2026-04-222025/26:CU22 · p.4CUCivil law & housing
Information Requirements for Appointed Guardians
Appointed guardians' duty to inform younger children
What's at stake: The decision affects how firmly younger children's right to information about their own situation is protected: a statutory duty gives the child clearer legal protection, while a case-by-case assessment gives the guardian more flexibility but risks some children not being informed.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether appointed guardians' duty to keep children informed about the guardianship should be set out in law even for children under 16, or whether it should be left to the guardian's judgment based on the child's best interests without an explicit statutory requirement.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion and refers to the government's assessment in the bill, which is that appointed guardians should inform younger children as well when deemed to be in the child's best interest, without this being specifically regulated by law.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (S, C)
The reservation wants the law to require appointed guardians to inform younger children as well about the guardianship when deemed to be in the child's best interest, with reasons required in the annual report if such information is not given, citing the Convention on the Rights of the Child's provisions on the child's best interests and the child's right to be heard.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 3 by S, C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 16/0/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/90/0/16 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 13/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/20/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 14/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 55/0/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 60/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motion 2025/26:3897 by Joakim Järrebring et al. (S) motion item 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3897 av Joakim Järrebring m.fl. (S) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: The government wants support for people in need of a representative (ställföreträdare), that is to say a guardian (god man) or administrator (förvaltare), to become more reliable. The Riksdag said yes to the government's proposal. The proposal means, among other things, that the framework for the guardian's or administrator's assignment becomes clearer with increased consideration of the individual's wishes and increased focus on the individual's well-being. The government also proposes that a central state authority should be responsible for the representative area and that a national representative register is introduced. The purpose of the proposal is to strengthen the individual's position, raise the quality of the activities, create better opportunities to recruit and retain competent guardians and administrators, and improve the work of the chief guardians (överförmyndare). Most of the amendments to laws enter into force on 1 July 2026. The proposal regarding a representative register enters into force on 1 January 2028.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants chief guardians to report all suspected crimes committed by representatives to police regardless of crime type. (S, C) — Reservation 3
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to implement the Children's Convention and the principle of always prioritizing the best interests of the child, and expresses strong confidence in young people's ability to make independent decisions about their lives.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to implement the Children's Convention and the principle of always prioritizing the best interests of the child, and expresses strong confidence in young people's ability to make independent decisions about their lives. Making it a legal requirement for appointed guardians to inform even younger children follows directly from this. The plan sees strengthened children's rights as one of the progressive movements' greatest achievements to build upon.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill förverkliga barnkonventionen och principen att i varje läge se till barnets bästa, och uttrycker ett starkt förtroende för unga människors förmåga att fatta självständiga beslut om sina liv. Att lagfästa en skyldighet för förordnade förmyndare att informera även yngre barn följer direkt av det. Planen ser stärkta barnrättigheter som en av de progressiva rörelsernas största framgångar att bygga vidare på.
- the best interests of the childdecisive»principen att i varje läge se till barnets bästa« (party programme ↗)“the principle of always prioritizing the best interests of the child”
- children's right to be heard»Vi har ett starkt förtroende för unga människors förmåga att fatta självständiga beslut om sina liv.« (party programme ↗)“We have strong confidence in young people's ability to make independent decisions about their lives.”
- strengthened children's rights»Utvecklingen mot starkare rättigheter för barn är en av de progressiva rörelsernas största framgångar.« (party programme ↗)“The development towards stronger rights for children is one of the progressive movements' greatest achievements.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address guardianship or children's right to be heard in such matters.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address guardianship or children's right to be heard in such matters. The closest underlying principle is that society should protect those in vulnerable positions and that civil freedoms and rights should be protected. On this basis, the plan sides with the counter-proposal when it wishes to make it law that younger children are informed about the guardianship assignment, but the evidence in the documents is weak.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte ställföreträdarskap eller barns rätt att komma till tals i sådana ärenden. Närmast liggande princip är att samhället ska skydda den som befinner sig i en utsatt position och att medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter ska skyddas. Utifrån detta ligger planen på motförslagets sida när det vill lagfästa att även yngre barn informeras om förmyndaruppdraget, men underlaget i dokumenten är svagt.
- protection of the vulnerabledecisive»Socialdemokratin vill se ett starkt samhälle som skyddar den som befinner sig i en utsatt position« (party programme ↗)“The Social Democrats wish to see a strong society that protects those in vulnerable positions”
- civil rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of civil freedoms and rights.”
The plan establishes that the Child Convention is Swedish law and that the child's best interests shall be decisive, and that children are active co-creators and not passive recipients of adults' decisions.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the Child Convention is Swedish law and that the child's best interests shall be decisive, and that children are active co-creators and not passive recipients of adults' decisions. A legally binding obligation for appointed guardians to inform even younger children implements precisely the child's right to be heard. The plan does not specifically address guardianship, so support is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barnkonventionen är svensk lag och att barnets bästa ska vara avgörande, samt att barn är aktiva medskapare och inte passiva mottagare av vuxnas beslut. En lagfäst skyldighet för förordnade förmyndare att informera även yngre barn omsätter just barnets rätt att komma till tals. Planen behandlar inte förmyndarskap särskilt, varför stödet är härlett.
- child's best interests decisivedecisive»Barnkonventionen är svensk lag och barnets bästa« (party programme ↗)“The Child Convention is Swedish law and the child's best”
- children's right to be heard»Barn är aktiva medskapare av samhället« (party programme ↗)“Children are active co-creators of society”
- safe childhood»Alla barn har rätt till en trygg och stabil barndom« (party programme ↗)“All children have the right to a safe and stable childhood”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme states that actors in society shall take the individual's perspective and that children's rights and perspective are of utmost importance, and that every child's right to be respected and seen shall be protected.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that actors in society shall take the individual's perspective and that children's rights and perspective are of utmost importance, and that every child's right to be respected and seen shall be protected. That the guardian shall also inform younger children about the task when it is in the child's best interest follows from this. At the same time, the plan warns against the state over-regulating, which makes support for precisely a statute-based regulation weaker.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet säger att samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv och att barnens rättigheter och perspektiv är av största betydelse, samt att varje barns rätt att bli respekterad och sedd ska värnas. Att förmyndaren ska informera även yngre barn om uppdraget när det är till barnets bästa följer av detta. Samtidigt varnar planen för att staten genomreglerar, vilket gör stödet för just en lagreglering svagare.
- the child's perspective firstdecisive»Samhällets aktörer ska inta individens perspektiv. Av största betydelse är då barnens rättigheter och perspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Actors in society shall take the individual's perspective. Of utmost importance are then the children's rights and perspective.”
- the child's right to be seen»Särskilt viktigt är att värna varje barns rätt att bli respekterad och att bli sedd för den man är.« (party programme ↗)“It is particularly important to protect every child's right to be respected and to be seen for who they are.”
- restraint in regulation»Staten är till för människan, inte tvärtom.« (party programme ↗)“The state is for the people, not the other way around.”
The plan establishes that children's rights should be clearly stated in law and that placed children should have the right to receive information, and that children should be respected as individuals as they grow older.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that children's rights should be clearly stated in law and that placed children should have the right to receive information, and that children should be respected as individuals as they grow older. Making it statutory that court-appointed guardians' obligation to inform even younger children when it is in the child's best interest is the same commitment applied to guardianship. The plan also emphasizes the status of the child convention as Swedish law.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barns rättigheter ska vara tydligt angivna i lagen och att placerade barn ska ha rätt att få information, samt att barn ska respekteras som individer i takt med stigande ålder. Att lagfästa förordnade förmyndares skyldighet att informera även yngre barn när det är till barnets bästa är samma åtagande tillämpat på förmyndarskapet. Planen lyfter också barnkonventionens ställning som svensk lag.
- children's right to informationdecisive»placerade barn ska ha rätt att få information.« (party programme ↗)“placed children shall have the right to receive information.”
- children respected as individuals»Barn och ungdomar har rätt att respekteras som individer och i takt med åldern få ta ett« (party programme ↗)“Children and young people have the right to be respected as individuals and with increasing age to take a”
- child convention as law»Genom att FN:s barnkonvention införlivats i svensk lag« (party programme ↗)“By incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Swedish law”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that the child's best interest shall be governing in all decisions concerning children, with reference to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and that in decision-making one must listen to children and young people who lack the right to vote.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the child's best interest shall be governing in all decisions concerning children, with reference to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and that in decision-making one must listen to children and young people who lack the right to vote. Providing a statutory obligation for appointed guardians to inform even younger children follows from this. The plan also accepts that the legislative instrument is used to strengthen the position of vulnerable persons.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barnets bästa ska vara styrande vid alla beslut som rör barn, med hänvisning till barnkonventionen, och att man i beslutsfattandet måste lyssna på barn och unga som saknar rösträtt. Att lagfästa en skyldighet för förordnade förmyndare att informera även yngre barn följer av detta. Planen accepterar också att lagstiftningsinstrumentet används för att stärka utsatta personers ställning.
