Joint custody; declaration
Parents who are not married to each other can make a declaration of custody. This is notarized by the youth welfare office.
Stand: 24.02.2026. Link zum BayernPortal
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When a child is born out of wedlock, the mother has sole custody. However, parents who are not married to each other can establish joint custody by declaring that they wish to assume joint custody (declarations of custody).
Declarations of custody must be publicly notarized. The notary of the Youth Welfare Office is authorized to make the public notarization. The purpose of the notarization is primarily to provide prior instruction on the general consequences of the declaration of custody.
Declarations of custody must be made in person. A minor parent with limited legal capacity requires the consent of their legal representative to make a declaration of custody. Declarations of custody can be made before the child is born.
The notary at any youth welfare office in Germany is responsible for public notarization. In addition, any notary public can also notarize declarations of custody.
Notarizations by the notary of the Youth Welfare Office are free of charge.
§ Section 87e Social Code (SGB) - Eighth Book (VIII)
Specialist assistance service
Here you will find advice and support on calculating and enforcing child maintenance claims and establishing paternity.
Contact form
Do you have a request for assistance or would you like to provide the specialist service with documents? Then please use our contact form. Your data will be transmitted securely and quickly this way.
Contact persons for support services (according to the child's surname):
A - F, telephone +(49) 09131 / 86 - 2525
Ga - Gn, H - Kl, La - Le, telephone +(49) 09131 / 86 - 2657
Go - Gz, Km - Kz, Re - Rh, phone +(49) 09131 / 86 - 2652
Lf - Mo, Sch, telephone +(49) 09131 / 86 - 2546
O, S, St, telephone +(49) 09131 / 86 - 1751
Mp - N, P - Rd, Ri - Rz, telephone +(49) 09131 / 86 - 2102
T - Z, telephone +(49) 09131 / 86 - 2893
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Öffnungszeiten
Monday: individual appointments possible from 15:00 - 18:00