Administrative services A-Z

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Upon request, the family court may convert a so-called weak adoption into a so-called strong adoption.

You have adopted a child abroad.

The court pronounces the adoption with strong effect if

• this is in the best interests of the child
• the necessary consents to an adoption with effect terminating the parent-child relationship have been granted, and
• there are no overriding interests of the husband, wife or children of the adopter(s) or the adopted child that conflict with this

• notarized application for conversion of adoption
• foreign adoption certificate.

Note: In most cases foreign documents with over certification are necessary:

• by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or
• legalization by the German foreign representation.

• Notary costs
• Court costs
• the respective amount depends on the individual case

You must submit a notarized application for conversion to the competent local court. The court examines the application and also involves the locally competent youth welfare office and the central adoption office of the state youth welfare office during the proceedings.

The court pronounces the adoption with strong effect if

• this is in the best interests of the child
• the necessary consents to an adoption with effect terminating the parent-child relationship have been granted, and
• there are no overriding interests of the husband, wife or children of the adopter(s) or the adopted child.

Your adopted child then has all the rights and obligations of a natural child. In addition, if he or she is not yet 18 years old at the time of the application, he or she will receive German citizenship if you or your husband or wife are German citizens.

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Unless the respective Land government has made use of the other provision of jurisdiction made possible by § 5.2 of the AdwirkG, the family court in whose district a Higher Regional Court has its seat shall decide on the application for the adoption of a foreign child for the district of this Higher Regional Court.

• District Courts of the State of Brandenburg

• §§ 97 et seq. Act on Proceedings in Family Matters and in Matters of Voluntary Jurisdiction (FamFG)
• § 3 Adoption Effects Act (AdWirkG)
• § 5 Adoption Effects Act (AdWirkG)

For more information on intercountry adoption, including a list of countries, visit .

• Https://www.bundesjustizamt.de/DE/Home/homepage_node.html

Senator for Justice and Constitution of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen