Dear parents-to-be,

The time will soon come and your family will be getting bigger. I can well imagine how much you are already looking forward to your new addition. I wish you all the best for the future, lots of happiness and many happy moments together!

The birth of a child is a very special event. We have designed the parent folder for you so that the formalities to be completed are as few and transparent as possible. In this parents' folder we have described which documents you need, for example, to pre-register your child if you wish to give birth in a clinic in Wiesbaden.

I am happy to recommend that you pre-register your child at the Wiesbaden registry office so that you can concentrate fully on your new family happiness after the birth. Our visualizations in the folder or our explanatory video will give you an overview of everything you can do before the birth and what other options are available after the birth in cooperation with the staff at the registry office.

Take the opportunity to register your child before the birth from the start of the maternity protection period.

Send us your documents digitally and we will prepare everything for you. You can use our digital mailbox (opens in a new tab) for this purpose. Please state the expected date of delivery and the hospital where the delivery is to take place.

You will need a personal appointment at the registry office for paternity acknowledgements. To make an appointment, please send an e-mail to geburtenwiesbadende

You can find all the important information about acknowledging paternity, naming and giving a name in our information sheets.

After the birth, please fill out the birth announcement at the hospital completely and legibly and hand it in there. The hospital will send it to us within a week.

Birth notifications are processed as quickly as possible at the registry office.

We will send you three birth certificates by post free of charge for a specific purpose
1. for child benefit (family benefits office)
2. for parental allowance (pension office)
3. for assistance with pregnancy and maternity
(for submission to your health insurance company)

If you need additional birth certificates (opens in a new tab), you can order them online.

Maral Koohestanian
Head of Department for Smart City, Europe and Public Order

NOTE

Have you already registered a child in Wiesbaden or got married here and your data is still up to date? Then prenatal registration is not necessary. Please fill out the birth registration form completely and legibly at the clinic. For unmarried parents, please see our information sheet on acknowledging paternity and naming. If you are same-sex parents, we will be happy to advise you.

INFORMATION SHEET ON NAMING

You determine the first name(s) and family name(s) after the birth of your child at the clinic (birth announcement) and confirm this with your signatures.

Please note that there may be differences in naming under foreign law.
We will be happy to advise you on this.

Giving a first name
The custodial parents or the parent with sole custody determine the child's first name(s). The right to choose a first name is not regulated by law in Germany. Nevertheless, certain guidelines must be observed. Among other things, the first name must be recognizable as such. When looking for a suitable name for your offspring, you should think above all about the well-being of your child and not harm them by giving them a first name.

If you have any questions about the admissibility and origin of names, please contact the German Language Society. Information is subject to a fee: Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache e.V., Spiegelgasse 7, 65183 Wiesbaden Tel: 09004 888128 (1.69 €/min.).

Family naming

• The parents are married and have a joint married name:

The child receives this married name as his/her birth name.

• The parents are married and do not have a joint married name or the parents are not married, there is an acknowledgement of paternity and a prenatal declaration of custody:

The parents choose the mother's surname or the father's surname as the child's surname at birth.
surname of the father (if the surname of one of the parents consists of several names, only
only one of the names can become the child's maiden name) or

a double name made up of the surnames of both parents (if the surname of one
surname of one parent consists of several names, only one of them may be used to form the
be used to form the double name).

As a rule, the double name is combined with a hyphen; it can also be formed without a hyphen by declaration.
hyphen.

The specific birth name also applies to other joint children (binding effect).

• The parents are not married, paternity has been acknowledged and the name has been conferred before birth (see information sheet on conferring names):

The child is given the father's surname (if his surname consists of several names, only part of the names can be used).
only one of the names can become the child's maiden name) or

the child receives a double name made up of the surnames of both parents (if the surname of one
surname of one parent consists of several names, only one of them may be used to form the
be used to form the double name).

As a rule, the double name is combined with a hyphen; it can also be formed without a hyphen by declaration.
hyphen.

