Certificate of miscarriage
The competent registry office will issue a certificate of notification of miscarriage on request.
A miscarriage is defined as a foetus that showed no signs of life (heartbeat, pulsating umbilical cord, pulmonary respiration) when it was separated from the womb, weighed less than 500 grams and did not reach 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Upon request, the registry office can issue the notifier with a certificate in accordance with § 31 PStV on the notification of a miscarriage.
Who should I contact?
The responsibility lies with the registry office of your municipality, local authority or city administration.
Requirements
There was a miscarriage, which was reported to the relevant registry office with the necessary documents.
You can only report this if you would have been entitled to custody of the child if it had been born alive, i.e. if you were married to each other at the time of the birth or if you were unmarried parents and made a joint declaration of custody before the child was born. If neither of these is the case, you as the mother alone have the right to file an application.
You can only file an application if you would have been entitled to custody of the child if it had been born alive. In other words, if you as parents were married to each other at the time of the birth or if you were unmarried parents and made a joint declaration of custody before the child was born.
If neither of these is the case, you as the mother have sole authority to apply.
Applications / forms
None
Which documents are required?
- A certificate of miscarriage issued by a doctor, midwife or obstetrician
- An identity card, passport or other recognized passport replacement document of the parents
- An indication of the intended surname and first name of the child
- Mother's passport
- Certificate of burial of the miscarriage, if applicable
- if applicable:
- Marriage certificate or registration certificate as proof of the parents' existing marriage
- written consent to be registered as the father if the parents are not married
- the maternity record must show the miscarriage
What are the fees?
Fee: 10,00 EURPayment in advance: noIssuance of a certificate of notification of miscarriage
Fee: 10,00 EURPayment in advance: noIssuance of a certificate of notification of miscarriage
Process flow
Upon request, the registry office can issue the notifying party with a certificate of miscarriage in accordance with § 31 PStV.
The notification must be made verbally or in writing.
A certificate of miscarriage issued by a doctor, midwife or obstetrician is required for the complete notification.
An identity card, passport or other recognized passport replacement document of the parents.
An indication of the intended surname and first name of the child.
The registry office issues the certificate on the basis of the information provided.
The fees are paid either in advance or after sending / on collection.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
None
Processing duration
Usually issued immediately
Legal basis
- §31 paragraph 2 sentence 4 PStV
Appeal
If the registry office rejects your application for a certificate of notification of miscarriage, you can apply to the competent court to order the registry office to issue you with the certificate.


