Paternity acknowledgement is the strictly personal declaration by a man that he is the legal father of a child. It is always required when the parents are not married to each other at the time of the birth — because under the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB), only where the parents are married does the mother's husband count by law as the father (§ 1592 Nr. 1 BGB). Under § 1597 Abs. 1 BGB, the declaration requires official recording and only becomes effective with the mother's consent (§ 1595 Abs. 1 BGB).
The acknowledgement is recorded at the Jugendamt (youth welfare office), at the Standesamt (registry office) or by a notary. Recording by the Jugendamt is the only option that is free of charge throughout. At the Standesamt, this is a chargeable official act, the amount of which is set by the relevant local authority — Berlin charges €40.00. At the notary, the pure paternity acknowledgement itself is free of charge; only a document flat fee and postal and telecommunication charges apply.
Acknowledgement is permissible even before the birth (§ 1594 Abs. 4 BGB) and forms the basis for maintenance, the law of succession, use of a name and a joint declaration of parental custody (Sorgeerklärung). Joint parental custody does not, however, arise automatically as a result: a separate declaration under § 1626a Abs. 1 Nr. 1 BGB is required for that.
Independent information website: we are not the Standesamt, not an authority and not paid advice — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; the competent body is always the final authority. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither solicitors nor tax consultants: we document administrative procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
Costs€0.00 at the JugendamtStandesamt: local authority fee (Berlin €40.00) · Notary: free of charge for the pure acknowledgement
Processing timeImmediately at the appointmentThe Standesamt then adds the paternity to the entry in the register of births
MethodIn personOfficial recording under § 1597 Abs. 1 BGB · representation is excluded
Required documents
What you need to bring
The recording takes place at a single appointment — but it fails immediately if a document is missing. The following list covers what Jugendamt and Standesamt offices regularly require.
Valid identity card or passport of both parents
The father and mother must prove their identity in person before the recording officer – no recording may take place without proof of identity. Only valid original documents are accepted; expired identity cards, copies or photos on a smartphone are not sufficient. If your identity card has expired, apply for a new one beforehand at the Bürgeramt (citizens' office); people without a German identity document present their national passport.
Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) of the child (for acknowledgement after the birth)
The recording officer needs proof that the child exists and in which register of births it is kept – only then can the acknowledgement later be added to the entry. You must submit the birth certificate or a certified copy from the register of births. Both are issued by the Standesamt of the place of birth, in many towns also online with postal delivery.
Maternity record book (for acknowledgement before the birth)
If you acknowledge paternity before the birth, the maternity record book takes the place of the birth certificate: it provides evidence of the pregnancy and the expected date of delivery. It is issued by the gynaecologist or the midwife. Bring the original with you; a copy of the due-date page is generally not accepted.
Birth certificates of both parents
Many Standesamt offices additionally require certified copies from the register of births for the mother and father, in order to check the use of names, spelling and descent beyond doubt. For people born abroad, an international or translated certificate is often required. Since practice varies from office to office, ask explicitly when booking the appointment whether, and in what form, these certificates are required.
Evidence of a previous marriage of the mother
If the mother was married, the recording officer checks whether another man is already the legal father — because under § 1594 Abs. 2 BGB the acknowledgement would then be ineffective. Depending on the case, the marriage certificate (Eheurkunde) and the final divorce decree (Scheidungsurteil) with a certificate of finality, or the husband's death certificate (Sterbeurkunde), must be submitted. Important: the 300-day rule in § 1593 Satz 1 BGB applies only where the marriage was dissolved by death; after a final divorce, the former husband does not become the father by law for a child born afterwards.
For foreign nationality: passport and civil status documents
If a parent holds a foreign nationality, the recording officer must establish which law applies to descent and which evidence is sufficient for this. The national passport, a birth certificate from the home country and a translation by a publicly appointed translator are often required, in some cases with an apostille or legalisation. Exactly which documents are needed depends on the competent authority and the country of origin – be sure to ask in advance.
Interpreter where there is insufficient knowledge of German
The participants must be able to follow the recording process in the language used, because the declaration is read out to them and approved by them. If their knowledge of German is not sufficient, a person with the necessary language skills must be brought in; many offices require a sworn interpreter and do not accept family members. The costs for this are generally borne by the participants themselves.
