Custody: Joint parental care
If the parents are not married to each other, the mother has sole parental custody by law. However, parents can declare that they wish to exercise joint custody by means of a declaration of custody. These declarations of custody can be made before the birth of the child, but must be notarized.
Paternity must be established
It is not necessary that the parents live together. But paternity must be established, that is: the father must acknowledge paternity to the child.
Consulting services
If you have questions about custody, you can get advice on this at the Stuttgart Youth Welfare Office:
- Get advice before making a declaration of custody.
- You will be informed in advance about the consequences of such a declaration.
- The Youth Welfare Office certifies custody declarations free of charge
You can make an appointment for advice on joint custody by calling 0711 216-55806 or by contacting the person in charge directly:
You can also makeappointments for notarization by telephone. If your child has not yet been born and no interpreter is required for the certification, you can also contact your contact person directly:
In all other cases, please make an appointment for notarization by calling 0711 216 - 55 807. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Due to high demand, there may be longer waiting times. Therefore, please make an appointment in good time.
Support services
