Administrative services A-Z

A guardianship is a special form of legal representation for children and young people. If you want to establish paternity or claim maintenance, the youth welfare office can legally represent the child in the relevant proceedings and thus relieve you. If you no longer need the guardianship, you can terminate it in whole or in part at the local youth welfare office.

The guardianship ends automatically if the legal requirements are no longer met. This is the case, for example, if

• both parents have assumed joint custody and the child lives in the same household,
• the child is of legal age,
• you move abroad with the child or
• the guardianship has fulfilled its purpose, for example if paternity has been established.

• Your child is receiving assistance from the Youth Welfare Office.
• You are entitled to custody and have applied for assistance.

• Written declaration to terminate the guardianship

Emission: (kostenfrei)
There are no costs.
Vorkasse: Nein

There is no deadline.

• § Section 18 (1), (2) and (4) of Book Eight of the German Social Code (SGB VIII)
• §§ Sections 1712-1717 of the German Civil Code (BGB)

• Brochure from the Federal Ministry on guardianship and other assistance from the Youth Welfare Office

Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ)