Germany: having a baby, authorities and applications
Before, during and after the birth: the notices, applications and deadlines, in order, with the offices to turn to.
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Time: from pregnancy to three months after the birth
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Before the birth
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That lets it adapt your workplace (§ 15 MuSchG). Dismissal is not allowed if it knows or learns within two weeks of the dismissal (§ 17).
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The health insurance fund needs the certificate for the maternity allowance; for the protection period before the birth, the date in it counts (§ 24i para. 3 SGB V, § 3 MuSchG).
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Private or family insurance: claim from the Federal Office for Social Security, €210 at most (§ 19 MuSchG). The maternity protection calculator shows the amounts.
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It pays the difference between €13 and your net per day, if you earn more than €13 net a day (§ 20 MuSchG).
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In person at the youth welfare office, registry office, local court or notary, with the mother’s consent. That puts the father on the birth certificate right away (federal family portal).
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Without them only the mother has custody. At the youth welfare office or a notary, even before the birth (federal family portal).
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The “Applying for parental leave” checklist goes through deadlines, part-time and dismissal protection; the Elterngeld calculator shows the amounts.
Registering the birth
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This is usually on the website of the registry office at the place of birth (federal family portal).
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The name must be recognizable as a name, five first names at most. Report it to the registry office within a month of the birth, if still open (federal family portal).
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In a hospital or birth centre, the institution reports the birth; for a home birth you present the birth confirmation yourself (§ 18 PStG; federal family portal).
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The registry office also registers the child automatically with the residents’ registration office (federal family portal).
Right afterward
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That way the maternity allowance continues to be paid after the birth (federal family portal).
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Statutory: children of members are covered by family insurance under conditions (§ 10 SGB V). Private: register within two months, then without risk surcharges and waiting periods (§ 198 VVG).
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Have the premature birth certified by a doctor; if the child has a disability, the extension applies only on your request (§ 3 para. 2 MuSchG).
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€259 a month per child (§ 66 EStG). You need your tax ID and the child’s; retroactively it is paid for six months at most (federal family portal).
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It comes as soon as the registration office has transmitted the data. If it is missing, ask there or at the registry office and tell the Familienkasse (BZSt).
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It is paid retroactively only for the last three months of life before the month of the claim (§ 7 para. 1 BEEG). Maternity benefits are offset (§ 3 BEEG).
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At the latest seven weeks before the start, in text form (§ 16 BEEG). The “Applying for parental leave” checklist has all the steps.
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The family portal’s checklist for the time after the birth lists this.
Later in the year
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Maternity allowance, supplement and Elterngeld are tax-free but raise the tax rate; from €410 a year the return is mandatory (§ 46 para. 2 no. 1 EStG).
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It determines the net on which the Elterngeld is based: the “Tax classes” guide explains what counts.
All done
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Good to know
- The deadlines run from the birth: one week for the registry office, one month for the first name, two months for the child’s private health insurance, three months of life retroactively for Elterngeld and six months for child benefit.
- With a written power of attorney someone else can do the errands to the authorities for you if you are recovering after the birth (family portal checklist).
- Names, custody and paternity depend on whether the parents are married: the registry office and the youth welfare office advise you on this.
- The notes are general; what counts is the information from the registry office, health insurance fund, Familienkasse and the Elterngeld office of your state.
Frequently asked questions
When must I register the child with the registry office?
Within a week of the birth, at the registry office of the place of birth; for a birth in a hospital or birth centre the institution takes care of it (§ 18 PStG; federal family portal).
Does the father have to acknowledge paternity?
Only if the parents are not married at the birth. If they are married, the husband is the father by law (federal family portal).
How high is child benefit?
€259 a month for each child (§ 66 para. 1 EStG).
How far back can I claim Elterngeld?
For the last three months of life before the month of the claim; for earlier months there is nothing (§ 7 para. 1 BEEG).
How is my child covered by health insurance?
With parents in statutory insurance, as a rule through family insurance (§ 10 SGB V). With private insurance, register the child within two months of the birth, then without risk surcharges and waiting periods (§ 198 VVG).
Next step
I’m not an accountant or a financial advisor. This is an estimate, for information only. Check with a professional before you decide.
- The calculatorGermany: maternity protection calculator
- The guideGermany: maternity protection, periods, pay and dismissal protection
- The checklistGermany: applying for parental leave, deadlines, claim and part-time
Sources
- Federal family portal — Checklists around the birth (in German)
- Federal family portal — Registering your child at the registry office (in German)
- Federal family portal — Acknowledgment of paternity (in German)
- Federal family portal — Name law and custody (in German)
- Federal family portal — Child benefit: claim, amount, retroactive (in German)
- § 18 PStG — Notice of birth within a week (in German)
- § 66 EStG — Amount of child benefit (in German)
- § 7 BEEG — Claiming Elterngeld (in German)
- § 10 SGB V — Family insurance (in German)
- § 198 VVG — Insurance of the newborn child (in German)
- Federal Central Tax Office — Tax ID: questions and answers (in German)
For names, paternity and certificates the registry office is the first contact, for custody the youth welfare office, for child benefit the Familienkasse and for the maternity allowance your health insurance fund.