Acknowledgement of paternity

Acknowledgement of paternity

City of Frankfurt am Main City of Frankfurt am Main

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Acknowledgement of paternity

An acknowledgement of paternity must be notarised by the father who is not married to the mother of his child. In Frankfurt am Main, paternity acknowledgement can be sent to the Registry Office ("Standesamt"), Youth and Social Welfare Office ("Jugend- und Sozialamt"), or notaries. You cannot make a statement of joint custody at the Registry Office.

Competent Authority

Your child has not yet been given a birth certificate

Registry Office District Central ("Standesamtsbezirk Mitte")

Tel.: +49 69 21273505

E-Mail: anmeldung.neugeborene@stadt-frankfurt.deInternal Link

 

or 

 

Registry Office District Höchst ("Standesamtsbezirk Höchst")

Tel.: +49 69 21245570

E-Mail: Standesamt.hoechst@stadt-frankfurt.deInternal Link

Your child has already been given a birth certificate

Registry Office District Central ("Standesamtsbezirk Mitte")

Tel.: +49 69 21273503

E-Mail: kindesname.personenstandsveraenderungen@stadt-frankfurt.deInternal Link

 

or

 

Registry Office District Höchst ("Standesamtsbezirk Höchst")

Tel.: +49 69 21245570

E-Mail: Standesamt.hoechst@stadt-frankfurt.deInternal Link

Custody

If the baby’s parents are not married, you can state custody at the Youth and Social Welfare Office for Special Services ("Jugend- und Sozialamt Besondere Dienste"), or a public notary.

You are not able to do this at the Registry Office ("Standesamt").

All topics at a glance

Service description

Who are the child's mother and father?

The German Civil Code (BGB) says who the baby’s mother and father is:

  • Maternity (§ 1591 of the German Civil Code): The mother of a child is the woman who gave birth to the child.
  • Paternity (§ 1592 of the German Civil Code): The father of a child is the man,

            1. who is married to the mother. Or

            2. who has acknowledged paternity. Or

            3. whose paternity has been set by the court.

Prerequisites
  • The acknowledging party must be legally able to recognise that he is the father. If he is a minor, his legal guardian needs to give consent.
  • For German law to take effect, both the mother and the father of the child have to consent to paternity in person.

Required documents
  • Valid identification card, passport, or residence permit if applicable.
  • If the baby’s mother is divorced, the original binding divorce statement must be presented.
  • If the baby’s mother is widowed, the death certificate must be presented.

 

If the baby’s father or mother does not speak German well enough, you need to:

  • Bring a sworn interpreter or someone who can translate for you.
  • The interpreter needs to bring a passport or identification card with them.