Adoption of a foreign child decision

The adoption requires a notarized application, which must be submitted to the family court. If the family court pronounces the adoption, the child acquires the legal status of a joint child of the adoptive parents. With the adoption order, the relationship of the child to his biological parents and relatives expires.

Please contact a notary for the notarial application. The applications must be notarised there and forwarded to the competent family court. The adoption agencies are at your disposal as contact persons.

The adoption order is issued by the competent family court.

The basic prerequisite for the adoption of a child is that it serves the best interests of the child and that the emergence of a parent-child relationship can be predicted.

Minor adoption is only possible if the child is not yet 18 years old when the adoption is given.

Further prerequisites are the ability of the adopters to be parents for this child, an appropriate adoption care period and the existence of the declarations of consent of the parties involved.

For an adoption procedure, the following documents are required in particular:

• Notarized adoption application
• Declarations of consent
• Birth certificate of the child
• Marriage certificate of the adopter
• Certificates of nationality of the parties concerned
• Registration certificates of the parties concerned
• Health certificates of the parties involved
• police clearance certificate of the adopter
• Proof of income of the adopters

The family court may request additional documents.

There are costs for the notarization of the notarial application and the issuance of the documents.

The application for adoption by minors should be submitted in good time before the child reaches the age of majority.

The processing time depends on the family court.

• § 1741 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1742 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1742 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1744 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1746 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1747 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1749 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1750 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1752 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1754 German Civil Code (BGB)
• § 1755 German Civil Code (BGB)
• Section 187 of the Act on Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Voluntary Jurisdiction (FamFG)
• Section 197 of the Act on Procedure in Family Matters and in Matters of Voluntary Jurisdiction (FamFG)
• § 30a Federal Central Register Act (BZRG)

The adoption order issued is not subject to appeal.

11.09.2020