Family in Macedonia

Marriage is formalized and registered through the Office for Management of Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths, known as UVMK. UVMK also handles birth and death registrations, marriage certificates, certificates of marital status, registration of marriages concluded abroad and procedures involving a foreign citizen. A birth is normally reported within 30 days in the registry area where it occurred. Newborn online services moved to USLUGI.GOV.MK on 2 March 2026. A father may recognize paternity through the registrar, the Centre for Social Work or a court; for a child born outside marriage, the mother's consent is required under the Family Law. Cohabitation, called вонбрачна заедница, is also recognized within the family-law framework, although local procedures can differ from those for registered marriage. Parents have duties to care for, raise, educate and support their children and to protect their health and development. The Centre for Social Work, or CSR, is the local public service that provides information, referrals, counselling, family support and supervision of parental rights. It must protect the child's rights and interests. In cases of abuse or serious neglect, it can issue a warning, order continuing supervision or counselling, arrange temporary removal and initiate court proceedings. Child protection covers children born inside or outside marriage, adopted children, grandchildren, siblings and other dependent children. Parental rights generally end when the child turns 18, marries earlier or is adopted; continued protection may require current legal assessment when an adult cannot care for themselves because of a developmental impairment. Families may qualify for child allowance, education allowance, guaranteed minimum assistance or special allowance when the household meets the relevant income, property, residence, citizenship, disability or status requirements. Child allowance normally concerns a child up to 18 years. The framework uses a means and property test and a household-weight system. The research basis lists a base threshold of MKD 6,800 for one household member and example monthly amounts of MKD 1,000 for one school-age child, MKD 1,200 for one preschool child, MKD 1,600 for two or more school-age or mixed-age children and MKD 1,900 for two or more preschool children. These amounts are indexed and should be confirmed with the Centre for Social Work before an application. A newborn grant is listed at MKD 5,000 for a first liveborn child and MKD 20,000 for a second child, subject to the applicable residence and citizenship conditions. A third-child allowance also exists, but its current rate and eligibility should be checked with the responsible service. The Centre for Social Work and licensed providers can offer professional support, counselling, home services, community services and out-of-family protection. Family counselling may address marriage preparation, family life, parenthood, family planning, partner counselling, divorce counselling, mediation and psychosocial support for victims of domestic violence. Home help can reach up to 80 hours per month for eligible people with reduced functioning. Respite family care can provide short-term care for a dependent older, disabled or ill family member for up to 15 days per year under the reimbursed service framework. Temporary accommodation can protect a child without parental care, a child exposed to abuse, a victim of domestic violence or trafficking, or a homeless person; the usual period is up to three months, with possible extensions and exceptional longer protection. A divorce can proceed by mutual consent or on request when marital relations have broken down irreparably. When spouses have minor children, they must address parental rights and duties, care, support and upbringing. The Centre for Social Work conducts conciliation and gives an opinion on arrangements concerning the children. The court decides when an agreement harms the children's interests or when the parents do not agree. Child support, called издршка, is assessed case by case by considering the child's needs, the parents' assets, work capacity and earning potential; there is no single flat national amount identified in the available research. Domestic violence is covered by the Law on Prevention and Protection against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. Health, social and other responsible services must support and refer victims, including children, whether or not the victim is willing to testify. Specialized services protect privacy and dignity and are free of charge, but their type and availability differ by region. Access can begin through the Centre for Social Work, police, health services or a licensed non-governmental provider. Services can include counselling, emergency or temporary accommodation, 24-hour or 72-hour support in listed locations, child counselling and perpetrator treatment. Foster care, called згрижување, provides formal 24-hour care for children or adults without family support or safe family conditions. General, specialized, occasional, intervention and kinship forms exist. A foster parent must be an adult, and the applicant and household undergo health and suitability assessments. Duties include food, hygiene, clothing, health care, development, education, cultural and religious respect and contact with the biological family. The placement continues until a durable solution, such as return to the biological family or adoption, becomes possible. Accommodation and foster-care costs are compensated under the applicable system. Adoption gives priority to placement within North Macedonia. Intercountry adoption is considered only when a child cannot be adopted in North Macedonia. Applicants generally need to be adults with parental suitability, and the usual maximum age is 45, with an age gap of at least 18 years. The law also sets exclusions connected with removed or limited parental rights, serious convictions, limited legal capacity, harmful suitability, certain serious illnesses or addictions and a negative expert opinion from the Centre for Social Work. The application goes to the Commission for Establishment of Adoption. Documents can include citizenship, birth and marriage records, medical evidence, proof concerning parental rights, criminal-record information, legal-capacity evidence and information about income, housing and education. The Centre for Social Work assesses the applicants, the Commission decides, electronic matching is used and a mandatory adaptation period normally lasts two to three months. Adoption is confidential and creates a parent-child relationship equivalent to birth. Family responsibilities can also involve caring for an older, disabled or ill family member. Available services include home care, respite care, foster care, supported living, day or temporary residence and other forms of out-of-family protection. Direct state family counselling specifically for bereavement has not been established in the available research. The appropriate access point depends on the issue: UVMK for civil-status records, the Centre for Social Work for benefits and social support, a police or health service for immediate safety concerns, a court for disputed family arrangements and the Commission for Establishment of Adoption for adoption applications.