Aufrechterhalten von Kontakten/ Umgangsrecht

• § 18 Abs. 3 Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB) - Achtes Buch (VIII) - Kinder- und Jugendhilfe

• children and adolescents,
• Parents
• other persons entitled to access (in some cases, for example, grandparents) and
• Persons in whose care the child is (e.g. foster parents)

are entitled to advice on the exercise of rights of access. This means that the Youth Welfare Office can and may inform these persons about the legal issues of a right of access.

The same group of persons is also entitled to assistance in exercising rights of access. This claim goes beyond legal advice. The Youth Welfare Office can, for example, write letters and conduct mediating discussions. Depending on the circumstances of the individual case, it may also be that such further assistance is not possible.  

Advice and support is free of charge.

In the performance of its task, the Youth Welfare Office has no means at its disposal to enforce contact by force. It is therefore dependent on the willingness of all parties involved to talk.  

The question of jurisdiction depends on various factors. As a rule, the local youth welfare office will be happy to provide information on this in individual cases.