• The parents are not married, paternity has been acknowledged or
  the parents are not married and there is no acknowledgment of paternity:

The child is given the mother's surname (if the surname consists of several names, only
only one of the names can become the child's maiden name).

INFORMATION SHEET ON ACKNOWLEDGING PATERNITY

What is it for?
Acknowledgment of paternity enables the father to be entered on the child's birth certificate. Acknowledging paternity establishes the relationship between father and child with consequences under maintenance and inheritance law. Recognition of paternity does not give the father custody rights. If, in addition to acknowledging paternity, you also want joint custody, it is advisable to make an appointment with the youth welfare office (or notary), as you can arrange acknowledgment of paternity and custody in one appointment and thus save yourself visits to the authorities.

Important
Please remember to make your appointment for the acknowledgment of paternity (and, if applicable, declaration of custody) as early as possible before the birth of the child at the responsible office in your place of residence.

Effectiveness?
Acknowledgment of paternity is permissible before the birth, but only becomes effective with the birth of the child. The child's mother must agree to the acknowledgement of paternity for it to take effect. If the mother and/or father of the child are minors, the legal representatives must give their consent. An acknowledgement of paternity is not effective as long as the paternity of another man exists.

Special case
Qualified acknowledgement of paternity: If a child is born during divorce proceedings. The registry office will be happy to advise you here.

Where?
Youth welfare office
Registry office
Local authorities
Notary's office

(please note that costs may be incurred)

INFORMATION SHEET ON THE GRANTING OF NAMES

What is it for?
By giving a name, the custodial parent (usually the mother) gives the child the surname of the non-custodial parent (usually the father). Alternatively, the child can also be given a double name made up of the surnames of both parents. The granting of a name requires an acknowledgement of paternity. The father is not automatically entitled to custody once the name has been granted. The granting of a name is irrevocable.

Effectiveness?
Naming is permitted before birth, but only becomes effective with the birth of the child. The child's father must consent to the granting of the name for it to take effect.

Where?
Registry office
Local authorities
Notary's office

(please note that costs may be incurred)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We have compiled the most important addresses relating to children. If you have any further questions, you can contact your registry office.

Parental allowance
You will receive a birth certificate from the registry office. You can use this to apply for parental allowance at the Hessian Office for Care and Social Affairs. Hessisches Amt für Versorgung und Soziales, Mainzer Str. 35, 65185 Wiesbaden, Tel: 0611 71570 - E-Mail: poststellehavs-wie.hessende

Child benefit
You will receive a birth certificate from the registry office. You can use this to apply for child benefit from the
family benefits office. Family Benefits Office, Employment Agency, Klarenthaler Str. 34, 65197 Wiesbaden, Tel: 0800 45555-30 - Email: familienkasse-hessenarbeitsagenturde

Maternity assistance
You will receive a birth certificate from the registry office. You can use this to apply for pregnancy and maternity assistance from the mother's health insurance fund.

Declaration of custody
Parental custody means that the parents have the right and the duty to care for the child. If the parents are married, they are entitled to joint parental custody. If the parents are not married at the time of the child's birth, they can assume joint custody. This requires a declaration of custody. The declaration of custody can be made - even before birth - at a youth welfare office (free of charge) or a notary (for a fee). Otherwise, the mother has parental custody. The youth welfare offices provide advice on the subject of declarations of custody. Wiesbaden Youth Welfare Office: Tel: 0611 313452 - e-mail: beistandschaftenwiesbadende

Ordering documents
How can I order documents?
Certificates can be ordered directly online (opens in a new tab). The issuing of certificates costs €12, each additional certificate costs €6. For social security purposes, you will receive the certificates free of charge.

Who can order certificates?
Certificates can only be issued to authorized persons. Authorized persons are generally persons to whom the certificate relates, as well as their spouses, ancestors and descendants. Other persons only have this right if they can credibly demonstrate a legal interest or if they are authorized by an authorized person. Please indicate the authorization.