Documents for the child's consent (special case)
If, exceptionally, the mother does not have parental custody, her consent alone is not sufficient: under § 1595 Abs. 2 BGB, the consent of the child is additionally required, acting through its legal representative. In that case, proof of the authority to represent is required, such as the family court's order of appointment, together with the representative's identity document. This case mainly affects minor mothers or mothers under legal custodianship (Betreuung).
Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), if required
Some Standesamt offices require proof of your current place of residence, for example to check jurisdiction or the address details on the certificate. You obtain the registration certificate at the Bürgeramt of your place of residence, in many local authorities also digitally. At the Jugendamt it is, in practice, only rarely required.
Step by step
How to proceed
From the initial check to the entry in the register of births, there are eight steps. Anyone who works through them in this order completes the acknowledgement in a single appointment with the authority.
1
Check whether an acknowledgement is necessary and permissible
If the parents are married to each other at the time of the birth, the mother's husband is the legal father by law (§ 1592 Nr. 1 BGB) – an acknowledgement is then neither necessary nor possible. The acknowledgement is also blocked as long as the paternity of another man exists (§ 1594 Abs. 2 BGB) or court proceedings to establish the paternity of another man are pending (§ 1594 Abs. 5 BGB). In these situations, the existing paternity must first be removed, or the proceedings concluded, before recording can take place. Clarify this before booking the appointment, otherwise you will lose an appointment and, at the Standesamt, the fee as well.
2
Choose where to record the acknowledgement: Jugendamt, Standesamt or notary
The acknowledgement requires official recording (§ 1597 Abs. 1 BGB); the bodies authorised to record it are the Standesamt under § 44 of the Civil Status Act (Personenstandsgesetz, PStG), the Jugendamt under § 59 Abs. 1 SGB VIII (Book Eight of the Social Code – child and youth welfare), notaries and courts. For members of the public, in practice only the first three are relevant, and the cost difference is considerable: at the Jugendamt the recording is free of charge, while the Standesamt charges a local authority fee – €40.00 in Berlin. You are not bound to any particular location: you may go to any Jugendamt and any Standesamt in Germany, regardless of the child's place of residence or place of birth.
3
Book an appointment and gather documents
Book the appointment by phone or via the local authority's online appointment portal; waiting times range from a few days to several weeks depending on the town. When you call, ask explicitly for the full list of documents and whether the father and mother must attend together. For an acknowledgement before the birth, allow enough lead time – ideally several weeks before the due date, so that the father can be recorded in the register of births from the outset.
4
Have the father's declaration officially recorded
The father makes the acknowledgement declaration strictly in person before the recording officer; representation by an authorised agent is excluded, and even a minor father must declare it himself. The declaration is taken down, read out, approved and signed. It may not be made subject to any condition or time limit — an addition such as subject to a paternity test renders the acknowledgement ineffective under § 1594 Abs. 3 BGB. No biological descent test takes place in the process: the recording officer records only the declaration.
5
Have the mother's consent officially recorded
Without the mother's consent, the acknowledgement does not become effective (§ 1595 Abs. 1 BGB). This consent, too, requires official recording under § 1597 Abs. 1 BGB, but it can be declared separately from the father, at a later point in time, and even at a different recording body. If the mother does not have parental custody, the consent of the child is additionally required (§ 1595 Abs. 2 BGB), acting through its legal representative. The acknowledgement only becomes effective once all the required declarations have been made – for an acknowledgement before the birth, at the earliest with the birth of the child.
6
Take certified copies and await the register entry
You receive certified copies of the acknowledgement and the consent at the appointment itself; have several copies issued, since the Familienkasse (Family Benefits Office), the health insurance fund and the pension insurance fund each require their own evidence. The recording body forwards the declarations to the competent Standesamt, which adds the paternity to the entry in the register of births. Only after this entry does a newly issued birth certificate show the father – the old certificate remains unchanged and a new one must be applied for.
7
Optional: make the declaration of parental custody at the same appointment
Paternity acknowledgement gives the father legal status as father, but not parental custody. If unmarried parents want to exercise parental custody jointly, they must make a declaration of parental custody under § 1626a Abs. 1 Nr. 1 BGB, which is likewise officially recorded. The Jugendamt records it free of charge under § 59 Abs. 1 SGB VIII, and usually directly after the acknowledgement – saving you a second appointment.
