Recognition of paternity in plain language

Are you having a child?

Or has the child already been born?

But the parents are not married?

Then the father must be officially recognized.

This is called acknowledgment of paternity.

By acknowledging paternity, the man says:

I am the father of the child.

And the mother must also say:

This is the father of the child.

• What can the father do and what does he have to do?
• Where can you acknowledge paternity?
• When can you acknowledge paternity?
• What do you need to acknowledge paternity?
• Where can you get help?

A man acknowledges paternity.
This means that the man is the father of the child.
The man then has certain rights.

• The child is then related to the father and his family.
• The child can be given the father's surname.
• The father must pay money for the child and the mother.
• The child can be insured through the father's health insurance.
• The father is German and the mother is a foreigner?
  Then the child receives 2 citizenships.
• The father can take parental leave
• The child can see the father.
• The father dies?
  Then the child receives the inheritance from the father.
  The child can also receive an orphan's pension.

The parents can acknowledge paternity even before the birth.

The father is then written on the birth certificate.

You can also acknowledge paternity after the birth.

Better: as early as possible.

Because paternity is important for many applications.

For example for:

• the child allowance
• the parental allowance
• the custody rights

You can acknowledge paternity:

• at the Youth Welfare Office
• at the notary
• at the Registry Office

Acknowledgment is free of charge at the Youth Welfare Office and the Registry Office.

It costs money at the notary's office.

Parents need certain documents to acknowledge paternity:

• Personal ID or passport of mother and father
• Birth certificates of mother and father
• After the birth: birth certificate of the child
• Before the birth: mother's passport.

Both parents must attend the appointment in person.

Do you have questions about acknowledging paternity?

Then the youth welfare office in your city can help.

Don't know where the nearest youth welfare office is?

You can search online:

The website is called: www.unterstuetzung-die-ankommt.de

The website is not in plain language.