fax: + 47 (22) 36 8939
  • Østensjø familiekontor 
    Bølervn. 24,
    Oslo
    0620
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (22) 75 7270
    Fax: + 47 (22) 75 7271
  • Sagene familiekontor 
    Ullevål sykehus
    Oslo
    0407
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (22) 11 8498
    Fax: + 47 (22) 11 7630
  • Kirkens Familierådgivningskontor - Uranienborg 
     (run by the church)
    Eilert Sundtsg. 34
    Oslo
    0259
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (23) 28 3940
    Fax: + 47 (23) 28 3950
  • Kirkens Familierådgivningskontor -Holmlia 
    (run by the church)
    Holmlia Senterv. 9
    Oslo
    1255
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (22) 76 3890
    Fax: + 47 (22) 76 3899
  • Munchs gate familiekontor
    Barne- og familieetaten
    Munchs gt. 5 B 
    Oslo
    0130
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (23) 42 8180
    Fax: + 47 (23) 42 8181

Family counselling offices in Asker and Bærum:

  • Kirkens Familierådgivning i Asker og Bærum
    (run by the church)
    Løkketangen 20
    Sandvika
    1302
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (67) 55 9523
    Fax: + 47 (67) 54 9343
  • Asker- og Bærumklinikken Familievernkontoret 
    Løkketangen 10 A
    Sandvika
    1301
    Norway
    Tel: + 47 (67) 55 1770
    Fax: + 47 (67)55 1771
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