Vaterschaftsfeststellung Beratung und Unterstützung

Do you have or are having a child and the child's father does not want to acknowledge his paternity or is unknown? Get advice on what you can do and who can help you.

If you have a child and are not married to the child's father, the father does not automatically become the child's legal father. This can be done through a voluntary recognition of paternity. If the father does not voluntarily recognize paternity or it is unclear who the father is, there is also the option of having paternity established by a court. You can seek advice on this. The responsible authority will also support you in establishing paternity. Once paternity has been established, you can clarify other things:

• Child maintenance claims
• Mother’s maintenance claims
• care
• The child’s inheritance rights
• Granting of the father’s name

However, the child also has a right to know his or her origins. You can apply for guardianship to establish paternity. Guardianship does not restrict parental custody. The guardian represents the child in the context of establishing paternity. The guardian can act on behalf of the child both out of court and in court. If legal paternity has been established, the guardian can also clarify questions of maintenance. In detail, the guardian can do the following:

Depending on the need. No special documents are required for advice. If existing documents are brought to the initial consultation, this will enable targeted advice.

You can seek advice on the topic at any time. The expectant mother can apply for guardianship before the birth of the child if she is not married and the parents have not submitted joint custody declarations. After birth, guardianship can be applied for at any time until the child comes of age.

The advice and assistance are free of charge. In individual cases, costs may arise as a result of legal proceedings conducted within the framework of legal assistance.

Make an appointment with the local youth welfare office. If you wish, the appointment can also take place at home. For assistance, a written application to the local youth welfare office is sufficient. Upon receipt of the application, the youth welfare office will immediately assist the child. The youth welfare office at the applicant parent’s place of residence is responsible.
Establishing paternity can also take place as part of a counseling and support process. If the father voluntarily acknowledges paternity during this process, no assistance is necessary. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

Depends on the father's involvement

There are no special deadlines to be observed. Upon receipt of the application for guardianship, the youth welfare office will immediately assist the child. The assistance ends as soon as you inform the youth welfare office in writing.

District Office Wandsbek