Adoption and foster care

Adoption of a German child

Was your child born in Germany and did you adopt it in Germany? After completion of the adoption procedure before the family court, the birth register is automatically notarized...

Adoption of a child after placement by the Youth Welfare Office

Adoption as a child (adoption) is pronounced by the family court at the request of the adopting party.

Adoption of a foreign child

Would you like to adopt a child from abroad? Then you should clarify the recognition of such an adoption in Germany in advance. After the adoption abroad, the foreign birth...

Adoption of a foreign child, transformation of a weak adoption into a strong one

If you have adopted a child in a country whose law only provides for a weak adoption, you can have the adoption converted into an adoption under German law by a German family court.

Replacing the consent of one parent to the adoption

If you want to give your child up for adoption, the birth parents and the child must consent. In exceptional cases, the family court can substitute the consent of one parent for the adoption. The responsible youth welfare office must advise and instruct on the procedure.

Declaration by the adoption applicants that they are willing to adopt the child proposed to them.

If the adoption of a child living abroad is possible, the adoption applicants are asked by the international placement office to declare that they are willing to adopt this child . This process must be accompanied.

Revocation of consent to adoption by children over 14 years of age

If consent to an adoption (including a stepchild adoption) has been given for or by a child, that consent may be revoked by the child when he or she is 14 years of age or older.... A revocation must be publicly notarized.

Consent of the father to the adoption of a child

If you want to give your child up for adoption and you are not married to the mother, you can refrain from filing an application for transfer of parental care to yourself after the child's birth. You can declare this even before the birth.

Obtain access to the adoption file

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 this right of access.

Leaving a child with a foster carer

You are a foster carer and the natural parents want to take the child back with them? Then you can apply to the family court for the child to stay with you.

Applying for the adoption of an adult

If you want to adopt a person who is of age, you and the person to be adopted can apply for this at the family court.

Custody register exhibition

Do you need information from the custody register? Find out more here.

Parental responsibility for minor children

In this section, you will find information on your rights and obligations regarding birth, maintenance obligations for children in cross-border family situations, and surrogacy and adoption.