FS 43

Give a declaration of willingness to accept a child proposed for international adoption

When adopting a foreign child, you must have it certified that you are willing to adopt the child when he or she enters Germany.

Detailed description

If the adoption of a foreign child is possible, you as the adoption applicant will be asked by the responsible authority to declare that you are willing to adopt this child when it enters Germany. Your declaration must be documented in a legally prescribed form and officially confirmed (certified). This certification can be done in a notary's office or in a youth welfare office.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • As part of the adoption procedure, the responsible authority has asked you to submit a "declaration pursuant to Section 7 Paragraph 1 of the Adoption Convention Implementation Act (AdÜbAG)".
  • You are ready to adopt the child proposed to you.

Documents required

  • Proof of identity (identity card, passport or comparable documents)

Please note

If you agree to adopt the child proposed to you, you are obliged to reimburse various public benefits provided for the child. This obligation applies for a maximum of six years from the child's arrival and ends when the child is adopted. There is no obligation to reimburse benefits provided for the child if the child already lives in your household but has not yet been adopted. In these cases, you only have to pay a contribution to the costs in the same amount as parents would have to. The same applies to benefits that would also have to be provided if the child were already living in your household.

Deadlines

If the foreign placement agency asks you to notarize your declaration, it will set a deadline by which the notarization must be done.

Procedure

  • The responsible authority asks you to submit a "declaration pursuant to Section 7 Paragraph 1 of the Adoption Convention Implementation Act (AdÜbAG)".
  • You contact the office where you would like to have the certification done and make an appointment.
  • The person who records your declaration will inform you about the legal consequences of the certification.
  • Your declaration will be notarized.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the individual case and the body carrying out the certification.

Fees

There are costs for notarial certification in accordance with the applicable fee schedule. The notary's office can provide the exact amount of the costs before certification. The public certification of the declaration before a notary at a youth welfare office is free of charge.

Legal remedies

No

Legal basis

§ 7 Adoption Convention Implementation Act (AdÜbAG)


https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ad_bag/__7.html

Links on the Internet

Address and contact information

FS 43

Joint Central Adoption Agency

Haven't found the right one yet?

To Hamburg Service startpage

Keywords: assumption of costs International Adoption consent adoptive foster child adoption process adoption

Last updated: 16.04.2026