Projects per year
Organisation profile
Organisation profile
The primary objective of The Nordic Centre for Comparative and International Family Law (NorFam) is to be a focal point for comparative and international research in the Nordic Countries in the areas of Family Law as well as in related areas such as Succession Law, Private International Law and Medical Law. While physically and administratively based at Aalborg University under the directorship of Prof Jens M. Scherpe, its membership will extend to scholars from all Nordic jurisdictions (comprising Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland and the autonomous region of Åland).
Nordic legal scholarship often is underrepresented in the international debates, despite the fact that the Nordic jurisdictions and societies frequently have been (and still are) in the vanguard of many societal and legal developments (e.g. gender equality, recognition of same-sex relationships and cohabitation). NorFam will bring together scholars from all Nordic jurisdictions for joint projects and publications in the English language. Its mission is to make Nordic law and Nordic legal scholarship available and accessible globally, thus adding a Nordic dimension to international and comparative debates. Another core aim of NorFam is to provide in-depth comparative research for law reform discussions within the Nordic Countries and beyond.
Director
Jens M. Scherpe (Aalborg University)
Co-directors
- Gitte Meldgaard Abrahamsen (Aalborg University)
- Katrine Kjærheim Fredwall (University of Oslo)
- Hrefna Friðriksdóttir (University of Iceland)
- Katja Karjalainen (University of Lapland (Rovaniemi))
- Anna Singer (Uppsala University)
Advisory Board
- Margareta Brattström (Swedish Supreme Court)
- Maarit Jänterä-Jareborg (Uppsala University)
- Ingrid Lund-Andersen (University of Copenhagen)
- Urpo Kangas (University of Helsinki)
- Walter Pintens (University of Leuven)
- Kirsten Sandberg (University of Oslo)
- Salla Silvola (Ministry of Justice of Finland)
- Anna Singer (Uppsala University)
- Tone Sverdrup (University of Oslo)
Corresponding Members
- Caroline Adolphsen (Aarhus University)
- John Asland (University of Oslo)
- Lena Benediksen (University of Tromsø)
- Viola Boström (Umeå University)
- Thomas Eeg (University of Bergen)
- Maria Ullits Pallesen Fonseca (University of Aalborg)
- Jameson Garland (Uppsala University)
- Trude Haugli (University of Tromsø)
- Janne Rothmar Herrmann (Copenhagen University)
- Antti Kolehmainen (University of Eastern Finland)
- Annette Kronborg (Syddansk Universitet)
- Pernilla Leviner (Stockholm University)
- Tapani Lohi (University of Helsinki)
- Titti Mattson (Lund University)
- Tuulikki Mikkola (University of Turku)
- Sanna Mustasaari (University of Eastern Finland)
- Anna Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen (University of Eastern Finland)
- Eva Naur (Aarhus University)
- Torbjörn Odlöw (University of Gothenburg)
- Frank Høgholm Pedersen (Copenhagen University)
- Anne Mørk Pedersen (Aalborg University)
- Elizabeth Stuart Perry (Uppsala University)
- Johanna Schiratzki (Stockholm University)
- Anneken Kari Sperr (University of Bergen)
- Jane Stoll (Karlstad University)
- Hannele Tolonen (Helsinki University)
- Tone Linn Wærstad (University of Oslo)
International Corresponding Members
- Cristina González Beilfuss (Universitat de Barcelona)
- Alan Brown (University of Glasgow)
- Anatol Dutta (LMU Munich)
- Belinda Fehlberg (Melbourne University, Australia)
- Josep Ferrer Riba (Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona)
- Stephen Gilmore (From September 2023: University of Cambridge)
- Claire Fenton-Glynn (University of Cambridge and Director of Cambridge Family Law)
- Yuko Nishitani (Kyoto University)
- Kenneth Norrie (University of Strathclyde)
- Josep Ferrer Riba (Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona)
- Nicolás Espejo Yaksic (Centre for Constitutional Studies of the Supreme Court of Mexico)
- Nadjma Yassari (Max Planck Institute Hamburg, Head of the Research Group “Changes in God’s Law – An Inner-Islamic Comparison of Family and Succession Laws”)
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Multiple Parent Families in Denmark
Stenholm, A. R. (PI) & Scherpe, J. M. (Supervisor)
01/08/2025 → 31/07/2028
Project: PhD Project
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BEST: In the best interests of the child? Exploring child protection practices and their impact
Engen, M. (PI), Jacobsen, B. S. (CoI), Matthiesen, N. C. L. (CoI), Jensen, S. K. (CoI) & Mørk, A. (CoI)
01/02/2025 → 31/01/2028
Project: Research
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The Need for Family Recognition Beyond Marriage in Denmark
Munch, M. W. (PI) & Scherpe, J. M. (Supervisor)
01/04/2024 → 31/03/2027
Project: PhD Project
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Criminalising Surrogacy: A Comparative Analysis
Scherpe, J. M., Cheung, D. & Lentz, L. W., 2026, (In preparation) Edward Elgar Publishing.Research output: Book/Report › Book › Research › peer-review
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Landsretten ophæver afgørelser om frigivelse til adoption uden samtykke
Mørk, A., 14 Apr 2026, In: Socialraadgiveren. 2026, 2, p. 26 1 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Communication
Open Access -
What is a ‘European Family’?
Scherpe, J. M., Mar 2026, What is a Family? Law and Regulation in a Transdisciplinary Context, . Margaria, A. & Fenton-Glynn, C. (eds.). Bristol University Press, p. 102-114 (Law Society Policy).Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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UK Ministry of Justice Roundtable on reform of the law of cohabitation and financial remedies
Scherpe, J. M. (Participant)
23 Jul 2026Activity: Attending an event › Organisation or participation in workshops, courses, seminars, exhibitions or similar
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Academics working with law reform agencies on a law reform project
Scherpe, J. M. (Lecturer)
13 Jul 2026 → 14 Jul 2026Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
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Wissenschaft und Fallentscheidung im Familienrecht - Symposium zum 65. Geburtstag von Frank Klinkhammer
Scherpe, J. M. (Speaker)
26 Jun 2026Activity: Talks and presentations › Conference presentations
Press/Media
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Eksterne midler går ofte hånd i hånd med høje forskerlønninger
Popovski, P., Blaabjerg, F., Jess, T., Jensen, C. S., Larsen, K. G., Dahl, M. S., Scherpe, J. M., Graven-Nielsen, T., Bukh, P. N. & Moeslund, T. B.
05/05/2026
3 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Debat: Landsretten ophæver afgørelser om frigivelse til adoption uden samtykke
14/04/2026
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Juraeksperter advarer mod politikeres deling af børn på sociale medier
05/03/2026
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media