Adoption of a child after placement by the youth welfare office

If you would like to adopt a child, first contact the relevant adoption agency and go through an application procedure. Once you have passed the adoption care period, you can submit the adoption application:

• You or your notary must submit a notarized adoption application to the responsible family court.
• The family court examines all documents, involves the adoption agency, among others, and decides on the adoption.
• The family court pronounces the adoption of the child by means of a decision. Mit Zustellung dieses Beschlusses ist die Adoption wirksam und unanfechtbar. The adopted child is given the surname of the adoptive family and has the same rights as a biological child.

At https://www.justizadressen.nrw.de/de/just iz/suche you will find the local courts responsible for you with further contact options and service times.

• https://www.justizadressen.nrw.de/de/justiz/suche

The family court at your local district court will decide on the application for adoption.

• You want to adopt a child.
• You have all the necessary documents for the local court, such as the notarized adoption application.
• The family court will carry out the investigations required to establish the facts relevant to the decision ex officio and will examine the adoption procedure.

• notarized adoption application
• notarized declaration of consent of the legal representative to the adoption application for a child under 14 years of age or
• notarized declaration of consent of the child over 14 years of age with the consent of the legal representative
• Notarized declarations of consent from the biological parents

Documents of the adopting parents:

• Proof of earnings, assets, debts
• Proof of identity (identity card/passport)
• birth certificates
• Registration certificates
• Health certificates/medical certificates
• Marriage certificate/ civil partnership certificate
• Professional statement from the adoption agency
• Consultation/involvement of the youth welfare office if it has not issued a professional statement

• Extended police clearance certificate

The family court may request further documents if necessary.

• Notary fees
• Court costs

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At least 3 months due to the prescribed procedure, possibly longer in more complex procedures.

• § Section 197 of the Family Procedure Act (FamFG)
• §§ 186 ff. Act on Proceedings in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-Contentious Jurisdiction (FamFG)
• § Section 1752 of the German Civil Code (BGB)

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25.11.2020