Declare acknowledgement of paternity (Vaterschaftsanerkennung)

• Vaterschaftsanerkennung (acknowledgement of paternity) can only be declared in person before an official authorized to record it (Urkundsperson). Responsible for accepting the declaration are Standesämter (registry offices), the Jugendamt (youth welfare office) of the place of residence, and notaries. • You and the child's mother are not married to each other. • Sworn interpreter, if applicable If the parents do not have sufficient command of the German language, a sworn interpreter must be brought in at the parents' initiative. • The child's mother must consent to the acknowledgement of paternity in person before the official authorized to record it • Minor mothers and fathers must bring a person with custodial rights (sorgeberechtigte Person) to the appointment • Documents in German • If the required documents/certificates are not available in German, they must be translated by a translator/interpreter sworn in Germany (see "Further information"). • For some countries, additional legalization (Apostille or legalization) is also required. The Apostille (issued by the competent authority in the home country) or the legalization (issued by the German embassy) must be affixed directly to the original or bound together with it (more under "Further information"). • For certificates originally issued in Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, or Cyrillic, the translation of personal names (such as first names, family names, birth names) must follow the transliteration standards (ISO 9-1995 / ISO 843 / DIN 31634 / ELOT 734 etc.). • Documents in original As a rule, all required documents/certificates must be submitted to the responsible Standesamt (registry office) in original. Certificates may not be altered and/or perforated/laminated.

• valid and signed identity card or passport of the parents (original) • birth certificates of the parents If your name differs from the one on the birth certificate, you must provide proof of this (e.g. a certificate confirming the name change, marriage certificate). • Mutterpass (maternity medical record booklet) Additionally, in the case of acknowledgment of paternity before birth • birth certificate of the child Additionally, in the case of acknowledgment of paternity after birth • If the acknowledgment of paternity takes place at the Standesamt (registry office), you only need to provide the birth certificate if the birth was registered at a different Standesamt. • If the acknowledgment of paternity takes place at the Jugendamt (youth welfare office) of your place of residence or before a notary, you must always provide the child's birth certificate.

• 40.00 euros: for acknowledgment of paternity or declaration of consent at the Standesamt (registry office) • none: at the Jugendamt (youth welfare office) • At notaries, acknowledgment of paternity is free of charge, but becomes subject to a fee in connection with a declaration of joint custody (Sorgeerklärung)

• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB, Civil Code) § 1592 ff. - Paternity www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1592.html • Einführungsgesetz zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch (EGBGB, Introductory Act to the Civil Code) Art. 19 - Descent www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgbeg/BJNR006049896.html#BJNR0060 • Personenstandsgesetz (PStG, Civil Status Act) § 44 - Declarations on the acknowledgement of paternity and maternity www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__44.html • Sozialgesetzbuch Achtes Buch (SGB VIII, Social Code Book Eight) § 59 - Certification www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_8/__59.html • Verordnung zur Ausführung des Personenstandsgesetzes im Land Berlin (PStGAV Bln, Ordinance Implementing the Civil Status Act in the State of Berlin) § 9 - Fee assessment <https://gesetze.berlin.de/jportal/?quelle=jlink&query=PStGAV+BE+%C2%A7+9&psml=bsbeprod.psml&max=true>

• Directory of authorized sworn translators and interpreters www.justiz-dolmetscher.de/Recherche/

• Standesamt (registry office) - Acknowledgment of paternity (Vaterschaftsanerkennung) can generally be certified at any Standesamt. - Here you may need to make an appointment (Termin), because registry offices do not always offer open office hours. • Jugendamt (youth welfare office) of the child's, or the mother's, place of residence - Here you may need to make an appointment, because youth welfare offices do not always offer open office hours. • Notaries