2024-04-242023/24:CU9 · p.10CUCivil law & housing
Certain questions about name changes
Name changes for adoptees and for children with protected personal data
What's at stake: The rules determine how easily adoptees who were once given a fictitious name and identity can reclaim a surname connected to their birth family, and what protection a parent, or a child with protected personal data, has against having the child's surname changed against their wishes.
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 the rules on name changes should be amended so that adoptees can more easily change to a surname connected to their birth family, and so that consent requirements are tightened when changing the surname of a child with protected personal data, or whether the current rules should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that an adopted child already has the right to reclaim the name they previously carried, but that changing to another surname connected to the earlier family requires special reasons following an overall assessment in each individual case, in the same way as for other name changes. The committee further notes that a guardian already needs the other parent's consent, or a court ruling that the change is in the child's best interests - with the court also obtaining a report from social services on the child's views - in order to change a child's surname. The committee sees no need to change the rules and rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 10 (V)
The reservation (V) wants the government to have the law examined so that a person who was unlawfully separated from their parents and given a fictitious name and identity before being adopted always has the right to change to the surname they would have carried had this not happened, instead of having to show special reasons for the change as under current rules.
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 10 by V.
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 | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 92/0/0/14 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/22/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 15/0/0/1 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 59/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:104 by Nadja Awad et al. (V) point 6 and 2023/24:2499 by Helena Vilhelmsson et al. (C) point 11.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:104 av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V) yrkande 6 och 2023/24:2499 av Helena Vilhelmsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 11.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 130 proposals in motions on family law from the general motion period 2023. Among other things, the Riksdag refers to the fact that work is already underway in the matters that the proposals address. The proposals deal among other things with a gender-neutral parentage code, the number of guardians for a child, legal aid for children and certain questions about guardianship, residence and visitation in cases of family violence.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants adopted persons separated from their parents and given false names to always have the right to change to their family's original surname. (V) — Reservation 10
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 does not address legislation on names.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address legislation on names. The closest principle is that respect for human rights shall be fundamental to all politics and that children's best interests shall come first. That the person who has been illegally separated from their parents and given a fabricated identity shall be able to reclaim their true surname without having to show special grounds follows from that principle. However, the conclusion is inferred from general commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte namnlagstiftningen. Närmast liggande princip är att respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna ska vara grundläggande för all politik och att barnens bästa ska komma i första rummet. Att den som olovligen skilts från sina föräldrar och fått en fingerad identitet ska kunna återta sitt rätta efternamn utan att visa särskilda skäl följer av den principen. Slutsatsen är dock härledd ur allmänna åtaganden.
- human rights fundamentaldecisive»Respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna ska vara grundläggande för all politik.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for human rights shall be fundamental to all politics.”
- children's best interests first»Vänsterpartiets politik ska utformas så att barnens bästa kommer i första rummet.« (party programme ↗)“Left Party policy shall be designed so that children's best interests come first.”
- the Convention on the Rights of the Child as foundation»Därför fastslås barns rättigheter i särskild ordning i Barnkonventionen.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore children's rights are established in special order in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
The documents do not address name legislation.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The documents do not address name legislation. The closest principle is that a person should be free to control their own life and shape their situation according to their own wishes, and that respect for human rights is fundamental. That a person who has been unlawfully separated from their parents and given a false identity should have the right to reclaim their true name follows from that principle.
Original (Swedish)
Dokumenten behandlar inte namnlagstiftning. Den närmast liggande principen är att människan ska vara fri att råda över sitt eget liv och forma sin tillvaro efter egna önskningar, och att respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna är grundläggande. Att den som olovligen skilts från sina föräldrar och fått en fingerad identitet ska ha rätt att återta sitt riktiga efternamn följer av den principen.
- control one's own lifedecisive»Människan ska vara fri att utvecklas som individ, råda över sitt eget liv, forma sin tillvaro« (party programme ↗)“A person shall be free to develop as an individual, control their own life, shape their situation”
- respect for human rights»Respekten för de mänskliga rättigheterna är en förutsättning för demokrati.« (party programme ↗)“Respect for human rights is a prerequisite for democracy.”
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 establishes that people shall always be given the right to define and exercise their own identity, and that each person has the right to be and grow into the individual they want to be.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that people shall always be given the right to define and exercise their own identity, and that each person has the right to be and grow into the individual they want to be. Only when all are recognized for who they are can equal rights be achieved. That the person who was given a false identity before adoption shall be able to reclaim their real surname without need for special reasons follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att människor alltid ska ges rätt att definiera och utöva sin egen identitet, och att varje människa har rätt att vara och växa till den individ hen vill vara. Först när alla erkänns för vilka de är kan lika rättigheter uppnås. Att den som fått en fingerad identitet före adoption ska kunna återta sitt rätta efternamn utan krav på särskilda skäl följer av detta.
