Would you like to adopt a child? Adoption agencies in Germany are either state-run or independent. Independent adoption agencies must be recognized by the state. Your adoption agency will advise and guide you through all the necessary steps. You can find the key information here.

As an adopted person, you can inspect the files relating to the placement of your adoption yourself from your 16th birthday. Unless the interests of other parties concerned - such as those of your biological parents - conflict with or outweigh such access.

If you would like to adopt a person of legal age, you and the adult can apply to the competent family court.

If you have adopted a child abroad and it is a weak adoption, you can have it converted into an adoption under German law. Your adopted child will then have all the rights and obligations of a child adopted under German law.

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.

An orphan's pension provides financial support to children when one or both parents have died. Minors, as well as children and adolescents who are still in school or vocational training, are eligible. If one parent has died, a half-orphan's pension is paid. An orphan’s pension is paid when both parents have died. You must apply for the orphan’s pension with the appropriate pension insurance provider.

If you are a German citizen, you can apply for a German passport. This allows you to enter more than 170 countries worldwide without a visa. You must generally apply for the passport at the citizens' office in your place of residence.

Children need their own ID card to travel abroad from birth. An identity card is sufficient for travel within the EU and to Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Turkey. For all other countries, children - like adults - need a passport.

If your spouse or partner dies, you may be eligible for a survivor’s pension (widow’s or widower’s pension). This pension can help alleviate financial hardship.

If you wish to have an abortion, you may, under certain conditions, apply to your statutory health insurance provider to have the costs covered.

If a doctor has determined that you cannot get pregnant naturally and artificial insemination is suitable, statutory health insurance companies will cover part of the costs under certain conditions.

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.

For example, if you are temporarily unable to manage your household due to illness, you can apply for assistance to help you continue managing your household. This assistance is part of social assistance and is granted only if you are not already receiving a similar benefit from your statutory health insurance provider or another insurance carrier.

The birth of a child must be reported to the registry office with jurisdiction over 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.

A miscarriage or stillbirth is a heavy blow for the parents concerned. You can report the miscarriage to the registry office in whose jurisdiction the miscarriage occurred and receive a certificate.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Have you lost your divorce certificate? Then you can apply for a new certified copy at the local or family court where your divorce proceedings were conducted. Only this court will keep the original of your divorce certificate.

The early help services are aimed at all (expectant) parents and their children and especially at families in stressful situations. They provide early support.

Help for upbringing is a collective term for various forms of assistance when parents or other guardians need help with raising their child. The help offered is based on the welfare and needs of the child or young person and must be applied for.

If you have statutory health insurance, you can add family members to your coverage at no additional cost under certain conditions. You can submit the application to your statutory health insurance provider.

Many municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia offer families with children a family pass. This pass helps families, for example, by providing access to recreational activities or discounts on local shopping. You must apply for the family pass.

If you would like to travel with your children and decide to stay at a family vacation resort, you may be eligible for financial assistance under certain conditions. This enables families facing financial difficulties to enjoy a vacation together.

You can change your first name in exceptional cases upon request if there is an important reason for the change.

If you have several first names, you can have their order changed by making a declaration.

If your marriage was divorced outside Germany, you can have this decision formally recognized in Germany.

Foster parents are people who take in, care for and raise a child whose family of origin cannot ensure that the child is raised in a manner that is in the child's best interests, either for a certain period of time or permanently.

Young adults sometimes find it difficult to live independently and without help from others. For people aged 18 to 27, there is so-called "help for young adults" from the youth welfare office.

If you are temporarily unable to manage your household on your own due to a serious illness, a spa treatment, or a hospital stay, you may be eligible for household assistance under certain conditions. You can apply for this assistance through your statutory health insurance provider.

If you are temporarily unable to manage your household due to pregnancy or childbirth, you may be eligible for household assistance under certain conditions. You can apply for this assistance through your statutory health insurance provider.

Tenants and owners who live in their own apartment or house can receive housing benefit. Here you can find out whether you can receive housing benefit and how to apply for it.

You receive housing benefit and your total income, your rent burden or the number of household members has increased - then you can apply for an increase in housing benefit.

If you are already receiving housing benefit and your income situation has not improved significantly since your initial application, you can apply for continued benefit.

Once you have registered at a library, you will be issued with a library card. The card allows you to borrow or order books or media and take advantage of any other services.

The marriage certificate proves the marriage of two people. You can obtain your marriage certificate from the registry office in whose area the marriage took place. The registry office issues it from the marriage register.

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.

In Germany, motherhood is clearly regulated: The mother of a child is the woman who gave birth to the child. This regulation does not apply to all countries. If the mother is not married, according to the law of some countries, a relationship between mother and child only arises when the mother makes a declaration in which she acknowledges the child.

Midwives are valuable companions during pregnancy and the postpartum period. (Expectant) mothers who have statutory health insurance are entitled to the support of a midwife before and after the birth. The costs are covered by health insurance.

When the birth of triplets or other multiples is announced, parents face particular challenges. This is why parents of multiples receive additional support in the form of a multiple birth grant.

Public music schools are educational institutions for all ages that provide a basic musical education and promote a wide range of musical skills.

If you are caring for your child after birth, parental allowance helps make up for some of the lost income.

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.

If you are divorced or have ended your civil partnership, you can take your birth name again instead of your joint surname.

When you get married, you make a declaration to the registrar about the name you and your spouse wish to use in the future. If you wish to change your name at a later date, you can do so in person at the registry office.

Financial Support for Education and Participation in Social and Cultural Life: All the Information at a Glance

If your spouse or domestic partner dies as a result of a work-related accident or occupational disease, the statutory accident insurance provides financial support to the surviving dependents in the form of a widow’s or widower’s pension. If such an insured event occurs, you will receive this pension from your employers’ liability insurance association or accident insurance fund.