Guardianship is a free service offered by the youth welfare office.

A guardianship can be set up for

• establishing paternity or

• the assertion of child maintenance.

A written application to the youth welfare office is sufficient.

Eligible to apply is

• the parent who has sole parental custody,

• in the case of parents who have joint parental custody, the parent with whom the child lives,

• the expectant mother (or her representative if the mother is legally incapable) if the child has not yet been born.