Assistance

If you are raising your child alone, you can apply for a guardianship for your child at the youth welfare office. The guardian will help you to legally clarify paternity and/or enforce your child's maintenance claims.

Text last updated: 2025-09-24
This information is available in plain language.

Your way to the application

Apply now

Please enter at least a postcode/city.

Why should I specify a location?

With the help of the location information, we can display the information, forms and services suitable for you and your responsible office.

Which location should I specify?

For example, your place of residence if you want to apply for a passport or the company location if you want to register a business.

If we are unable to show you a vacancy here, please check the website of your local authority.

Find advice

Please enter at least a postcode/city.

Why should I specify a location?

With the help of the location information, we can display the information, forms and services suitable for you and your responsible office.

Which location should I specify?

For example, your place of residence if you want to apply for a passport or the company location if you want to register a business.

  • for a consultation: no documents required
  • for a guardianship: informal written application

Guidance from the youth welfare office is free of charge.

Simply explained

Are you a mother or father caring for your child alone? Then you have the option of getting support from the youth welfare office. This person will help you to legally clarify the paternity of your child and ensure that your child receives the maintenance to which he or she is entitled.

You can decide for yourself which of these tasks the legal adviser will take on.

Video file

What requirements must be met?

As a mother or father, you can apply for guardianship for your child

  • if you have sole parental responsibility for the child or
  • if the child lives with you or if you are the sole carer.

In these cases, you are also entitled to guardianship if you have joint custody following separation and divorce. The nationality of your child does not play a role in your entitlement to assistance, but the child must live in Germany.

What do I get?

Eine Beistandschaft ist eine spezielle Form der gesetzlichen Vertretung von Kindern und Jugendlichen. Das Jugendamt kann das Kind dann in den entsprechenden Verfahren rechtlich vertreten und Sie so entlasten. Es kann zum Beispiel

  • den Vater zur Anerkennung der Vaterschaft und Aufnahme der nötigen Urkunden auffordern,
  • die gerichtliche Klärung der Vaterschaft veranlassen,
  • den Unterhaltsanspruch Ihres Kindes berechnen,
  • den Unterhaltsanspruch regelmäßig überprüfen,
  • eine Urkunde über den Unterhalt aufnehmen,
  • den Unterhaltsanspruch gerichtlich durchsetzen,
  • die Unterhaltszahlungen einziehen und kontrollieren,
  • den Aufenthalt und Arbeitgeber des unterhaltspflichtigen Elternteils ermitteln und
  • Zwangsvollstreckungsmaßnahmen einleiten.

What else is important?

Wenn Sie alleinerziehend sind und der andere Elternteil keinen Unterhalt für Ihr Kind zahlt, nicht in voller Höhe oder nur unregelmäßig, können Sie Unterhaltsvorschuss beantragen. Der Unterhaltsvorschuss ist eine Ersatzleistung für ausbleibende Unterhaltszahlungen des anderen Elternteils. Er hilft, die finanzielle Lebensgrundlage Ihres Kindes zu sichern.

Services

Unterhaltsvorschuss

Betreuung, Erziehung, Job, Haushalt: Alleinerziehende tragen die meiste Verantwortung allein. Finanzielle Sorgen kommen hinzu, wenn für das Kind kein oder nicht regelmäßig Unterhalt vom anderen Elternteil gezahlt wird. In dieser Situation können Alleinerziehende Unterhaltsvorschuss beantragen. 

learn more

Frequently asked questions and answers

Did you already know? More benefits for families

Are you starting a family? Then you are entitled to state benefits!

Families and parents with children are supported by the state with various family policy measures. The benefits are designed to relieve the financial burden on families, enable parents and children to lead a good life and make it easier to combine family and career. Family policy benefits include, for example, child benefit, child supplement, advance maintenance payments and many other benefits.

You might also be interested in