Obtain access to the adoption file

• § 1758 Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB)
• § 9b Adoptionsvermittlungsgesetz (AdVermiG)
• § 62 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG)
• § 63 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG)

• Proof of identity through
  • identity card,
  • passport or
  • similar document

• If you would like to view the mediation files:
  • You are
    • have been adopted and are at least 16 years old or
    • Parents, have adopted your child and have custody of your child
• If you would like to receive information or documents from the registry office:
  • You can apply for documents from the civil status register at the registry office:
    • Parents who have adopted their child,
    • their parents,
    • legal representatives of the child and
    • the child itself, who is at least 16 years old.
  • After the death of the child, information can also be obtained from the civil status register:
    • other persons to whom the register entry relates (i.e. the biological parents) and
    • their spouses, life partners, ancestors and descendants.
• Other persons have a right of access if they can credibly demonstrate a legal interest.

There are no costs for viewing the adoption mediation file.

The fees for the activities of a registry office are regulated by state law and therefore vary from state to state.

If you are an adopted person and would like to inspect your placement file, please contact the relevant adoption agency directly:

• Before a personal visit, you should make a telephone inquiry and arrange an appointment.
• The responsible adoption agency will give you and your custodial parents access to the files on the placement of your adoption, insofar as this is possible in individual cases.
• The specialists will inform you about your background and living situation, provided they have the relevant information and this does not conflict with the interests of other people.

There are no deadlines.

• Action before the administrative court if the adoption agency of a youth welfare office refuses to inspect files or provide information from the civil status register
• Action before the local court if the adoption agency of an independent organization - such as a church - refuses to grant access to files

Forms available: No
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance necessary: No

Online services available: No

• Information zur Adoption auf dem Familienportal des Bundesministeriums für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend
• Übersicht "Zentrale Adoptionsstellen der Landesjugendämter" auf der Internetseite des Bundesjustizamtes

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

• The adoption agency that carried out the adoption
• the registry office at the place of birth