Acknowledging parenthood of your child in the Netherlands
Are you having a child, and you and the birth mother are not married or in a civil partnership? You, as a father or the female partner of a birth mother, can become a legal parent if you officially acknowledge parenthood of that child. This can be done free of charge through your municipality.
Acknowledging parenthood of a child as the father
Are you a man who is married or formed a civil partnership with the birth mother of your child? Then you do not need to formally acknowledge parenthood of the child, as you will automatically be recorded as the legal father. This applies even if you are not the biological father of the child.
Acknowledging parenthood of a child as the female partner of the birth mother
Are you a woman who is married to, or in a civil partnership with, the birth mother? If so, you do not need to acknowledge parenthood if you used an anonymous sperm donor for the pregnancy. As the female partner of the birth mother, you will automatically be considered the child’s mother. However, you do need to prove, when registering the birth, that the sperm donor is not known to you.
Did you use a sperm donor who is known to you? If so, the female partner of the birth mother will not automatically be considered the child’s mother. In this case, you will have to acknowledge parenthood of the child yourself. This is the case even if you are married to, or in a civil partnership with, the birth mother.
Acknowledging parenthood of a child is subject to the following conditions:
- you are at least 16 years old;
- the birth mother has given her consent if the child is under the age of 16;
- you cannot acknowledge parenthood of a child if you are not permitted to marry the birth mother, for example because you are a close blood relative of hers;
- there must not already be 2 parents. Has the child been adopted by the birth mother’s female partner, for example? If so, the biological father will no longer be able to acknowledge parenthood of that child.
- Have you been placed under a conservatorship (in Dutch) on account of your physical or mental state? If so, you will first need to obtain authorisation from the regional court.
Acknowledging parenthood of a child during pregnancy
You can acknowledge parenthood of a child in any municipality in the Netherlands if they have not yet been born. This is referred to as acknowledging parenthood of an unborn child (erkenning van de ongeboren vrucht).
Will the expectant mother not be present when you acknowledge parenthood of your child? If so, she must give her written consent to the acknowledgement.
Is your partner expecting a multiple birth? If so, the acknowledgement applies to all the children with whom your partner is pregnant at that time.
Acknowledging parenthood of a child when registering the birth
You can acknowledge parenthood when you register the birth. You register the birth in the municipality where the child was born.
Will the expectant mother not be present when you acknowledge parenthood? If so, she must give her written consent to the official recognition.
Acknowledging parenthood of a child after registration of the birth
You can also acknowledge parenthood of a child if they are already older, or even an adult. You can do this in any municipality in the Netherlands.
Is your child over the age of 12? If so, you will need written consent from the child and their birth mother. If the child is over the age of 16, only the child’s consent is required.
- You must acknowledge parenthood of each child separately. This includes a second or subsequent child from a relationship. This does not happen automatically, unless you were married or in a civil partnership prior to the birth.
- When acknowledging parenthood of the first child officially, you choose whose surname the child will have: the birth mother’s or yours. All subsequent children from the same relationship are automatically given the same surname as the first child.
- Was the child legally acknowledged before 1 January 2023? Then the parents do have to apply to the district court for joint custody.
- When acknowledging a child if not married or in a civil partnership with the birth mother after 1 January 2023 then you will automatically be granted joint custody (in Dutch). There are exceptions (in Dutch) such as when acknowledging the child you both declare that the birth mother is granted sole custody.
This is how it works for you
Here is some information from your municipality.
Municipality of Moerdijk: Acknowledging parenthood of your child
You must go to the municipality in person to officially acknowledge parenthood of your child and to choose a surname. This is possible in every municipality in the Netherlands. You must make an appointment to do this.
https://www.moerdijk.nl/Contact.html
If you do not hold Dutch citizenship or you live outside the Netherlands, other rules may apply. You will receive more information and advice about your personal situation during your appointment.
- The recognizer must be 16 years or older;
- The acknowledgment may not be related to the mother;
- There must not already be two parents;
- The mother must give permission;
- Men who are married or in a registered partnership can recognize children born to a woman other than the wife. The child's mother may not be married to another person or have a registered partnership at the time of the child's birth;
- If the acknowledgment is under guardianship, permission from the subdistrict court judge is required;
- In principle, you must have Dutch nationality. If you do not have one, the municipality can check for you whether recognition of your nationality is possible under the legislation and which documents you must submit.
What does acknowledging a child mean?
- The child receives mutual inheritance rights;
- A maintenance obligation arises between parent and child;
- The child can get your last name.
Authority
Authority has not yet been arranged after recognition. After the birth, you can submit an application for joint parental authority digitally via the digital counter for the judiciary .
More information
More information about child recognition can be found at rijksoverheid.nl .
Take
Recognition unborn child
- Valid original proof of identity of the person acknowledging and the mother;
- If the child's mother does not come along, she can give written permission;
- If you want the child to be given the surname of the acknowledgment, the mother must come along in person.
Recognize at or after birth registration.
If a child is under 12 years old:
- A valid original proof of identity for yourself and the mother;
- Personal or written consent of the mother;
- If you want the child to be given the surname of the acknowledgment, the mother must come along in person.
- After birth: Was the child born outside the municipality of Moerdijk? Then you should also bring a copy of the birth certificate
If a child is between 12 and 16 years old:
- A valid original proof of identity for yourself, the mother and the child;
- Personal or written consent of the mother and child;
- If you want the child to be given the surname of the acknowledgment, the mother must come along in person.
- After birth: Was the child born outside the municipality of Moerdijk? Then you should also bring a copy of the birth certificate
If a child is 16 years or older:
- The child itself. He or she must choose what his/her surname will be;
- A valid proof of identity for yourself and the child;
- Personal consent of the child. The mother no longer needs to give permission if the child is 16 years or older.
- After birth: Was the child born outside the municipality of Moerdijk? Then you should also bring a copy of the birth certificate
Child lives abroad or was born there
If the mother and child live abroad or if the child was born abroad, additional documents may be requested. Ask the municipality in advance which documents you need before acknowledging the child.
Recognize before birth
An acknowledgment during pregnancy is also referred to as an acknowledgment of the unborn child. Due to the recognition, the legal parentage is immediately established.
Recognize at the birth registration
You must do this in the municipality where the child was born. Do you want the child to receive the surname of the person who recognized it? Then the mother must come along in person. This only applies to the first child of the relationship.
Recognition after birth registration
This is possible if there are not yet two parents listed on the birth certificate. The acknowledgment applies from the date on which the child is recognised.
A copy or extract of a civil status certificate costs € 15.70.
A multilingual extract from a civil status certificate costs € 15.70.
The acknowledgement cannot always be processed immediately. This depends on the personal situation of the child and the person acknowledging the child. For example, acknowledgement takes longer if the child was born before 1985 or if the person having the child officially recognised does not hold Dutch citizenship.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Moerdijk
Visiting address
Pastoor van Kessellaan 15
4761BJ Zevenbergen
| Monday | 08.30 - 17.00 |
| Tuesday | 08.30 - 17.00 |
| Wednesday | 08.30 - 17.00 |
| Thursday | 08.30 - 17.00 18.00 - 20.00 |
| Friday | 08.30 - 12.00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |