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The birth of a child must be reported to the registry office in whose jurisdiction the place of birth is located.

The birth of the child must be certified by the registry office in whose jurisdiction the child was born.

Written notification of birth in a clinic

If a child is born in a hospital or other institution where obstetric care is provided, the institution's responsible body (usually the administration) is obliged to register the birth. For this purpose, the administration of the facility will collect the parents' data and obtain the necessary documents and evidence. The first names of the child can also be determined when the written notification is made. Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that the parents will have to appear at the registry office. This is particularly necessary if, for example, a declaration of the child's surname is required or if the father of an unmarried mother wishes to recognize the child.

Verbal notification

If written notification is not possible, the birth of the child must be notified verbally at the registry office. This is the case, for example, if it is a home birth.

The following are obliged to report the birth

• Each parent of the child, if they have custody.
• Any other person who was present at the birth or is aware of the birth from their own knowledge.

Documents

As a rule, the registrar requires the documents listed under "Required documents":

It is advisable to enquire at the registry office responsible for certifying the birth whether the documents listed under "Required documents" are sufficient, especially in the case of verbal notifications.

• In the case of parents who are married to each other:
  • Marriage certificate or certified printout of the marriage register
  • valid passports or identity cards of both parents
• In the case of parents who are not married to each other:
  • unmarried mothers: birth certificate or certified printout from the birth register of the mother
  • Mothers living in a registered civil partnership: Civil partnership certificate or certified printout from the civil partnership register (also applies to annulled and dissolved civil partnerships)
  • divorced mothers: marriage certificate or certified printout from the marriage register of the divorced marriage with note of divorce; in the case of marriage abroad: marriage certificate with final divorce decree
  • widowed mothers: marriage certificate or certified printout of the marriage register of the last marriage with note of the husband's death or, alternatively, marriage and death certificate or certified printout from the marriage and death registers
  • If applicable, proof of paternity acknowledgments and declarations of custody already submitted
  • valid passport or identity card of the mother

  For the registration of the father, we recommend that you attend the registry office together.

• The following documentation from the father is required:
  • Birth certificate or certified printout from the birth register
  • valid passport or identity card
• General Notes:
  • All documents must be in the original, photocopies cannot be accepted!
  • Foreign language documents are required in international form or together with a translation (by a publicly appointed and sworn translator or interpreter!).
  • In special cases further documents may be required! Your local registry office will be happy to advise you.

Once a birth has been reported, the registry office will record it in the register of births. The following information about the child and its parents is entered:

• The date, time and place of birth,
• the child's first names and surname
• the sex of the child,
• the parents' first names and surnames.

The birth must be reported to the registry office within one week.

The mother of the child is the woman who gave birth to the child.

The father of the child is the mother's husband. If the child was born after the death of the husband, he is considered the father if the child was born within 300 days of the death. If the mother is divorced and the child was born after the divorce decree became final, the former husband is not considered the child's father.

If the child's mother is not married at the time of the child's birth, the registry office can only register a man as the father when certifying the birth if he has acknowledged paternity. The same applies if the mother is living in a registered civil partnership at the time of the birth. For this purpose, it is possible to recognize paternity even before the birth is certified.

On request, the relevant registry office will issue birth certificates from the register of births, in which the essential data from the register of births about the child and its parents are transferred. Certified printouts from the birth register (this is a verbatim reproduction of the contents of the birth register) can also be issued. For more information, see "Certificate of civil status; issue" under "Related topics".