StandesamtChargeable, amount set locally (Berlin: €40.00)
NotaryPure paternity acknowledgement free of charge; only a document flat fee and postal and telecommunication charges
Means of paymentAt the Standesamt, card or cash depending on the local authority — card payment is not possible everywhere
Jugendamt: €0.00 — the only body that is free of charge throughout
Under § 59 Abs. 1 SGB VIII, the Jugendamt is authorised to record the paternity acknowledgement, the mother's consent and the declaration of parental custody; these recordings are free of charge. This applies nationwide, regardless of income, marital status and place of residence. Anyone wanting to avoid fees should therefore go to the Jugendamt – legally, the document drawn up there is exactly equivalent to one from the Standesamt.
Standesamt: local authority administrative fee, €40.00 in Berlin
Contrary to what is often claimed, paternity acknowledgement at the Standesamt is not free of charge in many local authorities. The official service portal of the federal state (Bundesland) of Berlin expressly lists €40.00 for the paternity acknowledgement or consent declaration at the Standesamt, while recording at the Jugendamt there is listed as costing no fee. Because the fee is set in the fee ordinance of the relevant federal state or local authority, there is no uniform nationwide amount – the exact figure depends on the competent authority and should be asked about before the appointment.
Notary: free of charge — but not in combination with the declaration of parental custody
Recording the pure paternity acknowledgement is free of charge at the notary; only the document flat fee and postal and telecommunication charges are levied. The notary appointment only becomes chargeable if a declaration of parental custody is recorded at the same time. The relevant law for this, since 1 August 2013, is the Court and Notary Fees Act (Gerichts- und Notarkostengesetz, GNotKG); the previously cited Kostenordnung — often called the “Notargebührenordnung” — has been out of force since then and may no longer be relied on for fee information.
Follow-up costs: new certificates from the register of births
The recording itself is one thing, the paperwork afterwards is another: after the entry in the register of births, you will generally need a newly issued birth certificate showing the father. Civil status documents are chargeable, and their amount is governed by the fee ordinance of the relevant federal state. Order several certified copies straight away — further copies in the same application are usually cheaper than a later separate order.
There is no fee exemption — but there is freedom of choice
A general exemption from the Standesamt fee on the grounds of low income is not provided for in law. But you do not need one either: since you may freely choose the recording body and are not tied to any particular location, the fee can simply be avoided by booking the appointment at the Jugendamt. All the same, check your local authority's fee by-law (Gebührensatzung) beforehand — in some towns, the acknowledgement is also recorded free of charge at the Standesamt.
Good to know
Important notes
In practice, the following points determine whether the acknowledgement becomes effective — and whether it costs you money.
Acknowledgement before the birth is expressly permitted. § 1594 Abs. 4 BGB allows acknowledgement even before the birth; it then becomes effective at the earliest with the birth. The practical advantage is considerable: the father is recorded in the register of births from day one, the birth certificate does not need to be reissued later, and applications for Elterngeld and Kindergeld go through without any additional work.
Only the Jugendamt is free of charge throughout. At the Jugendamt, the recording costs nothing — neither the acknowledgement, nor the consent, nor the declaration of parental custody. At the Standesamt, the same official act is chargeable in many local authorities; Berlin charges €40.00. Since you may freely choose the body, this is purely a decision about where, not whether.
The 300-day rule applies only on death, not on divorce. § 1593 Satz 1 BGB ties the presumption of paternity exclusively to the dissolution of the marriage by the husband's death: if the child is born within 300 days of the death, the deceased is deemed the father. After a final divorce, this presumption does not apply — the former husband does not become the father by law for a child born afterwards, and contesting proceedings are not required.
Blocking effect of an existing paternity. Under § 1594 Abs. 2 BGB, an acknowledgement is not effective as long as the paternity of another man exists — for example because the mother was still married at the birth, or another man has already acknowledged paternity. The existing paternity must first be removed, generally by contesting it before the family court. Only then can the new acknowledgement be effectively recorded.
