Show birth
Service description
The birth of a child must be reported to the registry office responsible for the place of birth.
If your child is born in a hospital or other facility where obstetric care is provided, the birth notification will be handled by this facility. In this case, you should find out in good time from the maternity facility which documents you need to bring with you to the delivery date. .
If the birth does not take place in a hospital or other facility where obstetric care is provided (home birth), the birth must be registered in person by a parent with custody at the registry office within one week. If the parents are unable to register the birth, the birth must be registered by another person who was present at the birth.
Legal basis
Required documents
Special information for - City of KevelaerIf the child is born at home, a certificate from the midwife is required to certify the birth.
If the parents are married to each other:
- Marriage of parents in Germany before 01.01.2009: family register with the marriage certificate
- Marriage of parents in Germany after 01.01.2009: family register with the marriage certificate and birth certificates of both parents
- Marriage of parents abroad: marriage certificate with translation or international marriage certificate
- Identity card; passport or identity card in the case of foreign participation
If the mother is unmarried:
- Birth certificate or certified copy from your birth register
- Identity card; passport or identity card in the case of foreign participation
If the mother is divorced:
- Marriage certificate with divorce note or
- Marriage certificate with legally binding divorce decree
- Identity card; passport or identity card in the case of foreign participation
If the mother is widowed:
- Marriage certificate with note of the death of the spouse or
- Marriage certificate and death certificate of the deceased husband
- Identity card; passport or identity card in the case of foreign participation
If the parents are not married, the father of the child can only be entered in the register of births if paternity is acknowledged, to which the mother must give her consent. The acknowledgement of paternity and the mother's consent can be notarized both before and after the birth at the registry office or the youth welfare office.
In addition to the above-mentioned documents of the mother, the following documents of the father are then required for the birth certificate:
If paternity was recognized before the birth:
- Birth certificate or certified copy from the birth register of the child's father and
- Recognition of paternity
- Identity card; passport or identity card in the case of foreign participation
- Possibly: Declaration of joint custody issued by the responsible youth welfare office
If paternity is to be recognized at the registry office after the birth:
- Birth certificate or certified copy from the birth register of the child's father
- Identity card; passport or identity card in the case of foreign participation
What else should I know?
Birth certificates can be issued after the birth has been recorded in the register of births.
Responsible body
The registry office responsible for the child's place of birth.
What deadlines do I have to observe?
The birth of your child must be reported to the registry office responsible for the place of birth within one week.
The day of birth is not included in the calculation of the notification period.
If your child is stillborn, the notification must be made no later than the third working day after the birth.