This guide is informational. Always verify how the rules apply to your specific case.
Brief answer: A decision regarding LVU care can be appealed according to the instructions in the judgment. When the care is already ongoing, you can request that the social welfare board decide to terminate it. The care should be concluded when it is no longer needed, but under Section 2, it is required that the conditions that caused the care have changed in a permanent and comprehensive manner.
Two different paths
| Path | When? | What is examined? |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal the judgment | Directly after the administrative court's decision, within the time limit specified in the judgment. | Whether the administrative court ruled correctly based on the case and the current material. |
| Request that the care be terminated | When LVU is ongoing and the conditions have changed or the care is no longer needed. | The current need for care and whether the legal conditions still apply. |
Do not confuse the paths. A late attempt to challenge the old judgment does not replace current evidence of changed conditions.
Appeal the administrative court's LVU judgment
Follow the appeal instructions in the judgment. The appeal period is normally three weeks, but the start day depends on how the decision was communicated or served. LVU cases regarding care are taken up by the Court of Appeal without a leave to appeal. Write:
- which judgment you are appealing,
- what change you want,
- why the court's assessment is incorrect,
- which evidence you are citing and what each piece of evidence is intended to prove.
Request a stay of execution if you want the judgment to be temporarily invalid, but explain concretely why. Requesting a stay does not mean it will be granted. Your public counsel can formulate the request.
Request the termination of LVU care
Send a written request to the social welfare committee. Ask for a formal decision so that the matter can be appealed if the committee says no. A useful request specifies:
- which care and which section are applicable,
- the original circumstances the court based the care on,
- what has changed, since when, and how the change is substantiated,
- how reunification or continued support will be safely implemented,
- the child's attitude and needs.
The difference between Section 2 and Section 3 when care is to be terminated
Section 2 LVU: The social welfare committee may not terminate the care until the conditions that caused it have changed permanently and comprehensively. Stability over time and the child's security upon reunification are central.
3 § LVU: The Social Welfare Board must, within six months from the date the care decision was enforced, assess whether the care should cease and thereafter conduct a new assessment within six months from the latest assessment. The focus is on whether risk behavior and care needs persist.
For 2 §, the board must consider at least every six months whether the care is still needed and how it should be designed. A consideration is not always an appealable decision. If you request termination yourself, ask for an explicit decision.
What demonstrates a lasting and profound change?
It depends on the basis of the individual case. Examples of relevant documentation may include:
- completed treatment with professional follow-up,
- stable housing and functioning daily routines,
- a long-term plan for care, education, and respite,
- documented change in violence, substance abuse, or caregiving issues,
- ability to understand the child's needs and act in case of relapse or crisis,
- a cooperation arrangement that is not dependent on verbal promises.
A new partner, relocation, or a short drug-free period may be relevant but is rarely sufficient alone. Connect the documentation to the specific risk the court identified.
Reunification should be prepared
The Social Welfare Board must carefully prepare the reunification. Request a step-by-step plan with goals, responsibilities, dates, support at home, school/healthcare contacts, and how the child's reactions are monitored. Even if the LVU ceases, the board may in some cases apply for a prohibition on relocation if a quick move from the foster home poses a significant risk.
Appeal the Social Welfare Board's denial
The Social Welfare Board's decision on continued care can be appealed to the Administrative Court. Specify the date of the decision, the change you are requesting, and why the need for care no longer exists. Attach new material and explain what distinguishes the situation from the one previously examined.
In cases concerning termination, a public counsel should normally be appointed. An oral hearing should be held unless it is obviously unnecessary and always if a party requests it.
Other decisions may need to be challenged separately
The fact that LVU care continues does not mean that all decisions during the care period are correct. Placement/relocation, contact restrictions and certain decisions from SiS have their own appeal rules. Specify exactly which decision you are challenging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request termination at any time?
Yes. The guardian and the young person who has reached the age of 15 can request at any time that the care be terminated. The request must be processed and decided through a formal decision. If the matter has been recently reviewed and nothing new has emerged, the previous investigation may in some cases be sufficient.
Does the Court of Appeal need to grant leave to appeal in LVU care cases?
No, not in cases concerning care under the LVU. Other types of LVU-related decisions may have different rules.
Will the child return home the same day the care ends?
The Social Welfare Board should have prepared the reunification before the care ends. When the decision on termination applies, a continued placement requires consent, a valid prohibition on relocation, or some other legal basis.
Sources and related
- LVU at home
- LVU process in court
- LVU 13, 21, 24, 35, 39, and 41 §§
- Sveriges Domstolar: appeal to the Court of Appeal
Last fact-checked: July 29, 2026.