No condition, no time limit. § 1594 Abs. 3 BGB declares an acknowledgement ineffective if it is made subject to a condition or a time limit. Wording such as subject to a paternity test or limited in time until clarification causes the entire declaration to fail. Anyone who has doubts about descent should resolve them before the recording — not during it.
Pending establishment proceedings block the acknowledgement. If court proceedings to establish the paternity of another man are already pending, an acknowledgement under § 1594 Abs. 5 BGB remains ineffective for as long as those proceedings continue. Wait for them to be finally concluded before booking a recording appointment.
Special case: mother without parental custody. Under § 1595 Abs. 2 BGB, the mother's consent is not sufficient if she does not have parental custody — in that case the child must additionally consent, represented by its legal representative. This mainly affects minor mothers and cases in which the family court has withdrawn custody. In this situation, bring proof of the authority to represent.
Contesting it is only possible within two years. Once effective, an acknowledgement cannot be revoked; it can only be removed by contesting it before the family court under §§ 1600 ff. BGB. Under § 1600b BGB, the time limit is two years and begins when the person becomes aware of the circumstances that speak against the paternity. Once the time limit has expired, the legal paternity remains in place with all its maintenance and inheritance consequences — even if it is established that there is no biological descent.
No paternity test is required. The recording officer does not check whether the acknowledging man is actually the biological father — only the declaration is recorded. A DNA test is neither a precondition nor part of the procedure; it only plays a role in court establishment or contesting proceedings.
The child's family name does not change automatically. The acknowledgement affects descent, maintenance and the law of succession, but not directly the birth name. If the child is to bear the father's name, a separate name declaration at the Standesamt is required, which, depending on the circumstances, is linked to the custody situation.
Place of residence abroad. If you live permanently outside Germany, ask the competent German mission abroad whether recording is possible there, or which foreign certificate is recognised. Which evidence and translations are required depends on the competent authority and the state concerned — clarify this before travelling.
Avoid these mistakes
Common mistakes
Each of these mistakes has a specific consequence — ranging from an ineffective declaration, through avoidable fees, to unnecessary court proceedings.
Relied on the supposed 300-day rule after a divorce. § 1593 Satz 1 BGB ties the presumption of paternity exclusively to the dissolution of the marriage by death — not to divorce. Anyone who relies on the former husband still being the father after the divorce initiates contesting proceedings that are not necessary at all: the result is court and lawyer's costs plus months of delay before the actual father can finally acknowledge paternity.
The mother's consent was not obtained. Without the recorded consent under § 1595 Abs. 1 BGB, the acknowledgement remains ineffective — even if the father has already signed. The result: the father is not entered in the register of births, no maintenance or inheritance claims arise, and the entire appointment has to be repeated. At the Standesamt, this may mean the fee becomes payable a second time.
Recorded at the Standesamt without checking the fee question. Many guides claim that paternity acknowledgement is free of charge everywhere. In Berlin it costs €40.00 at the Standesamt, while the same recording costs nothing at the Jugendamt. Anyone who books the Standesamt appointment without checking pays a fee for a service they could have obtained free of charge just next door.
Relied on the abolished Notargebührenordnung. The old Kostenordnung has been replaced by the GNotKG since 1 August 2013; fee information based on it is worthless. On top of that, the pure paternity acknowledgement is free of charge at the notary. Anyone who avoids the notary for fear of high costs may end up choosing the more expensive route via the Standesamt.
Acknowledged although another man is already the legal father. § 1594 Abs. 2 BGB renders the acknowledgement ineffective as long as the paternity of another man exists; the same applies under § 1594 Abs. 5 BGB during pending establishment proceedings. The recording therefore fails entirely — a Standesamt fee already paid is not refunded as a result, and the case ends up before the family court after all.
Made the declaration subject to a reservation. Under § 1594 Abs. 3 BGB, an acknowledgement made subject to a condition or time limit is ineffective. The addition only if the test is positive does not just invalidate the reservation but the entire declaration. Anyone with doubts should resolve them before the appointment, or take the route of court establishment proceedings under § 1600d BGB.
Forgot the declaration of parental custody. The acknowledgement only establishes legal paternity, not custody; without a declaration under § 1626a Abs. 1 Nr. 1 BGB, the mother retains sole parental custody. In practice, this means the father has no say in decisions on school choice, operations or the child's passport. Afterwards, joint custody can only be achieved with a further recording appointment or via the family court.
