Municipality of Helmond: acknowledging parenthood of your child

Are you not married or in a registered partnership? Then the child will automatically be given the biological mother's name when the birth is registered. If the father or duo mother acknowledges the child, you can choose which surname the child will be given. In this case, both parents must be present at the recognition. We therefore advise you to register the recognition and choice of name before the birth. The surname you choose for the first child also becomes the surname of subsequent children from the same relationship.

If you recognise a child before 1 January 2023, you do not have parental authority. Without parental authority, you cannot decide anything for your child. You can apply for parental custody via the website Rechtspraak.nl.

If you recognise a child after 1 January 2023, you (usually) also have parental authority. Do you want only the mother to have parental authority and not the acknowledger? Then come together to the Stadswinkel to make a declaration that only the mother has parental authority.

Extra information for lesbian couples:

Is the sperm donor known? Then the co-mother or sperm donor can acknowledge the child. The mother giving birth decides which of the 2 can acknowledge the child.
Are you married or in a registered partnership? And is the sperm donor unknown? Then recognition is not necessary. When registering the birth, do bring a statement from the Donor Data Foundation to prove that the sperm donor is unknown.

Form consent acknowledgement before birth-(PDF, in Dutch).

Form consent recognition after birth-(PDF, in Dutch).

To recognise a child and choose a surname, you go to the municipality in person. To make the declaration that only mother has custody, you will go to the municipality in person. Do you acknowledge the child when registering its birth? Then go to the municipality where the child was born. Do you recognise the child before the birth or after the declaration of birth? Then you can go to any municipality in the Netherlands.

This is how you recognise a child:

• You come to the municipality.
• Do you want to choose a surname when acknowledging your first child? Or do you want only the mother to have custody of the child? In these cases, the mother must also be present at the recognition. As parents, you may choose which surname your first child will have: your surname or that of your partner. When choosing the surname, both of you must be present.
• You bring with you to the municipality:
• a valid identity document of yourself;
• a valid identity document of the mother;
• written consent of the mother for recognition, if she is not present;
• written consent for the recognition of the child, if the child is over 12 years old.

Make a digital appointment here.

Please note: Please contact us in advance by telephone in the following cases:

• If you or the other parent are not Dutch nationals. We will then need additional foreign documents.
• If the child was born and acknowledged abroad. You must report this to the municipality so that we can adjust the details in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP). We need the original deed from abroad with valid legalisation stamps or apostille stamps from the Dutch embassy or consulate from the country concerned.
• If the recognition concerns lesbian parenthood. This appointment takes longer than the standard appointment time.

• Official acknowledgement and choice of surname are free of charge.
• You can apply for an akte van erkenning (acknowledgement of parenthood certificate) in the municipality where the acknowledgment took place. A copy or extract from the civil status records costs: € 15,70. You pay this at the time of application.

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.

Do you disagree with the municipality's decision? Then lodge an appeal with the court. Does the municipality not include your child's name in the Key Register of Persons (BRP)? Then submit a notice of objection to the municipality within 6 weeks.