Family matters - Arrange right of access (Umgangsrecht)

• Best interests of the child • As a matter of principle, both parents have the duty and the right to contact ("Umgang") with the child. Other close reference persons have a right of contact with the child, provided that the contact serves the best interests of the child. • Should the influence of certain persons harm the child, the Familiengericht (family court) can restrict the right of contact temporarily or permanently, or under certain circumstances exclude it entirely. • A milder solution would be for the relevant relatives to be allowed to see the child in the presence of a third party. For example, a representative of the Jugendhilfe (youth welfare services) can supervise the contact between relatives wishing to have contact and the child (supervised contact / "begleiteter Umgang").

• Application for regulation of contact (Umgang – contact/access rights with the child) • Parents or other close reference persons of the child can generally apply to the court for the regulation of contact informally, either on their own or with the help of the Rechtsantragsstelle (legal application office) of the Familiengericht (family court). • If a contact arrangement is to be made in connection with a divorce proceeding pending before the court, the application in the divorce proceeding can only be submitted by a lawyer. The option of submitting the application informally on one's own does not exist in that case. • Description of the facts of the case • When did the last contact take place? • What problems have occurred (etc.)? • Furthermore, the application must state precisely when the contact is to take place. The applicant must describe in detail the time scope or rhythm in which they wish to have contact with the child. The application should also include the applicant's wishes for a contact arrangement, for example during statutory public holidays, Kita (daycare) closure periods or school holidays, and, where applicable, on other days of family significance (e.g. birthdays, religious holidays). • It must also be described who hands over the child to whom, at what time and at what place, at the start and end of the contact. • Exact details of parents and child When submitting the application, the following must be provided for the parents and the child: • Addresses, • Dates of birth, and • Nationalities. • Birth certificate of the child • Other documents/records If available, you should enclose the following documents with your application as attachments: • Vaterschaftsanerkennungsurkunde (certificate of acknowledgment of paternity) • gemeinsame Sorgeerklärung (joint declaration of custody) • Marriage certificate • Scheidungsbeschluss (divorce decree) • Identity card (Personalausweis) or passport If you submit the application orally at the Rechtsantragsstelle of the court, you must prove your identity.

• Court fees apply, based on the value of the proceedings (Verfahrenswert). • There may also be expenses incurred by the court for service of documents, interpreters, Verfahrensbeistände (guardians ad litem for the child), expert witnesses, Umgangspfleger or Umgangspflegerinnen (contact guardians), etc. Legal representation incurs attorney's fees. • However, you can also apply for Verfahrenskostenhilfe (legal aid for proceedings) (see "Weiterführende Informationen" — further information) if you are not financially able to pay the costs of the proceedings.

• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) [German Civil Code] § 1684 - Contact between the child and the parents www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1684.html • Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) § 1685 - Contact between the child and other reference persons www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1685.html

• Apply for legal aid for litigation and proceedings costs (Prozess- und Verfahrenskostenhilfe) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327008/ • Directory of Locations and Courts (Orts- und Gerichtsverzeichnis) www.justizadressen.nrw.de/de/justiz/suche • Parenting and Family Counselling at the Jugendamt (youth welfare office) (Erziehungs- und Familienberatung im Jugendamt) service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/327863/

• In connection with a divorce, the Familiengericht (family court) responsible is the one handling the divorce proceedings. • Otherwise, the Familiengericht (family court) responsible is the one in whose district the child usually resides. Berlin has four Familiengerichte (family courts). You can find the Familiengericht responsible for your child in the Orts- und Gerichtsverzeichnis (directory of localities and courts) (under "Further information"). • Note: In certain cases, a different court may have Zuständigkeit (responsibility). Please seek advice from a lawyer.