Recorded too late. If acknowledgement only happens after the birth, the father is not entered in the birth certificate first issued; the register entry and a new certificate must be obtained afterwards. Until then, applications that require proof of paternity are delayed — such as Elterngeld, the setting of maintenance, or enrolment in family insurance.
Arrived with an expired identity document or without a translation. The recording officer must establish the identity of all participants beyond doubt and may not record anything without a valid document. If valid identity documents, certified translations or a required interpreter are missing, the appointment is cancelled — with a new wait that is often several weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
What does paternity acknowledgement cost in 2026?
At the Jugendamt, recording the paternity acknowledgement is free of charge; this applies nationwide and regardless of income. At the Standesamt, by contrast, the acknowledgement is a chargeable official act, the amount of which is set by the relevant local authority — according to the official service portal, €40.00 is charged in Berlin. At the notary, the pure paternity acknowledgement is free of charge; only the document flat fee and postal and telecommunication charges apply.
Can paternity be acknowledged before the birth?
Yes. § 1594 Abs. 4 BGB expressly clarifies that acknowledgement is permissible even before the child's birth. However, it only becomes effective at the earliest with the birth, so that the father can be recorded in the register of births from the outset. This saves you a later follow-up recording and speeds up applications for Elterngeld and Kindergeld.
Is the mother's consent mandatory?
Yes. Under § 1595 Abs. 1 BGB, the acknowledgement does not become effective without the mother's consent; it cannot be replaced or circumvented. This consent, too, requires official recording under § 1597 Abs. 1 BGB, but it can be declared separately from the father and at a different body. If the mother does not have parental custody, the consent of the child is additionally required (§ 1595 Abs. 2 BGB).
Does the former husband still count as the father after a divorce?
No. The widely cited 300-day rule in § 1593 Satz 1 BGB only applies where the marriage was dissolved by the husband's death. After a final divorce, the former husband does not become the father by law for a child born afterwards. Contesting proceedings are unnecessary in this case; the acknowledgement can be recorded directly.
Can I acknowledge paternity if another man is already deemed the father?
No. Under § 1594 Abs. 2 BGB, an acknowledgement is not effective as long as the paternity of another man exists; this must first be removed, generally by contesting it before the family court. Likewise, under § 1594 Abs. 5 BGB, the acknowledgement remains ineffective as long as court proceedings to establish the paternity of another man are pending.
Does the acknowledgement automatically establish joint custody?
No. Unmarried parents only obtain joint parental custody through a declaration of parental custody under § 1626a Abs. 1 Nr. 1 BGB. Without this declaration, the mother retains sole parental custody. The Jugendamt records the declaration of parental custody free of charge under § 59 Abs. 1 SGB VIII, and usually at the same appointment as the acknowledgement.
Where can I have paternity acknowledged?
The bodies mainly responsible are the Jugendamt (§ 59 Abs. 1 SGB VIII), the Standesamt (§ 44 PStG) and the notary; official recording under § 1597 Abs. 1 BGB is required in every case. You are not tied to any particular location and may go to any Jugendamt or Standesamt in Germany. For members of the public, the Amtsgericht (local court) is not a usual point of contact — local authority service portals consistently refer to the Jugendamt, Standesamt and notary.
What is the difference between acknowledgement and court establishment of paternity?
Acknowledgement under § 1594 BGB is a voluntary declaration by the man, which is recorded before a recording officer and becomes effective with the mother's consent. If the presumed father refuses to acknowledge paternity, the only option left is court establishment of paternity under § 1600d BGB, which is often based on a paternity test. The court proceedings take months and incur costs, whereas the acknowledgement is completed at a single appointment.
Can a paternity acknowledgement be reversed?
Revocation is no longer possible once the acknowledgement has become effective; the only remaining option is to contest the paternity before the family court under §§ 1600 ff. BGB. Contesting it is bound by the two-year time limit in § 1600b BGB, which begins when the person becomes aware of the circumstances that speak against the paternity. Once this time limit has expired, the legal paternity remains in place with all its maintenance and inheritance consequences.
