You are adopted and looking for your family of origin? Then you can get advice from the local youth welfare office or the adoption agency. Members of the family of origin also receive support in the search for the whereabouts of an adopted child.
You want to adopt a child from abroad? This process is accompanied by the Youth Welfare Office and the Foreign Placement Office.
You want to adopt a related child? The adoption center advises and accompanies you through the next steps. Here you can learn more about the process.
You want to adopt your stepchild? The adoption center advises and accompanies you through the next steps. Here you can learn more about the process.
As an adopted person, you can inspect the files on the placement of your adoption yourself from your 16th birthday. Unless the interests of other persons concerned - such as those of your natural parents - conflict with or outweigh the right of inspection.
If you wish to give your child up for adoption and are not married to the mother, you can refrain from applying for parental custody to be transferred to you after the birth of the child. You can declare this before the birth.
The validity of the certificate of international mediation can be extended by 1 year upon request.
You would like to adopt a child from within Germany? Then you must first qualify as adoptive parents.
You would like to adopt a child from abroad? Then you must first qualify as an adoptive parent.
If you want to give your child up for adoption and you are not married to the mother, you can refrain from filing a petition to transfer parental care to yourself after the child is born.
If the adoption of a child originating from abroad is possible, the adoption applicants are requested by the international placement office to declare that they are willing to adopt this child if it enters Germany. This declaration must be notarized.
Are you being served by the Adoption Center and want to adopt a specific child from abroad? Then you may be asked to submit a "declaration of readiness". The declaration of readiness states that you want to adopt the proposed child.
You want to adopt a child? The adoption center advises you and accompanies you through the next steps. Here you can learn more about the process.
What are the fees involved in adopting a child from abroad?
Children over the age of 14 can revoke their adoption if the adoption has not yet been decided by a court. This revocation must be publicly certified.
This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
The official information in German is complete and correct.
Updated on 11.09.2026