Paternity

Both the Youth Welfare Office and the Registry Office certify paternity free of charge. However, the registry office is not allowed to certify declarations of joint parental care.

Due to the high demand, there may be longer waiting times. Therefore, please make an appointment for the certification in good time. If your child has not yet been born and no interpreter is required for the certification, you can contact your contact person directly:

In all other cases, please make an appointment for notarization at 0711 216 - 55 807. Office hours are Monday, Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Paternity may be acknowledged in the following cases:

• to the child of an unmarried mother
• to the child of a married mother, if the child was born after the pendency of divorce proceedings.

Paternity is acknowledged by the father personally in a publicly certified form. This recognition is also possible before the birth.

The acknowledgement can be made at the registry office, at the youth welfare office and at all notaries. As soon as the mother also agrees personally and in publicly certified form, the paternity acknowledgment becomes effective. If the mother is still married, the acknowledgement of paternity only becomes effective when the divorce becomes final.