- right to define one's identitydecisive»att definiera och utöva sin egen identitet och kultur. Därför är stöd till olika sorters kulturyttringar« (party programme ↗)“to define and exercise their own identity and culture. Therefore, support for various forms of cultural expression”
- right to be who one is»Varje människa har rätt att vara och växa till den« (party programme ↗)“Each person has the right to be and grow into the”
- recognition of who one is»Först när alla människor erkänns för vilka de är, får« (party programme ↗)“Only when all people are recognized for who they are,”
- different family configurations»Samhället ska vara anpassat till olika« (party programme ↗)“Society shall be adapted to different”
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 establishes that every individual has the right to create their own identity, and the election manifesto that everyone should be able to have their case reviewed.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that every individual has the right to create their own identity, and the election manifesto that everyone should be able to have their case reviewed. The fact that someone who has been unlawfully separated from their parents and given a fabricated identity should be able to reclaim their original surname without having to show special reasons follows from these principles and from the state's duty to protect the most vulnerable. The plan does not address name legislation, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att varje individ har rätt att skapa sin egen identitet, och valmanifestet att alla ska kunna få sin sak prövad. Att den som olovligen skilts från sina föräldrar och fått en fingerad identitet ska kunna återta sitt ursprungliga efternamn utan att behöva visa särskilda skäl följer av dessa principer och av statens uppgift att skydda de mest utsatta. Planen behandlar inte namnlagstiftning, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- right to own identitydecisive»Varje individ har rätt att skapa sin egen identitet.« (party programme ↗)“Every individual has the right to create their own identity.”
- right to review»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone who lives in Sweden should be able to have their case reviewed.”
- protection for the vulnerable»att skydda de svagaste och mest utsatta« (party programme ↗)“to protect the weakest and most vulnerable”
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 name rights. The closest-lying principles are that the individual's dignity and integrity shall not be violated, that…
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about name rights. The closest-lying principles are that the individual's dignity and integrity shall not be violated, that everyone has the same right to respect for their private and family life and that the right to redress after government overreach needs to be improved. From these follows support for the person who has been given a false identity being able to reclaim their true name without having to show special grounds.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger inget om namnrätten. Närmast liggande principer är att den enskildes värdighet och integritet inte får kränkas, att alla har samma rätt till respekt för sitt privat- och familjeliv och att rätten till upprättelse efter myndigheters övergrepp behöver förbättras. Av dessa följer stöd för att den som fått en fingerad identitet ska kunna återta sitt rätta namn utan att behöva visa särskilda skäl.
- dignity and integritydecisive»Den enskildes värdighet och integritet får inte kränkas.« (party programme ↗)“The individual's dignity and integrity shall not be violated.”
- right to private and family life»Alla ska ha samma rätt till respekt för sitt privat- och familjeliv. Inga lagar får missgynna personer« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the same right to respect for their private and family life. No laws may disadvantage persons”
- redress after government overreach»eller skadestånd vid myndigheters misstag eller övergrepp behöver förbättras.« (party programme ↗)“or compensation for government mistakes or overreach need to be improved.”
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 every child has the right to knowledge of their origin and that the child's perspective shall be placed first in adoption.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that every child has the right to knowledge of their origin and that the child's perspective shall be placed first in adoption. A person unlawfully separated from their parents and given a false identity has been deprived of precisely this connection to their origin. That by law an unconditional right is given to regain the name the person should have borne therefore follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att varje barn har rätt till kännedom om sitt ursprung och att barnperspektivet ska sättas i främsta rummet vid adoption. Den som olovligen skilts från sina föräldrar och fått en fingerad identitet har berövats just denna koppling till sitt ursprung. Att i lag ge en ovillkorlig rätt att återta det namn personen skulle ha burit följer därför av planen.
