Yhdistelmäsuhde

Yhdistelmäsuhde, often translated as "composite relationship" or "combined relationship," is a Finnish term used in the context of family law, particularly concerning child custody and child support arrangements. It refers to a situation where a child lives with one parent for a portion of the time and with the other parent for the remaining time, but the division of time is not strictly equal, nor is it always a precisely defined number of days or weeks.

This arrangement is often contrasted with sole custody or shared custody where the time spent with each parent is either minimal or exactly 50/50. In a yhdistelmäsuhde, the child might spend, for example, weekends and some weekdays with one parent and the majority of the week with the other. The specific schedule is typically agreed upon by the parents or determined by a court based on the child's best interests.

The determination of child support in a yhdistelmäsuhde can be complex. While the principle of both parents contributing to the child's upbringing remains, the calculation of support payments takes into account the amount of time the child spends with each parent, the financial situations of both parents, and the child's needs. The goal is to ensure the child's well-being and to distribute the financial responsibility fairly. This type of arrangement emphasizes flexibility and is often chosen when parents live relatively close to each other and can cooperate to some degree for the child's benefit.