FAMILY RELATIONS

  1. MARRIAGE OR CIVIL PARTNERSHIP

In the Republic of Slovenia married and unmarried couples who have been living together for a longer period of time are equal under the law. This means that couples, married or unmarried, have equal rights and obligations. It is important that partners are equal. Any form of violence towards your partner or family member is forbidden, this includes physical, psychological, sexual and economic violence.

  1. CARING FOR CHILDREN

In Slovenia, caring for children is an obligation and a right of both parents. When it comes to all activities and decisions concerning the child, parents must consider the child’s best interests, this being his or her wellbeing, prosperity and development. Parents are obliged to support children until 18 years of age or if a child continues schooling, until 26 years of age. Parents cannot neglect children. Any form of violence (physical, psychological, economic or sexual violence), including corporal punishment, is forbidden.

  1. SEPARATION

Sometimes differences between partners can lead to a decision that the spouses or partners want to end their relationship. They can then opt for divorce or separation. Spouses can divorce consensually or in a court of law. Spouses who do not have sufficient means of subsistence can during the divorce procedure apply for free legal aid.

  1. INHERITANCE

In the case of your death, your assets are divided among surviving family members. The rules of inheritance are equal for married and unmarried couples. All children are equal, regardless of whether they were born in wedlock and regardless of their gender. There are two ways of inheriting in Slovenia: by will or by law. By law assets are divided among the partner and the children, by will with respect to wish of the bequeather.

  1. AID IN CASE OF VIOLENCE

Victims of violence need to know they are not alone and that there is a well-developed system of protection and measures against violence in place in Slovenia. Report violence to the Police at phone number 113. You can turn to Social Services for help. Apart from counselling, victims can also get accommodation in safe houses and crisis centres. Violence presents an expression of powerlessness and in Slovenia there are programmes in place which offer counselling to aggressors, to change their behavioural patterns. Many NGOs provide persons granted international protection and their family members free psychosocial and legal aid.