Contact Rights
Contact Rights
Contact Rights
Contact rights are the right of both parents to maintain a personal relationship with their children, including personal contact. You can find all details about contact rights here on Finanz & Recht | Austria.
Duty of Good Conduct
When exercising contact rights, the duty of good conduct applies. Each parent must refrain from doing anything that could impair the child’s relationship with the other parent or make their tasks more difficult.
Dr Mariella Stubhann MPM MBAFinanz & Recht „Die Eltern sind daher durch das Gesetz zur Kooperation verpflichtet. Aktionen, welche dem Kindeswohl schaden, sind zu unterlassen.“
Amicable Agreement or Court Decision
According to the law, personal contact between parents and child should primarily be arranged by mutual agreement between the parents.
If an amicable agreement cannot be reached, the court must determine the contact rights upon application by the child or a parent. The contact rights should be structured in such a way that the person entitled to contact can provide care both in everyday life and during leisure time.
Dr Mariella Stubhann MPM MBAFinanz & Recht „Beide Elternteile haben daher nicht bloß das Recht, elterliche Pflichtaufgaben durchzuführen, sondern auch wertvolle und schöne Zeiten mit dem Kind zu verbringen. “
When determining the frequency, the age, needs, and wishes of the child must always be taken into account. The court can also completely prohibit or restrict existing contact rights for the welfare of the child (for example, in cases of violence).
Existing Contact Rights
Existing contact rights can be legally enforced by the child against the parent as well as by the parent entitled to contact against the child.
Dr Mariella Stubhann MPM MBAFinanz & Recht „Das Gericht kann hierbei sogenannte Besuchsmittler (Personen der Familiengerichtshilfe) einsetzen, um die Durchführung des Kontaktrechts zu überwachen und zu erleichtern. “
Children’s Applications
From the age of 14, children can independently file applications regulating their care, upbringing, and visitation rights. From this point on, they can no longer be forced against their will to carry out contact rights.
