Recognition of paternity

The acknowledgment of paternity and the declaration of consent can be submitted at any municipal office, youth welfare office or notary's office.

• The acknowledging man declares that he is the father of the child.
• The registrar must check the declaration of acknowledgment in order to prevent ineffective acknowledgments as far as possible.

In particular, the following is checked

• The identity of the acknowledging party, the mother and the child
• The legal capacity of the parties involved
• Any previous status determinations
• The registrar clarifies the legal consequences of the name.
• The recognition is publicly notarized

• Youth welfare offices
• Notaries
• registry offices

• Youth welfare offices
• Notaries
• registry offices

• The acknowledgement and consent must be publicly notarized.
• The acknowledgement of paternity can be submitted to any municipal office, youth welfare office or notary's office.
• The acknowledgment is not subject to receipt and does not require acceptance by a specific registry office or other authority to be effective.
• The prohibition of abusive acknowledgement of paternity pursuant to § 1597a applies. BGB
• Recognition of paternity of a child is not effective as long as the paternity of another man exists (blocking effect).
• Recognition subject to a condition or time limit is ineffective.
• There must be no effective revocation by the acknowledging party.
• Recognition requires the consent of the mother.
• Recognition also requires the consent of the child if the mother is not entitled to parental custody in this respect.
• The effectiveness of the declaration of acknowledgment of paternity is not dependent on the actual parentage relationship; (legal) paternity is established solely through the effective submission of the declaration of acknowledgment and all necessary declarations of consent. Paternity can also be acknowledged before the child is born.
• Anyone with limited legal capacity can only acknowledge paternity themselves, but requires the consent of their legal representative. In the case of legally incompetent persons, 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.
• The same regulations apply to the mother's consent.
• For a legally incapacitated child or a child who is not yet 14 years old, only the legal representative can consent to the acknowledgment.
• Acknowledgements or consents cannot be declared by an authorized person.

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

Recognition of paternity and declarations of consent are free of charge.

If necessary, EUR 30 for the affirmation in lieu of an oath by an interpreter.

The declaration of recognition can be made for an unlimited period of time, even before the birth of the child (prenatal recognition) and after the child's death (post-mortem recognition), as well as for stillborn children.

• Depending on the individual case

• § Section 44 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)

• Objection
• Contestation
• Declaratory proceedings

09.10.2020

What should be done if, after paternity has been acknowledged, there are indications that the father is not the biological father?

The person concerned has two years to contest the paternity in court.

What happens if the mother does not agree to the acknowledgement of paternity?

Paternity can then only be established in court.

Can it be notarized before the birth?

Yes, but only three months before the date of birth at the earliest.