Adoption of a child in Germany, domestic adoption
If you would like to adopt a child, you must apply to the Adoption Center Bremen. It will assist you with any questions and carry out the placement of children with new parents.
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Basic information
The Adoption Center Bremen advises mothers and fathers who are seeking to adopt from a third party, relative or stepparent. The adoption center checks the suitability of applicants and carries out the placement of children with new parents. The suitability check is carried out through participation in a seminar, documents to be submitted, interviews as well as home visits. Only after a positive examination are they recognized as adoption applicants. The team at the adoption center decides which adoptive parents are selected for a child. The best interests of the child always come first. A placement is made when the development of a parent-child relationship can be expected.
Requirements
Anyone wishing to adopt a child must have unlimited legal capacity. Married couples can only adopt jointly. In principle, adoptive parents must meet the following requirements:
- A minimum age of 25 years - for married couples applies: one spouse must be at least 25 years old, the other at least 21 years old.
- Secure income or sufficient financial security must be proven.
- Professional circumstances must allow sufficient time for child rearing.
- Health must be proven by a health certificate. A certificate from the family doctor is sufficient. A leaflet for presentation to the doctor can be obtained from the adoption office.
- The exemption from punishment must be confirmed by a police certificate of good conduct. An extended certificate of good conduct is required here. You can obtain a certificate for presentation to the city office from the adoption office.
- The partnership should have lived in the same household for at least four years.
- The adoptive parents must respect the religion of the child or the desire for religious upbringing of the birth parents.
- No parallel medical procedures may be pursued to overcome their own childlessness.
Preference is given to joint adoption. Single applicants will be considered for adoption only if:
- a related child is adopted.
- a significant relationship with the child already exists.
- the adoption preserves the familiar living environment.
- it is ensured that the child will grow up in stable social circumstances.
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Procedure
Through intensive counseling, the readiness to take in an adopted child is subjected to a thorough examination. This includes participation in a topic-related seminar, interviews and home visits. In addition, an applicant form must be filled out and a life description must be prepared, which takes a closer look at previous stages of life as well as family relationships and other emotional ties.
After the adoptive parents have been selected, they receive all the information about the child and can get to know him or her. Within this placement process, the parents can reconsider their decision for or against the child.
The adoption care period begins when the child is placed in the parents' household. It ends with the adoption decision by the family court. After the conclusion of the adoption proceedings before the family court, the child is automatically recorded in the register of births. The child then acquires the legal status of a natural child and legal relations with the natural family cease.
More information
You have no legal claim to the placement of a child.
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The official information in German is complete and correct. 21.01.2023