In the custody register, which is always kept at the Youth Welfare Office at the place of birth of a child, entries are made if

• the parents have made declarations that they wish to exercise joint parental authority over their child,
• parental authority has been conferred on the parents in whole or in part jointly on the basis of a final court decision, or
• the mother has been deprived of parental authority in whole or in part on the basis of a final court decision and transferred to the father alone.

Proof of parental custody is required in legal transactions if parents want to make decisions for their children that go beyond the so-called everyday care and concern, for example, the child's residence, ensuring its care and upbringing, health care for the child, care for its assets or legal representation.

For this purpose, the law provides for information from the custody register. The Youth Welfare Office in whose area the child's mother has her habitual residence is responsible for providing written information from the custody register. Please take this into account when submitting your application.