Applying for the adoption of a foreign child
Do you want to adopt a child from abroad? Then you should clarify in advance the recognition of such an adoption in Germany. After the foreign adoption, the foreign birth certificate of your adopted child remains valid. As an adoptive parent, you can still apply for a notarization in the birth register in Germany if the child has acquired German citizenship through adoption.
Note: If a German court decides on an adoption, it will also notarize the adoption. The same applies if a German family court converts a foreign adoption from a weak to a strong adoption.
Detailed information can be found in the procedure description "Adoption of a foreign child - Applying for conversion of a weak adoption into a strong adoption".
You will need to submit the required documents to the family court as notarized declarations.
- You can also instruct a notary to file the application.
- If you have children of your own, the court will consider whether their overriding interests preclude adoption.
- This could be the case if the following rights were unduly diminished:
- Maintenance claims
- Inheritance law claims
- Even if the adoptee has children of his or her own, the court examines whether their overriding interests preclude the adoption. Therefore, the children of both parties have a right to be heard.
If the conditions for adoption are met, the court will issue the adoption by order.
The registry office registers the birth and you as the adoptive parents in the civil status register.
Note: The registry office that certifies the birth of your child born abroad will automatically inform other registry offices.
To thelocal family court at the district court for the order. Certificates are issued by the local registry office.
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.
Underage adoption is only possible if the child is not yet 18 years old when the adoption is announced.
Further requirements 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.
In particular, the following documents are required for an adoption procedure:
- Notarized Adoption Application
- Declarations of consent
- Birth certificate of the child
- Marriage certificate of the adopter
- Proof of nationality of the parties involved
- Certificates of registration of the parties involved
- Health certificates of the parties involved
- Police clearance certificates of the adopters
- Proof of income of the adopters
The family court will request additional documents if necessary.
Note: You need foreign documents with additional legalization by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalization by the German diplomatic mission abroad.
There are costs for the notarization of the notarial application as well as the issuance of the documents.
Updating of the civil status registers at the registry office of the place of residence: free of charge.
Certification of a birth abroad: subject to a fee
The application for underage adoption should be submitted in good time before the child reaches the age of majority.
The processing time depends on the family court.
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
