The divorce rate in Norway is relatively high. Many people start new relationships after the breakdown of a marriage or relationship, perhaps with a new partner who also already has children. It has become common to talk about expanded or complex families in which both the partners have children from previous relationships, and possibly also joint children. They are often referred to jokingly as 'your children, my children and our children'.
In such complex families, it is common to have contact with former partners because of joint children. In addition, it is necessary to take into consideration the former partner's new partner and any new children they might have. The terms step family, step parents and step children have become less common. Many people talk instead about a bonus family and bonus children.