This guide is informational. Always verify how the rules apply to your specific case.
Short answer: To revoke an LVU means that the care should cease. The guardian and the young person who has reached the age of 15 can request this at any time. The social welfare board must make a formal decision. Under Section 2, it is required that the conditions that caused the care have changed in a permanent and profound way. Appealing the judgment itself is another route, with its own deadline.
Revoke an LVU
Send a written request to the social welfare board and ask for an appealable decision. Specify which section the care is based on, the circumstances the court originally found, what has changed, and how the change is substantiated. A review every six months is not the same as a decision to terminate the care.
Two different routes
| Route | When? | What is examined? |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal the judgment | Directly after the administrative court's decision, within the deadline specified in the judgment. | Whether the administrative court judged correctly based on the case and the current material. |
| Request that the care ceases | When the LVU is ongoing and the conditions have changed or the care is no longer needed. | The current care needs and whether the legal conditions still apply. |
Do not confuse the routes. 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 date 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 wrong,
- which evidence you are citing and what each piece of evidence is meant to prove.
Request suspension if you want the judgment not to apply in the meantime, but explain concretely why. Requesting suspension does not mean it will be granted. Your public counsel can formulate the request.
Request that LVU care ceases
Send a written request to the social welfare board. Ask for a formal decision so that the matter can be appealed if the board says no. A useful request specifies:
- which care and which section applies,
- 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 should cease
Section 2 LVU: The social welfare board may not terminate the care until the conditions that caused it have changed permanently and profoundly. Stability over time and the child's safety upon reunification are central.
Section 3 LVU: The social welfare board must, within six months from the day the care decision was enforced, assess whether the care should cease and thereafter make a new assessment within six months from the latest assessment. The focus is on whether risk behavior and care needs persist.
For Section 2, the board must at least every six months consider 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 evidence may include:
- completed treatment with professional follow-up,
- stable housing and functioning daily routines,
- a long-term plan for care, school, 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 does not rely on verbal promises.
A new partner, relocation, or a short drug-free period may be relevant but is rarely sufficient alone. Link the evidence to the specific risk the court identified.
Reunification must be prepared
The Social Welfare Board must carefully prepare the reunification. Request a step-by-step plan with goals, responsibilities, dates, home support, school/healthcare contacts, and how the child's reactions are monitored. Even if LVU ceases, the board can 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. State the date of the decision, the change you request, 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
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 issue has been recently examined 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 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, continued placement requires consent, a valid prohibition on relocation, or some other legal basis.
Sources and related
- LVU at home
- The LVU process in court
- LVU 13, 21, 24, 35, 39, and 41 §§
- Sveriges Domstolar: appeal to the Court of Appeal
Last fact-checked: September 26, 2026.
