There are numerous questions associated with separating or divorcing if you
have children. What support is available to separated parents or lone parents? What
do custody rights include? What do visitation rights include? Who can decide on what?
What name do I use and what name does my child use? What happens if one of the
partners remarries?
Are you a single parent and receive no or only partial maintenance from the other parent? Then you can apply for an advance on maintenance payments under certain conditions.
A minor (under the age of 18) receives a guardian if he is not under parental authority or if the parents are not entitled to represent the minor in matters of person or property...
The proceedings are initiated ex officio by the competent family court, in particular on the basis of suggestions from the Youth Welfare Office, which in turn acts on the basis of reports from neighbours, educators, teachers or relatives, for example.
If the other parent lives abroad and does not pay maintenance, you can obtain support from the assistance office and the local court and have the maintenance obligation checked and possibly certified.
You are a single parent and get no money or too little money from the other parent for your child? Then you can get advice and support from the youth welfare office.
If the other parent liable for maintenance lives in Germany and you want to claim maintenance for your child living abroad, you can have this claim enforced in court.
Do you want to commit to paying regular maintenance to your child? Or do you want to have the other parent's maintenance obligation notarized? Here you can find out how this can be documented.
Do you receive advance maintenance payments for your child? In this case, the maintenance advance office will check annually whether all the requirements for entitlement to maintenance advance are still met.
A supplementary caregiver is appointed by the court if the child is under parental care or guardianship, but the parents or guardian are or are prevented from taking care of...
If you become aware that a child's assets are at risk, particularly from their parents or one of their parents, report this to the family court at the local court.
In this section, you will find information on your rights and obligations regarding birth, maintenance obligations for children in cross-border family situations, and surrogacy and adoption.
You have or are having a child and the father of the child does not want to acknowledge his paternity or is unknown? Then you can get advice and support from the youth welfare office.
If you are thinking about a separation or divorce without having made a decision so far, you can contact various counselling centres. If you have decided to separate or divorce,...
If you are planning to get married, you can find more information here on your rights and obligations associated with marriage and the recognition of marriage.