- child's best interest governingdecisive»vara styrande i all familjepolitik och vid alla beslut som rör barn« (party programme ↗)“be governing in all family policy and in all decisions concerning children”
- Convention on the Rights of the Child»barnkonvention stadgar att barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet.« (party programme ↗)“Convention on the Rights of the Child states that the child's best interest shall come first.”
- children shall have a say»I det politiska systemet måste man lyssna på och beakta ungdomars synpunkter när beslut« (party programme ↗)“In the political system one must listen to and consider young people's views when decisions”
- legislation for the vulnerable»använda lagstiftningsinstrumentet för att underlätta situationen för personer med« (party programme ↗)“use the legislative instrument to facilitate the situation for persons with”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan says nothing about appointed guardians' information obligation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about appointed guardians' information obligation. The closest principle is that politics has major limitations and that the regulatory burden shall be reduced rather than detailed regulation of how a task is performed, and that responsibility for children rests primarily with parenthood. The conclusion is therefore uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger ingenting om förordnade förmyndares informationsskyldighet. Den närmast liggande principen är att politiken har stora begränsningar och att regelbördan ska minska snarare än att detaljreglera hur ett uppdrag ska utföras, samt att ansvaret för barn i första hand vilar på föräldraskapet. Slutsatsen är därför osäker.
- limitations of politicsdecisive»Moderaterna vet att politiken har stora begränsningar och« (party programme ↗)“The Moderates know that politics has major limitations and”
- less detailed regulation»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one-third of companies' administrative costs and one-third of regulatory red tape”
- responsibility over regulation»Betona och förstärka föräldraansvaret« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Emphasize and strengthen parental responsibility”
The plan states that the best interests of the child shall always be considered and that the quality and legal security in matters concerning children shall increase.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the best interests of the child shall always be considered and that the quality and legal security in matters concerning children shall increase. The counter-proposal's requirement that appointed guardians shall be obligated to inform even younger children, with a statement of reasons if information is withheld, is a concrete application of this. The plan also states that children get caught in the middle when adults fail and support for the child is insufficient.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas och att kvaliteten och rättssäkerheten i ärenden som rör barn ska öka. Motförslagets krav på att förordnade förmyndare ska vara skyldiga att informera även yngre barn, med motivering när information uteblir, är en konkret tillämpning av detta. Planen konstaterar också att barn hamnar i kläm när vuxna brister och att stödet till barnet är otillräckligt.
- best interests of the childdecisive»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the best interests of the child shall always be considered”
- best interests of child in all situations»Sverigedemokraternas familjepolitik är att barnens bästa skall beaktas i alla situationer« (party programme ↗)“Sweden Democrats' family policy is that the best interests of children shall be considered in all situations”
- legal security in child matters»Öka kvalité och rättssäkerhet i utredningar om barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase quality and legal security in investigations concerning children”
- insufficient support for the child»Barn hamnar inte sällan i kläm när vuxna brister och det saknas idag ett tillräckligt stöd till barnet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Children often get caught in the middle when adults fail and today there is insufficient support for the child.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:CU22)
- Committee report full text (HD01CU22)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:2149 — Översyn av reglerna för god man för anhörig av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2726 — Uppdaterade regler för överförmyndare och gode män av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2778 — En funktionsrättspolitik för trygghet och delaktighet av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3188 — Familjerätt, socialtjänst, hbtqi-frågor och funktionsrätt av Martina Johansson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:320 — Modern familjerätt av Andreas Lennkvist Manriquez m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3645 — Utgiftsområde 9 Hälsovård, sjukvård och social omsorg av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3646 — Familjerätt av Joakim Järrebring m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3897 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:92 Ett ställföreträdarskap att lita på av Joakim Järrebring m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:498 — Bättre villkor för ställföreträdare och de som behöver företrädas av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:92 — Ett ställföreträdarskap att lita på
Source: The Swedish Parliament