Municipality of Utrecht: acknowledging parenthood of your child
Why acknowledging parenthood of a child?
By acknowledging a child you arrange the following:
- The child and the acknowledgment will have a family-law relationship.
- You are responsible for the care and upbringing of the child until the age of 21. You also pay for study and food, for example.
- You and the child become each other's legal heirs.
- You choose which parent gives the child the surname. Think carefully about this. A surname once chosen cannot (usually) be changed.
- The child may acquire the nationality of the recognizer (this depends on the law of the country of which the recognizer is a national).
- You can only reverse the recognition in special cases. This can only be done through the court.
Are you not married or do you not have a registered partnership with the mother of the child? Or are you a co-mother? Then you can acknowledge your child by making an appointment at the Civil Affairs desk.
When do you acknowledge parenthood?
You can acknowledge your child before or after birth, but we recommend that you arrange this before birth. For example, your child legally has a father or a co-mother from birth.
Acknowledging your child before birth
- Valid ID of the mother.
- Valid proof of identity of yourself (the acknowledgment).
- If the mother does not come to the appointment: Acknowledge child form. Please note: the mother must come along when it is your first child together and the child receives your surname (from the acknowledgment). The mother must also come along if you choose that she has sole custody of the child.
- Do you or the mother not live in the Netherlands or only recently? Then more documents may be required. In that case, please contact the Civil Affairs department (14 030).
Acknowledging your child after birth
- If the mother does not come along: Acknowledge child form.
- Valid proof of identity for yourself (the acknowledgment), the mother (if applicable) and/or the child (if applicable).
- Is your child younger than 12 years old? Then you need permission from the mother. Is it your first child together and will your child have your last name? Then the mother must come to the appointment. Do you choose that only the mother has custody of the child? The mother must also come to the appointment.
- Is your child between 12 and 16 years old? Then both the mother and the child must give their consent. In any case, the child will come to the appointment. Is it your first child together and will your child have your last name? Then the mother must come to the appointment. Do you choose that only the mother has custody of the child? The mother must also come to the appointment.
- From the age of 16, the child only gives permission for the recognition and therefore comes to the appointment. If only the acknowledgment and child are present at the acknowledgment, then the acknowledgment will automatically receive authority (in addition to the mother). Do you choose that only the mother should retain custody of the 16 or 17-year-old child? Then the mother must also come to the appointment.
Questions about this topic?
Contact the Municipality of Utrecht
Visiting address
Stadsplateau 1
3521AZ Utrecht
| Monday | 8:00-17:00 |
| Tuesday | 8:00-20:00 |
| Wednesday | 8:00-17:00 |
| Thursday | 8:00-20:00 |
| Friday | 8:00-17:00 |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Last updated on 31 March 2023