Maternity recognition

The recognition of maternity can be handed in at any municipal office, at all youth welfare offices and notaries.

• The acknowledging woman declares to be the mother of the child.
• The registrar shall check the declaration of recognition in order to prevent ineffective recognitions as far as possible.
• Checked in particular:
• The identity of the recogniser, the mother and the child
• The legal capacity of the parties involved
• Any previous status determinations
• The registrar explains the legal consequences of the name.
• The recognition shall be publicly certified

• The recognition must be publicly certified.
• The recognition of maternity can be handed in at any city office, youth welfare office or notary public.
• The recognition and consent is not subject to receipt and does not require receipt by a particular registry office or other authority to be effective.
• Recognition of maternity is only applicable in cases where the parentage of a child of parents who are not married to each other is governed by the law of the state in which the child has its habitual residence or, alternatively, by the mother's home country law. If the foreign law of the mother's or father's home country prescribes a maternity acknowledgment, this will be publicly authenticated. The same rules apply as for the acknowledgement of paternity.
• Acknowledgement under condition or time provision is ineffective.
• The recognition also requires the consent of the child if the mother is not entitled to parental care in this respect.
• Those with limited legal capacity can only acknowledge themselves, but require the consent of their legal representative. For persons incapable of contracting, the legal representative can acknowledge with the approval of the family court; if the legal representative is a guardian, the approval of the guardianship court is required.
• For an incapacitated child, or a child who is not yet 14 years old, only the legal representative can consent to the recognition.
• Acknowledgements or consents cannot be declared by an authorised person.

Proof of identity (e.g. identity card, passport, ID card)

The certification of a maternity acknowledgement is usually free of charge at the Youth Welfare Office.

§ Section 59 (1) no. 2 SGB VIII

Art. 19 Introductory Act to the Civil Code (EGBGB)

§§ Section 44 (2) of the Personal Status Act (PStG)

§ Section 1591 of the German Civil Code (BGB)

§§ 27 Para. 2 Personal Status Act (PStG)

§ 59 Social Code (SGB) - Eighth Book (VIII) (certification by the certifying officer at the youth welfare office)