# Barnevernet made contact: a step-by-step guide for parents Has barnevernet made contact? A practical step-by-step: read the letter, ask for an interpreter, prepare, and know when to get a lawyer. Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barnevernet-tatt-kontakt-foreldre Language: en Publisher: SamfunnPrep Author: Hlib Suslov Published: 2026-06-21T20:56:52.587+00:00 Modified: 2026-10-23T08:39:08.417864+00:00 AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt ## Key takeaways - Do not ignore – but do not panic Read the letter, understand what the case is about, and prepare calmly instead of hiding or reacting with aggression. - Ask for an interpreter, do not sign blind Use a professional interpreter in important meetings, never a child, and never sign documents you do not understand. - A lawyer when it is serious With violence, coercive measures or a risk of placement: contact a lawyer – you are entitled to a free one in Board cases. Has the child welfare service made contact? Do not panic, and do not ignore it. Read the letter carefully, ask for an interpreter, prepare, show up and speak calmly and concretely, write everything down afterwards – and contact a lawyer if the allegations are serious. Here is a practical step-by-step guide for parents. ## First reaction: keep a cool head A letter or a phone call from the child welfare service can trigger fear, anger or a wish to deny everything. That is a normal emotional reaction, but you should act rationally. Your first behaviour can affect how the case develops. That is why it is important neither to ignore the contact nor to react with aggression. ## Step 1: Read the letter and understand why they are making contact If you receive a letter, read it carefully. If you do not understand the language, have it translated by a trusted adult, a counsellor, a lawyer or an official interpreter – do not guess at the content. Try to get an overview of: - who is making contact, and from which municipality - what the matter is about - whether a meeting has been scheduled - whether any deadlines are set - whether you need to confirm anything - who the contact person is ## Step 2: Ask for an interpreter Ask for an interpreter immediately if you are not confident in Norwegian. A simple wording can be: "I want to take part in the meeting and understand all the questions correctly. I request a professional interpreter for [language]." Asking for an interpreter is not a sign of weakness or guilt – it is a right and a way to avoid misunderstandings. Remember that children must never be used as interpreters. You can read more about this and other rights in the article on [your rights in a child welfare case](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barnevern-rettigheter-foreldre). ## Step 3: Prepare for the meeting Good preparation makes you more confident. Before the meeting you should: - write down your questions - gather relevant documents - think through what the case may be about - get information from school, kindergarten or a doctor if it matters - consider honestly whether there are real challenges in the family - not coach the child or pressure it to "answer correctly" If there are real problems in the family, it is rarely wise to deny everything automatically. Sometimes honesty and a willingness to accept help look better than a complete denial of the obvious. ## Step 4: At the meeting – speak calmly and concretely At the meeting itself: - listen to the questions all the way through - answer concretely and on the facts - do not interrupt, do not threaten, do not shout - do not accuse everyone of racism without concrete grounds - ask for a question to be repeated if something is unclear - say so if the interpretation is unclear - say "I need to check that" rather than inventing an answer A calm and factual manner makes a better impression than long, emotional monologues. ## Step 5: Write everything down afterwards Right after the meeting you should note: - the date of the meeting and who was present - which questions were asked - what you answered - what was agreed - which documents you must submit - when the next contact will happen If you can, send a short email confirming your understanding of what you agreed. ## What you should NOT do Avoid these mistakes: ignoring letters and calls; hiding; threatening staff; shouting at the meeting; forbidding the child to speak; pressuring the child before talks with professionals; telling the child to memorise a "correct version"; deleting messages or documents; publishing staff or the child's personal data on social media; taking the child out of the country if a serious case is already underway; signing documents you do not understand; or attending an important meeting without an interpreter when your language is not enough. ## When you should contact a lawyer immediately A lawyer is especially important if: - the service talks about serious danger to the child - there are allegations of violence - the child has already been temporarily placed outside the home - a coercive measure is being discussed - you have received complicated legal documents - the family does not understand what is happening - you believe your rights are being breached - there is a risk you will lose contact with the child Remember: if the case goes to the County Board, you are entitled to a free lawyer. Do not wait until the last moment if the situation is serious. ## If the family is offered help Help from the child welfare service is not always a punishment. Sometimes it is a way to show you are willing to improve the situation. Examples are parental guidance, family support, help with daily life, work on conflicts, help for the child and cooperation with the school. You may also be referred to the health clinic and other services – see the overview of [the health system in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/helsesystem-norge). Accepting help does not necessarily mean admitting guilt. But if the help is genuinely needed, refusing it without explanation can be perceived negatively. The background to many conflicts is precisely culture and upbringing – read more about [raising children in Norway and the limits](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barneoppdragelse-norge-grenser). ## What to remember - Never ignore the contact, but do not panic – read, understand and prepare. - Ask for an interpreter, and never sign documents you do not understand. - Speak calmly and concretely, and do not pressure the child or distort the facts. - With serious allegations or coercive measures: contact a lawyer. This series does not replace legal advice, but helps parents with an immigrant background understand the system, avoid acting out of fear, and protect both the child's and the family's interests. Get the full picture in the main guide on [what barnevernet does and the rights you have](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barnevern-innvandrere). *This article is information, not legal advice. If your family already has a case with the child welfare service – especially with serious allegations or coercive measures – you should seek professional legal help.* ## FAQ ### Do I have to attend if barnevernet summons me? You should not ignore the contact. Attending, preferably with an interpreter, lets you explain yourself and understand what the case is about. Hiding or not responding usually makes the situation worse. ### How do I ask for an interpreter for the meeting? Ask in writing in advance and state the language. For example: 'I request a professional interpreter for [language] to understand all questions correctly.' Children must never be used as interpreters. ### Should I deny everything if there are problems at home? No. If there are real challenges, honesty and a willingness to accept help often look better than complete denial. Speak calmly and concretely, and answer the facts. ### What should I never do in a child welfare case? Do not ignore letters, do not threaten staff, do not pressure the child into a 'correct version', do not sign documents you do not understand, and do not attend without an interpreter if your language is not enough. ### When do I need a lawyer? Especially with allegations of violence, proposals for coercive measures, emergency placement or a risk of losing contact with the child. If the case goes to the Board, you are entitled to a free lawyer. ## Sources - [Bekymringsmelding og undersøkelse – informasjon til foreldre](https://www.bufdir.no/barnevern/) - [Tolkeloven – bruk av kvalifisert tolk i offentlig sektor](https://www.imdi.no/regelverk/tolkeloven/hva-sier-tolkeloven/) - [Lov om barnevern (barnevernsloven)](https://lovdata.no/lov/2021-06-18-97) Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Barnevernet made contact: a step-by-step guide for parents", SamfunnPrep, 2026-06-21T20:56:52.587+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barnevernet-tatt-kontakt-foreldre