Declaring joint custody of a child
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzIf you as parents of a child are not married to each other at the time of birth, only the mother is entitled to custody. This does not apply if you as parents have made a joint declaration of custody or if a different court decision has been made regarding custody.
Written information can be provided about the mother's sole custody.
If you wish to have joint custody, both parents must declare this to the Youth Welfare Office or a notary and have it notarized. Paternity must first be acknowledged.
You can also make a declaration of custody even if your child has not yet been born but has already been conceived. However, this is still possible and necessary after the birth if you are not getting married and do not wish to seek a court settlement.
A declaration of custody must be publicly notarized. You can arrange this at your local youth welfare office or, for a fee, at a notary's office.
Once a joint declaration of custody has been made, parental custody can only be changed by a decision of the family court.