Determination of paternity or parenthood
What is it?
The court determines who the biological parent of a child is. This happens, for example, if the biological parent does not want to acknowledge the child. Or if the parent died before he or she could acknowledge the child. Does the child already have two parents? Then you cannot submit a request for determination of parenthood.
Does the mother have a female partner? If so, the biological mother and the child can also request a determination of parenthood in court for her. As the partner of the biological mother, the co-mother must have agreed to the decision to conceive the child (or have it conceived).
How does it work?
The child's mother can apply for legal determination of paternity or parenthood up to 5 years after the child's birth. Was the biological parent unknown at the time of birth? In that case, the mother can apply for determination of paternity/parenthood up to 5 years after the biological father has been identified. If the child is 16 years of age or older, the mother can no longer request the determination of paternity/parenthood.
The child may also apply for the determination of paternity/parenthood themselves. There is no maximum time limit or age requirement for this.