Checklists & tips

A miscarriage or stillbirth is a severe blow for the parents concerned. They can report the birth to the relevant registry office and have a certificate issued for this.

If your child was born at home, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to report the birth.

You can obtain the birth certificate for your child from the registry office in the place of birth.

You are looking for a place for your child in day care or a day nursery? This way! Find out as early as possible from the daycare center or daycare provider of your choice or from your local youth welfare office whether there are free childcare places at the facility or daycare provider you want.

You have received the commitment for a childcare place for your child? Then you will certainly also want to know how high the parental contributions for the childcare place are. Find out early on from your local youth welfare office whether it charges parental contributions, how much they are, if any, and what the assessment basis is for the amount of the contribution. This information is specified in the local parent contribution statutes.

You have received the commitment for a childcare place for your child? Then you would certainly also like to know whether you have to pay parental contributions for the care place. Find out early at your local youth welfare office, whether it collects parental contributions, how much they are, if any, and which assessment basis applies to the amount of the contribution. This information is specified in the local parental contribution statutes. If you receive unemployment benefit II or social welfare, social assistance, housing benefit, asylum benefits or child supplement, you will be exempt from parental contributions for the months in which you receive these benefits.

Child benefit is paid to all families, regardless of their income. It is paid from birth until at least the child's 18th birthday. Under certain conditions, child benefit is available until the 25th birthday.

In some families, money is tight. If the parents' income is not enough to provide well for the entire family, there is a monthly supplement from the state in addition to child benefit. In which cases you get the child supplement and how you can apply for it, you can find out here.

You need another civil partnership certificate? You can only obtain your civil partnership certificate from the registry office in whose area the civil partnership was established.

During the maternity protection periods, (expectant) mothers are under special legal protection. Before and after the birth, they are not allowed to work for a certain period of time. The Maternity Protection Act ensures that mothers do not suffer any financial disadvantage during this time. Employees receive up to 100 percent of their previous net income, consisting of maternity pay and an employer allowance.

Whether it's about choosing a school, taking part in a vacation camp or medical treatment, many decisions have to be made while a child is growing up. Even parents who are not married to each other can share this responsibility for your child. Here you can find out what joint custody means and how to arrange it.

Care, education, job, household: single parents bear most of the responsibility alone. Financial worries are added when no or not regular maintenance is paid for the child by the other parent. In this situation, single parents can apply for advance maintenance payments.

If the parents are not married to each other, the natural father of a child is not automatically also the legally recognized father. Recognition with all rights and obligations only takes place through the public certification of a declaration by the father. The mother must agree to the declaration.