Notarizing the declaration of custody
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzIf you, as parents of a common child, are not married to each other at the time of birth, only the mother has custody. Written information can be given about the sole custody of the mother, the so-called negative certificate.
If you would like to have joint custody, both parents must declare this to the Youth Welfare Office or a notary and have it certified.
You can also submit the declaration of custody if your child has not yet been born but has already been conceived. However, this is still possible and necessary after the birth if you do not want to marry each other and do not want to seek a court settlement.
A declaration of custody must be publicly notarized. You can arrange this at the youth welfare office responsible for you or, for a fee, at a notary.
After the submission of concurring declarations of custody, parental authority can only be changed by a decision of the family court.