Family Law
Marriage, divorce, child custody, child maintenance, protection from domestic violence, adoption, inheritance and parental duties under Icelandic law.
Covered in this guide:
Marriage and divorce in Iceland fall under Hjúskaparlög (the Marriage Act, Lög nr. 31/1993) — minimum age 18, gender-neutral since 2010. A divorce can be granted immediately by mutual consent or after 6 months of separation, through the Sýslumaður (District Commissioner). Custody, paternity and maintenance follow Barnalög (the Children's Act, Lög nr. 76/2003) — joint custody is the default and the benchmark is the best interests of the child. Domestic violence is dealt with in Almenn hegningarlög (the General Penal Code, Lög nr. 19/1940) and Lög um nálgunarbann (the Restraining Orders Act, Lög nr. 85/2011). Inheritance follows Lög nr. 8/1962 with a forced-heirship share.
Key Laws
Hjúskaparlög
Lög nr. 31/1993
Formation of marriage, matrimonial property, divorce process, same-sex marriage
Barnalög
Lög nr. 76/2003
Custody, paternity, maintenance, contact rights, the best interests of the child
Lög um nálgunarbann
Lög nr. 85/2011
Restraining orders in domestic violence, removal of the abuser from the home
Erfðalög
Lög nr. 8/1962
Inheritance rules, the forced-heirship share of spouse and children
Marriage
Iceland's Marriage Act is gender-neutral — same-sex marriage has been legal since June 2010.Minimum age: 18 — no exceptions.Monogamy requirement: You cannot marry while already married.Prohibited...
Divorce
Iceland has a two-track system for ending a marriage:Route A — Legal separation, then full divorce:Either spouse can request a legal separation from the District Commissioner.A divorce can be granted...
Child Custody
Icelandic custody law is based on the benchmark of the best interests of the child:Joint custody is the default after divorce or the dissolution of a registered cohabitation.Parents can agree to...
Child Maintenance
Parents are legally obliged to support their child until it turns 18:Minimum maintenance: 50,634 kr. per month (from 1 January 2026). This amount is reviewed annually — check the current figure on...
Protection from Domestic Violence
Iceland provides strong protection against domestic violence:Restraining orders (Lög nr. 85/2011):The police can impose a 72-hour restraining order to prevent an abuser from approaching a victim.The...
Adoption
Adoption in Iceland is based on the benchmark of the best interests of the child:Minimum age of adopters: 25 (exception: 20 in special circumstances).Married couples or cohabitants (in cohabitation...
Inheritance
Iceland has a mandatory forced-heirship system — certain heirs cannot be disinherited:Forced heirs: The spouse and children (including legitimate, illegitimate and adopted children equally).The...
Parental Duties
Icelandic law defines the rights and duties of parents towards their children:Marriage/registered cohabitation: The husband or cohabiting partner is automatically registered as the father. Joint...