Property in a divorce

If you and your spouse are not able to agree on how to divide your property, either party can ask for a division of property (ositus). Division of property can be done immediately after the first divorce application has been filed. You do not need to wait for the six-month reconsideration period to pass.

After you have requested for division of property, the District Court will appoint an executor who will divide your property. The executor will be paid for his or her work.

At the beginning of the division process, an account on the property and debts of each spouse must be given. The website ‘Guide to Finnish Law’ contains information on the documents you will need for division of property.

More information on division of property is available on the Ministry of Justice website.

In divorce situations, property is usually divided equally among both spouses. In exceptional cases property is not divided equally. In these cases, division of property is often mediated. This means that it is considered what is reasonable in the situation at hand. For example, if the marriage has lasted less than five years, property is not necessarily divided equally.

Division of property can only be mediated if one of the spouses so requests.

If you have signed a marital contract, this affects how your property will be divided in divorce.