Birth announcement - Home birth
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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.
You will need the following documents to register a home birth:
- medical certificate or certificate from the midwife or obstetrician confirming the birth -
- identity card, passport or a recognized passport replacement document from you as parents
- if you as parents are or were married to each other, additionally:
- Marriage certificate or certified printout from the marriage register
- Birth certificates if your dates of birth are not shown on the marriage certificate
- if you as parents are not married to each other, additionally:
- Birth certificate of the mother
- if paternity has already been recognized: Birth certificate of the father and declaration of acknowledgment of paternity
- if applicable, declarations of custody
- if the name of one of the parents has changed:
- Proof of the name change
Note: The registry office may request further documents from you if this is necessary to verify information. Documents from abroad must be submitted in the original and in each case with a German translation by a recognized translator.
Notification of a birth at the registry office is free of charge.
Certificates for private purposes are subject to a fee. They can be paid for in cash or by EC card.
Simply explained
If a child is born at home (home birth), i.e. not in a hospital or other facility where obstetric care is provided, you must notify the registry office responsible for the place of birth of the birth in person.
The notification of the home birth must be made primarily by a parent with custody. If the parents are unable to notify the registry office, the birth must be notified by another person who was present at the birth or knows about it. The home birth must be reported for a live-born child and for a stillborn child.
A stillbirth is deemed to have occurred if no signs of life (heartbeat, lung breathing or pulsating umbilical cord) can be detected in the child after birth and the child weighs at least 500 grams or weighs less than 500 grams but has reached the 24th week of pregnancy.
What requirements must be met?
As the mother or custodial father, you can report the home birth of your child in person. However, it is also possible for the birth to be reported by another person who was present at the birth.
What else is important?
The home birth must be
- notified within one week of the day following the birth in the case of a live birth and
- no later than the third working day following the birth in the case of a stillborn child.
The day of birth is not included in the calculation of the notification period.
If the child's first name or surname have not yet been determined when the birth is notified, you must notify the registry office within one month.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Already checked? Tips and lists for the next steps
There are a few things to think about and take care of after the birth. The following checklist will give you an overview of the important things you need to take care of after the birth.
Did you already know? More benefits for families
