Checklists & Tips

The birth of a child must be reported to the registry office responsible for the place of birth.

If your child was born at home, there are a few things you need to consider when reporting the birth

You can obtain a birth certificate for your child from the registry office in the place of birth.

Sie wollen ihr Kind bei einer Kita anmelden? Ab dem 1. Geburtstag Ihres Kindes gibt es einen Rechtsanspruch auf einen Betreuungsplatz in einer Kindertageseinrichtung (Kita) oder bei einer Kindertagespflegeperson. Informieren Sie sich möglichst früh bei Ihrem Jugendamt vor Ort, der Kindertageseinrichtung oder Kindertagespflegeperson Ihrer Wahl, ob es freie Betreuungsplätze gibt. 

Have you been offered a childcare spot for your child? Check with your local youth welfare office to find out if there are any parental fees, how much they might be, and what the basis for calculating the fee is.

All parents receive child benefit. With child benefit, the state supports parents so that they can provide well for their children. Child benefit is paid at least until the child's 18th birthday.

In some families, money is tight. If the parents’ income isn’t enough to adequately provide for the entire family, the government provides a monthly supplement in addition to child benefits. Find out here when you’re eligible for the child supplement and how to apply for it.

Do you need another civil partnership certificate? You can obtain this from the registry office where the registered partnership was established.

During the maternity protection period, (expectant) mothers are under special legal protection. They are not allowed to work for a certain period before and after the birth. The Maternity Protection Act ensures that mothers are not financially disadvantaged during this time. Employees receive up to 100 percent of their previous net income, consisting of maternity pay and an employer's allowance.

If you as parents are not married to each other at the birth of your child, you can obtain joint custody by submitting both custody declarations to the youth welfare office in your place of residence.

Childcare, parenting, work, household chores: Single parents shoulder most of the responsibility on their own. Financial worries are compounded when the other parent pays no child support—or does not pay it regularly. In this situation, single parents can apply for an advance on child support.

If the parents of a child are not married to each other, the biological father is not automatically the legally recognized father. Recognition with all rights and obligations only takes place through the public notarization of a declaration by the father. The mother must agree to the declaration.