Written communication between parents
Text messages, emails and messages sent through apps often become central to the case because they show how you and the other parent actually communicate. The court considers whether there is a willingness to co-operate, or whether the communication is characterised by conflict, accusations or obstacles to contact with your child. Often, this communication reveals more about parenting capacity than what either party says in court.
Witnesses
Witness evidence can be relevant, but the court treats evidence from witnesses with close ties to either party with caution. Evidence from independent people, such as school staff or professionals providing treatment, may carry greater weight.
Records of everyday life
Records showing how contact with your child has worked over time, patterns of missed collections or drop-offs, and how responsibilities have been shared in practice are used to assess stability and the ability to care for your child – rather than focusing on isolated incidents.
Recordings, images and medical evidence
Recordings, images and other technical evidence are always assessed with caution, as the court considers the context surrounding the material. Medical evidence, for example from BUP (Sweden’s child and adolescent psychiatric services) or other healthcare providers, can be particularly important where it concerns your child’s wellbeing and needs.
Your child’s own account
Your child’s wishes may be taken into account, but they are never the sole deciding factor. The court assesses whether your child’s views are free from influence and whether your child is mature enough to understand the situation.
The overall picture is decisive
What matters is rarely a single piece of evidence, but the overall picture: patterns over time, how well you and the other parent co-operate, how stable your child’s everyday life is, and which arrangement will give your child security in the long term.