Procedure for adoption as a child - applying for adoption of minors
You have successfully applied to an adoption agency and have taken a child in foster care into your household. Now you would like to adopt the child.
An adoption is only legally valid once the family court has ruled on it.
Responsible authority
the family court in whose district you reside
Please note: The family court where you submitted your adoption application remains responsible, regardless of whether you move during the proceedings.
Contact
Details
Prerequisite
- Adoption is in the best interests of the child.
- A parent-child relationship already exists or is expected to develop.
- The adoption care period has expired. This isnormally at least one year.
- There are no overriding interests of the adoptive parents' biological children that prevent the adoption.
- The requirements for the age of the adoptive parents have been met:
- Married couple/life partnership: one of the spouses or life partners is at least 25 years old, the other at least 21 years old
- unmarried person: the person is at least 25 years old
- in the case of a stepchild adoption: the partner is at least 21 years old.
- For children aged 14 and over: The consent of the child with the agreement of the legal representative is available.
- For children under the age of 14: The consent of the legal representative has been obtained.
- The consent of the natural parents has been given. In special cases, the court can replace the consent of the parents.
- In the case of stepchild adoption: the consent of the partner is required.
Procedure
You or your notary must submit a notarised adoption application to the competent family court.
The family court examines all the documents, involves, among others the adoption agency and decides on the adoptiondecides on the adoption.
The family court issues a decision to adopt the child.
The adoption is legally valid and irrevocable once this decision has been served.
As a rule, the child is given the surname of the adoptive family and has the same rights as a biological child.
Deadlines
Please seek legal advice in individual cases.
Required documents
- notarised adoption application
- notarised declarations of consent
- of the child over 14 years of age with the consent of the legal representative or
- of the legal representative to the adoption application for a child under 14 years of age and
- of the natural parents
- professional statement from the adoption agency
Note: The notarised declarations of consent are submitted to the court by your notary or the youth welfare office as official guardian. The adoption agency or the youth welfare office submits the professional statement of the adoption agency.
The court may request further documents from you. You must submit these in good time.
Costs
Costs are incurred for the notarisation of the application.
Miscellaneous
Please seek legal advice in individual cases.
Legal basis
Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB):
- §§ 1741 ff. Annahme als Kind
Gesetz über das Verfahren in Familiensachen und in den Angelegenheiten der freiwilligen Gerichtsbarkeit (FamFG):
- §§ 186 ff. Verfahren in Adoptionssachen
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Justizministerium Baden-Württemberg, 21.03.2025