Vaterschaftsanerkennung: Recognising Paternity
For unmarried couples only. Best done at the Jugendamt before the birth — otherwise the father won't appear in the Geburtsurkunde and a separate correction will be needed later.
WHAT TO DO
What and when
In Germany, the husband is automatically considered the father of a child born in marriage (§1592 BGB). For unmarried couples, paternity must be officially recognised — at the Jugendamt or a notary.
Why before birth: if done afterwards, the father is not included in the original Geburtsurkunde. Adding him later requires an additional Standesamt visit.
What you need to do
Both partners visit the Jugendamt in the mother’s municipality together. Book an appointment in advance.
Documents:
- Passport or ID of both parents
- Aufenthaltstitel (residence permit) if applicable
- If either parent was previously married: divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse
The process is called Beurkundung and is completely free of charge.
At the same time: joint custody
It is recommended to also file a Sorgerechtserklärung (declaration of joint parental custody) at the same appointment. Without it, the father has no legal right to make decisions for the child — even with paternity recognised.
We did everything in one appointment: paternity recognition + Sorgerechtserklärung. Took 40 minutes. The Jugendamt staff member explained everything — very straightforward.
The Jugendamt is not a scary place. The staff are used to unmarried couples and explain everything without judgement.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does paternity recognition have to happen before birth? ▾
No — there is no legal deadline. But if done afterwards, the father will not be included in the original Geburtsurkunde. Adding him later requires a separate trip to the Standesamt and takes extra time.
What is the Sorgerechtserklärung and why does it matter? ▾
It establishes joint parental custody (§1626a BGB). For married couples, joint custody arises automatically. For unmarried couples, only after filing this declaration at the Jugendamt or notary. Without it, the father has no legal decision-making authority for the child.
What if the mother is a single parent by choice? ▾
If no paternity recognition is desired, the child receives the mother's surname and she has sole custody. Recognising paternity is a voluntary act by both parents.