A declaration acknowledging paternity of a child and the mother's declaration of consent can be notarized at any registry office, youth welfare office or notary's office. Paternity can be recognized effectively if there is no paternity of another man to this child. The acknowledgment of paternity and the mother's declaration of consent are notarized in public form.

Recognition of paternity is possible even before the child is born.

Under German law, the woman who gave birth to the child is the mother of the child. Recognition of maternity is generally not required. If recognition of maternity or a declaration of consent from a legal representative is required, these must also be notarized by a registry office, the youth welfare office or a notary's office.

If the mother's or father's home country law requires recognition of maternity, this can also be notarized. The same rules apply as for acknowledgment of paternity.

Parents can have the paternity of a child confirmed.
A man can say:
I am the father of this child.
The technical term is: acknowledgment of paternity.
To do this, the man needs the mother's permission.

The man can do this at the registry office.
Or at the youth welfare office.
Or at a notary's office.

The acknowledgment of paternity must be public.
That means:
Everyone should be able to know.
And an office must confirm the acknowledgment of paternity.
All important people must agree to this.

The biological father is the man who looks after the child.
The biological father does not have to be the biological father.
The biological father made the child.

A person may be legally incompetent.
That means:
The person cannot make contracts.
Then the person needs a legal representative.

A woman is automatically the mother of a child.
That's what the law says.
Unless there are special circumstances.

In some countries, a woman must also be able to say:
I am the mother of this child.
The technical term is: maternity recognition.