Finland Times

The recent Paternity Act has restored opportunities for children born to unmarried couples before 1976 to strengthen their paternity claims. This especially impacts inheritances.

Ministry of Justice Legal Counsellor Salla Silvola believes the number of paternity cases brought before the court may increase as much as twofold in the next few years.

“This phenomenon is not likely to be long-term, however,” she added.

According to Silvola, the number of appeals could spike, because it’s now possible to clear up matters that have long been debated.

The number of paternity action lawsuits brought has averaged about a hundred each year.

Under the old law regarding paternity, unrecognised children born before the autumn of 1976 had the opportunity to sue for paternity through the autumn of 1981.

The Supreme Court, however, ruled the deadline to be unconstitutional in 2012.