Municipality of Gooise Meren: acknowledging parenthood of your child

What you need to arrange to become a legal parent depends on when you acknowledge the child: before the birth, at the registration of birth or after the registration of birth

Before the birth

• You acknowledge the child during pregnancy. This is officially called acknowledging the unborn child
• When acknowledging the 1st child, the mother must be present to give consent. When acknowledging a subsequent child, the mother may give written consent
• From birth, you are the legal father or twin mother
• Is this the 1st child of you and your partner? Then you can choose to give the child the surname of the father or duo mother. You do this upon acknowledgement. Both partners sign the deed of acknowledgement of the unborn child
• If you don't choose a surname then the child will automatically get its mother's surname. Subsequent children within this relationship will automatically be given the same surname. More information on choosing a surname for your child

At registration of birth

• For acknowledging when registering the birth, the child's mother must give her consent
• When acknowledging the 1st child, the mother must be present to give consent. It is therefore more convenient if you arrange acknowledgement of the 1st child before the birth
• If you choose your surname at the time of acknowledgement, the mother must give her consent. More information on choosing a surname for your child
• Is a child born from a marriage or registered partnership between 2 women? Then you can become a mother together if you have a declaration from the Stichting Donorgegevens Kunstmatige Bevruchting (Foundation for Donor Data on Artificial Fertilisation) when registering your child

After registration of birth

• Anyone without a legal father can be acknowledged
• If the child is younger than 12, the mother must give consent

Acknowledgement not possible

You cannot acknowledge a child if the child has died.

Other conditions for acknowledging parenthood

• If you do not have the Dutch nationality, you have to prove with an unmarried declaration that you are not married abroad
• Do you want to acknowledge a foreign child? If so, this may have consequences for the child's nationality. Please contact us on telephone number 0031 35 207 00 00

• An identity document (passport, id card, driving licence)
• Is the mother not coming with you to the appointment? Then you will need written consent with the mother's signature. Also bring a copy of the mother's identity document

Acknowledging a child or unborn child is free of charge.