The Youth Welfare Office

Responsibilities, Rights, and Support

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The Youth Welfare Office is a government agency that supports children, adolescents, and families. Its goal is to promote the well-being of children and to advise and assist families in various life situations.

Many people associate the Youth Welfare Office exclusively with the removal of children. In reality, however, this is necessary only in rare, exceptional cases. In most cases, the Youth Welfare Office supports families through counseling and assistance programs.

What are the responsibilities of the Youth Welfare Office?

The Youth Welfare Office performs numerous tasks to protect and support families.

Support for Families

Among other things, the Youth Welfare Office offers:

• Counseling on parenting issues and family problems.
• Support for single parents.
• Assistance with applying for advance child support payments.
• Placement in daycare centers.
• Family assistance and social-educational support.

Protection of Children

The Youth Welfare Office intervenes when a child’s well-being is at risk, for example, in cases of neglect or abuse.

Its responsibilities include:

• Protecting children in dangerous situations.
• Counseling and supporting parents.
• Collaborating with schools, preschools, doctors, and other agencies.
• Temporarily placing a child in a foster family or a residential facility if this is necessary to protect the child.

Rights and Obligations of EU Citizens

EU citizens living in Germany generally have the same rights and obligations toward the Youth Welfare Office as German nationals.

Your Rights

Among other things, you are entitled to:

• Counseling on parenting and family matters.
• Support through family assistance programs.
• Financial benefits such as advance child support payments, provided the legal requirements are met.
• Protection of the child’s best interests.
• Information and the right to be heard when the Youth Welfare Office takes action.

Your Obligations

Parents are obligated to

• properly register their child in Germany,
• ensure their child’s health, safety, and upbringing,
• to cooperate with the Youth Welfare Office if support measures are necessary.
• Acknowledgment of Paternity

If a child’s parents are not married to each other, paternity must be officially acknowledged. Only then is the father legally recognized as a parent.

Acknowledgment of paternity can be completed free of charge at the Youth Welfare Office, the registry office, or with a notary.

The following documents are generally required:

• ID cards or passports for both parents,
• the child’s birth certificate (if already available),
• if applicable, proof of the mother’s previous marriage or divorce.

The mother must consent to the acknowledgment of paternity.

Parental Custody

Custody encompasses the right and obligation to make important decisions for the child, such as those regarding upbringing, health, or financial management.

For unmarried parents, the following applies:

The mother is initially granted sole custody.

• Both parents may submit a joint custody declaration to the Youth Welfare Office or a notary.
• If no agreement is reached, the father can apply to the family court for joint custody.

Powers of Attorney at the Youth Welfare Office

In certain situations, a power of attorney may be advisable or necessary.

A power of attorney allows another person to handle certain matters on behalf of the parents.

This may be necessary, for example,

• if one parent is unable to do so,
• if grandparents or other caregivers handle administrative procedures,
• in matters of child support or custody,
• or if another person is to temporarily represent the child.

A written power of attorney is generally recommended for dealing with government agencies. In some cases, a certified or notarized power of attorney may be required.

We’re here to help

Our service and interpreting agency assists Romanian families with all matters related to the Youth Welfare Office. We help them fill out applications and communicate with government agencies.

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