How does the aiga family network organize care and support in Samoa?

The aiga may include immediate and extended relatives, matai, village representatives, churches and other trusted community members. It commonly organizes care for children, older people and dependent relatives, while formal services remain available for protection, health, registration and court matters.

Where can a person seek protection from family violence in Samoa?

A person can seek help through an aiga member, village representative, church, social worker, health provider, teacher, police or the Ministry of Finance and Social Administration. The Family Court can issue an interim protection order or protection order, including restrictions on contact, residence or work access and orders for interim custody, maintenance or emergency financial relief.

Which family records must be registered and where can families register them in Samoa?

The births, deaths, marriages and adoptions of family members are recorded through the Samoa Births, Deaths and Marriages service, with name changes and court-ordered dissolutions also recorded. Registration services are available in Apia, Salelologa and Samoan consulates, although documents, deadlines and fees depend on the event and current service rules.

What family support for children, disability and elder care is available in Samoa?

Eligible children aged from birth to 35 months may qualify in 2026 for a 200-tala newborn grant and a 100-tala monthly Child Wellbeing Benefit, subject to registration and eligibility conditions. Registered people with disabilities may receive a 100-tala monthly disability benefit, while elder care remains mainly a responsibility of the aiga with some community and NGO support.

Family in Samoa

Family life in Samoa is organized around the aiga, an extended family network that can include matai, grandparents, parents, children, aunts, uncles and cousins. Care, child safety and support commonly involve family, village and church networks, while MFSA, health services, police, the Family Court and BDM provide formal pathways. Family responsibilities also cover registration, child maintenance, custody, protection from violence and support for disability or dependence.

Tip

Use the aiga, village and church network for safe, non-urgent care coordination and consensual support, but do not treat an informal agreement as a substitute for protection, custody, maintenance or official registration. In immediate physical or sexual danger, contact police, health services, social work or MFSA and pursue the formal Family Court pathway. For benefits and civil records, verify eligibility, deadlines, current fees and the responsible access point before travelling between Upolu and Savai'i.

byLani&Matiu

In Samoa, aiga can include both the immediate and extended family and reflects fa'aSamoa, religious ties, customary values and family identity. A matai often represents the family and helps coordinate resources and welfare through the village fono. Village representatives, churches and family members may be the first people involved when a family needs help. Soalaupule is a customary consultation and consensus process, but it does not replace a court order or formal protection measure. Care is often organized through tausi fanau for children, tausi aiga for family members and tausi matua for older people. The National Child Care and Protection Policy 2020–2030 promotes the child's best interests, family strengthening, family-based solutions and community care. The Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development was historically associated with family policies, while the Ministry of Finance and Social Administration has led national child protection, safeguarding, inclusion and coordinated family assistance since 1 July 2026. Social workers, health services, teachers, police, village representatives and churches can form part of a protection pathway. The Samoa Victim Support Group and House of Hope also provide protection, counselling, shelter or child-care support. The Family Safety Act 2013 covers violence within marriages, customary or religious marriages, former relationships, shared households, common parenthood and family relationships by blood, marriage or adoption. It addresses physical, sexual, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking and controlling conduct. Affected people and certain professionals or representatives can apply for an interim protection order or protection order through the Family Court. The Family Court is a division of the District Court. It can restrict contact or access to a home or workplace, arrange police assistance, address weapons, and order interim custody, maintenance or emergency financial relief. An application may be possible outside normal court hours in an acute physical or sexual danger situation. A protection order does not depend on an informal family agreement, and breaching one can lead to arrest, imprisonment or fines. Samoa does not have a separate statutory Police Safety Order identified in the reviewed material. The Family Court also deals with custody, maintenance, divorce-related transitions and other family matters. Conciliation and alternative dispute resolution are generally required where they are suitable, but they can be bypassed when agreement is unrealistic or the process would be unsuitable. Under the Maintenance and Affiliation Act 1967, support may concern a child under 16 and can continue from age 16 until before 19 when the child remains in education or training. A custody order can exist without a maintenance order, and a Registrar's interim custody order can last for up to seven days. The Bureau of Statistics and the Samoa Births, Deaths and Marriages service record births, deaths, marriages, adoptions and name changes. Birth registration can use confirmation from a health facility, or for a home birth a village representative or baptism certificate. The facility generally notifies the authorities within 14 days, the Director-General of Health within 28 days, and parents should notify the registration service within three months. Deaths are generally registered within 14 days after burial or disposal, and marriage officers submit marriage notices within 14 days. An adoption normally requires the biological parent process, a lawyer and a court order before post-registration. A dissolution is recorded after the court order. Services are available through Apia, Salelologa and Samoan consulates, and certificates are often issued the same day. The main BDM fee list records, among other amounts, 15 tala for a timely birth registration with certificate, 35 tala for a late birth registration, 15 tala for a timely death registration, 35 tala for a late death registration, and 55 tala for a local adoption. The main list and the service FAQ contain some different amounts, and payment is recorded as cash-only, so the current fee should be confirmed before filing. Registration access can also depend on transport between Upolu, Savai'i and outer communities. The Child Wellbeing Benefit in 2026 covers eligible children from birth to 35 months, subject to registration and other eligibility conditions. It includes a 200-tala newborn grant and a 100-tala monthly child benefit; registration by 30 November 2026 allows eligible payments to be backdated to 1 July 2026. A disability benefit of 100 tala per month is reported for registered people with disabilities. Families remain the main care network, with some support from services such as Mapuifagalele and Mapuipulotu. Samoa has no general state long-term-care insurance identified in the reviewed material. Family planning and antenatal care are available through formal health-service pathways, but current fees and access times depend on the service location.