Certify a Sorgeerklärung (declaration of parental custody)
Sorgeerklärung beurkunden
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
Parents can declare their intention to exercise joint custody for their child at the Jugendamt (youth welfare office). This declaration (Sorgeerklärung) can be certified either before the child's birth or at any time afterwards. It can also be made together with the acknowledgement of paternity (Vaterschaftsanerkennung).
To make the Sorgeerklärung (declaration of joint custody), you must arrange a personal appointment (Termin) at the Jugendamt or at a notary's office (Notariat). If you have questions about the specific procedure, please contact your responsible Jugendamt or the notary.
Book an appointment
Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)
Requirements
• The child's parents are not married to each other.
• Proof of Vaterschaftsanerkennung (acknowledgement of paternity) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/318991/
Paternity has been established or is being certified at the same time.
• Translator
A translator must be involved if the parents have insufficient knowledge of German. These persons must have a valid identity document and must not be related or related by marriage to the parents. The translator does not need to be a sworn translator.
Documents you need
• Certification of the declaration of joint custody (Sorgeerklärung)
only possible in person
• Personal identification document
• Birth certificate of the child
Proof of birth from the hospital (Mutterpass, i.e. maternity record, or gelbes Untersuchungsheft, the yellow examination booklet), or the Mutterpass in case of certification before the birth of the child
• Mutterpass (maternity record)
Before the birth of the child
• Proof of paternity
Acknowledgement of paternity, court decision establishing paternity, or birth certificate of the child with the father entered
Fees
none
Legal basis
• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB, Civil Code) §§ 1626a et seq. www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/BJNR001950896.html#BJNR001950
• Sozialgesetzbuch Achtes Buch (SGB VIII, Social Code Book Eight) § 59 para. 1, No. 8 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_8/__59.html
Further information
• Familienportal [Family Portal]: information on custody (Sorgerecht) familienportal.de/familienportal/lebenslagen/trennung/sorger
• Bundesministerium der Justiz [Federal Ministry of Justice]: information on custody and access rights (Sorge- und Umgangsrecht) www.bmj.de/DE/themen/gesellschaft_familie/kinder/sorge_umgan
Who is responsible
Jugendamt (youth welfare office) at the parent's place of residence
Responsible for you
Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.
- Bezirksamt Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
- Jugendamt - Kindschaftsrechtliche Beratung und Vertretung
- Bezirksamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
- Jugendamt Beistandschaft
- Jugendamt FamilienServiceBüro
- Bezirksamt Lichtenberg
- Jugendamt - Kindschaftsrechtliche Beratung und VertretungGroße-Leege-Str. 103, 13055 Berlin
- Bezirksamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf
- Jugendamt - Beistandschaften
- Jugendamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf
- Bezirksamt Mitte
- Jugendamt - Unterhalts- und Sorgerecht
- Bezirksamt Neukölln
- Jugendamt Beistandschaften
- Bezirksamt Pankow
- Jugendamt Pankow - Kindschaftsrecht / Beurkundungen
- Bezirksamt Reinickendorf
- Jugendamt Reinickendorf - Elterngeldstelle
- Bezirksamt Spandau
- Jugendamt - Kindschaftsrechtliche Hilfen
- Bezirksamt Steglitz-Zehlendorf
- Jugendamt - Kindschaftsrechtliche Beratung und Vertretung
- Bezirksamt Tempelhof-Schöneberg
- Jugendamt - Beurkundungen / Bescheinigungen
- Jugendamt Tempelhof-Schöneberg - Infopoint
- Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick
- Jugendamt Treptow-Köpenick - Beurkundung/Sorgeregister
Original
Service number 326590 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/326590/