- right to knowledge of origindecisive»Varje barn har rätt till kännedom om sitt ursprung« (party programme ↗)“Every child has the right to knowledge of their origin”
- child perspective in adoption»Utgångspunkten vid adoption är att sätta barnperspektivet i främsta rummet« (party programme ↗)“The starting point in adoption is to place the child's perspective first”
- best interests of the child first»barnets bästa ska komma i främsta rummet« (party programme ↗)“the best interests of the child shall be placed first”
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 name legislation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address name legislation. The closest principle is that the constitution must provide practical and effective protection for individuals in relation to government authorities and that equal human worth is the foundation for equality before the law. That the person who has been unlawfully separated from their parents and given a fabricated identity shall have the right to reclaim their true surname without having to show special grounds follows from that principle. The plan therefore gives weak support for the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte namnlagstiftningen. Närmast liggande princip är att grundlagen ska ge ett praktiskt och effektivt skydd för enskilda i relation till myndigheter och att det jämlika människovärdet är grunden för likheten inför lagen. Att den som olovligen skilts från sina föräldrar och fått en fingerad identitet ska ha rätt att återta sitt rätta efternamn utan att visa särskilda skäl följer av den principen. Planen ger därför ett svagt stöd för kravet.
- effective protection of individualsdecisive»Vi måste se till att det inte bara är vackra ord, utan att grundlagen också ger ett praktiskt och effektivt skydd för enskilda människor i relation till exempelvis en kommun eller en statlig myndighet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must ensure that it is not just fine words, but that the constitution also provides practical and effective protection for individual people in relation to, for example, a municipality or a state authority.”
- equality before the law»Det jämlika människovärdet är grunden för likheten inför lagen« (party programme ↗)“Equal human worth is the foundation for equality before the law”
- strengthened freedoms and rights»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the independence of the courts and the protection of citizens' freedoms and rights”
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 naming legislation, but the party programme establishes that a child not growing up with their biological parents has at least the right to know who they are, and the election manifesto makes the child's best interest and legal certainty in child matters guiding principles.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address naming legislation, but the party programme establishes that a child not growing up with their biological parents has at least the right to know who they are, and the election manifesto makes the child's best interest and legal certainty in child matters guiding principles. That one who was unlawfully separated from their parents and given a false identity should be able to reclaim their proper surname follows from that principle. The position is derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte namnlagstiftningen, men partiprogrammet slår fast att ett barn som inte växer upp med sina biologiska föräldrar åtminstone har rätt att få veta vilka de är, och valmanifestet gör barnets bästa och rättssäkerhet i barnärenden till bärande principer. Att den som olovligen skilts från sina föräldrar och fått en fingerad identitet ska kunna återta sitt rätta efternamn följer av den principen. Ställningstagandet är härlett och osäkert.
- right to one's biological origindecisive»skall barnet i alla fall ha rätt att få information om vilka de biologiska föräldrarna« (party programme ↗)“the child in all cases shall have the right to receive information about who the biological parents are”
- the child's best interest»Att barnets bästa alltid ska beaktas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That the child's best interest should always be considered”
- legal certainty in child matters»Öka kvalité och rättssäkerhet i utredningar om barn« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase quality and legal certainty in investigations concerning children”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:CU9)
- Committee report full text (HB01CU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:104 — Adoptionsrelaterade frågor av Nadja Awad m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2023/24:1053 — Arvode till vigselförrättare av Gunilla Carlsson och Dzenan Cisija (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1054 — Könsneutral föräldrabalk av Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1072 — Internationell solidaritet - en stark röst för hbtq-plus-personers rättigheter av Anna Wallentheim och Daniel Vencu Velasquez Castro (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1116 — Avskaffande av laglotten av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1230 — Arvode till vigselförrättare av Ulrika Heie (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1295 — Registrering av testamente av Malin Larsson och Peter Hedberg (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1374 — Ändring i föräldrabalken avseende beräkning av arvode för god man/förvaltare av Torsten Elofsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1378 — Införande av registrering av testamenten och framtidsfullmakter av Ingemar Kihlström (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1475 — Uppdaterade regler för överförmyndare och gode män av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1477 — Förlorad vårdnad vid mord av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1641 — Separerande av vigsel och välsignelse av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1672 — Våldsutövande föräldrar av Azadeh Rojhan och Alexandra Völker (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1678 — Kvinnor som lever gömda av Alexandra Völker och Azadeh Rojhan (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1735 — Ekonomiskt våld av Robert Hannah m.fl. (L)
- Motion 2023/24:1836 — Barns rätt till eget ombud i vårdnadstvister av Ida Ekeroth Clausson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1895 — Fler än två vårdnadshavare av Yasmine Bladelius och Anna Wallentheim (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2045 — Skyndsamt införande av tidsgräns för bodelning av Sanne Lennström m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2073 — Mäns våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2212 — Borgerlig vigselförrättare av Ann-Charlotte Hammar Johnsson och Ulrika Heindorff (båda M)
Source: The Swedish Parliament