Children who live with violence are affected even when they are not hit. There is help for them, and for you as a parent when you need to agree on custody and contact after violence.
This is general information, not legal advice. Each service was checked against its own website on 6 November 2026. Rules change: read what the service itself says before you decide.
Who can help
Family counselling office (familievernkontoret): mediation
Free mediation (mekling) when parents separate, to agree on where the children live and contact. If there has been violence, you can ask for separate mediation, so you meet at different times.
Who it is for Parents with children under 16 who separate, or who disagree on parental responsibility, where the child lives or contact and are thinking of going to court.
First step Call a family counselling office to book a time. If there has been violence, ask for separate mediation.
Statens barnehus
Where children who may have been exposed to, or seen, violence or sexual abuse are interviewed in a way that suits their age, and get health checks and follow-up.
Who it is for Children and young people under 18, and adults with an intellectual or other disability who need extra support.
First step It starts with a report to the police. Worried about a child? You can call the barnehus anonymously and get advice.
Child welfare services (barnevernet) and the out-of-hours service (barnevernsvakta)
Barnevernet helps children and families. Most families in contact with it get support at home. On evenings and weekends, barnevernsvakta is the emergency service.
Who it is for Parents who need help and support to give their children proper care, and anyone worried that a child is exposed to violence.
First step Contact barnevernet in the municipality where the child lives, or barnevernsvakta out of hours. You can talk it through anonymously and ask for an interpreter.
Supervised contact (samvær med tilsyn)
A court can decide that contact with a parent takes place with a supervisor. Bufetat arranges supported supervision; the municipal child welfare service handles protected supervision.
Who it is for Families where a court decision says that a parent's contact with the child must be supervised.
First step After the court decision, the parent who has contact sends Bufetat a request with the decision, and Bufetat appoints a supervisor.
Alarmtelefonen for children and young people
Child welfare's free helpline, open day and night, for children and young people who have a hard time at home. Adults worried about a child can contact it too.
Who it is for Children and young people who are having problems or a hard time at home, and adults who are worried about a child.
First step Call at any time, or chat in the evening. You do not have to say who you are.
Numbers
Emergency helpline for children and young people
Call 116 111SMS: 417 16 111For children and young people aged 7–18 facing violence or neglect, and for worried adults. Free.
Phone 24/7. Chat and SMS 16:15–22:45 (Saturday until 23:45).
Ask Askepott
Not sure what fits you? Ask in your own words, or press an example. Nothing you write is stored.
Other topics
- Money to live on in NorwayHelp with money when you leave an abusive partner in Norway: Nav social assistance, help in an emergency, single-parent support, child support and free debt advice.
- A safe place to live in NorwaySomewhere safe to stay when you leave violence in Norway: crisis centres for women, men and children, temporary housing from Nav, and help with the rent.
- Free legal help in NorwayFree or low-cost legal help in Norway when you live with violence: free legal aid, a victim's lawyer, and the student-run legal clinics JURK, Jussbuss, Jussformidlingen and Jusshjelpa.
- The police and protection in NorwayReporting violence in Norway, restraining orders, a personal alarm, a protected address, the Support Centre for Victims of Crime and compensation for victims of violence.
- Your residence permit if you leave in NorwayIf your residence permit in Norway depends on your partner: the UDI rule for people who have been abused, crisis centres for everyone, and your right to an interpreter.
- Health care and help after sexual assault in NorwayHealth care after violence in Norway: the out-of-hours medical centre, sexual assault centres, your GP, and support centres for people who have been sexually abused.
- Help for particular groups in NorwayHelp in Norway for men, LGBTQ+ people, older people, disabled people, Sámi people and people facing forced marriage or negative social control.