Adoption of a child after placement by the youth welfare office

After successful placement by the responsible adoption agency and after the end of the fostering period, you can submit an application for adoption to the responsible family court.

The family court examines the application and - if the application proves to be admissible and well-founded - pronounces the adoption legally valid in the decision-making process.

• § Section 197 of the Act on Proceedings in Family Matters and in Matters of Non-Contentious Jurisdiction (FamFG)
• §§ 186 ff. Family Procedure Act (FamFG)
• § Section 1752 of the German Civil Code (BGB)

• Notarized adoption application
• notarized declaration of consent from the legal representative to the adoption application for a child under 14 years of age or
• notarized declaration of consent of the child over 14 years of age with the consent of the legal representative
• Notarized declarations of consent from the biological parents

Documents of the accepting party:

• Proof of earnings, assets, debts
• Proof of identity, such as an identity card or passport
• Birth certificates
• Registration certificates
• Health certificates or medical certificates
• Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate

• You want to adopt a child.
• You have all the necessary documents for the family court, such as the notarized adoption application.
• The family court will carry out ex officio the investigations necessary to establish the facts relevant to the decision and will examine the adoption proceedings.

If you would like to adopt a child, you must first contact the relevant adoption agency and go through an application procedure. Once you have passed the adoption care period, you can submit the adoption application:

• You or your notary must submit a notarized adoption application to the competent family court.
• The family court determines whether the application is admissible. Among other things, it hears the parties involved and the youth welfare office. It also obtains an expert opinion from the adoption agency.
• If necessary, the family court will provide the child with a guardian ad litem.
• The family court examines all documents, involves the adoption agency, among others, and decides on the adoption.

• The family court pronounces the adoption of the child by means of a decision. As soon as you receive the decision, the adoption is effective and incontestable. The adopted child is given the surname of the adoptive family and has the same rights as your biological child.

• https://www.justizadressen.nrw.de/de/justiz/suche
• Information on adoption on the federal government's family portal
• Information on the topic of adoption in general

The family court at your local district court will decide on the application for adoption.