Grant access to mediation files

As an adopted person, you can inspect your placement file in order to obtain information about your origin and life history. This only applies if the interests of other affected parties, especially the biological parents, do not conflict and prevail.

 

If you would like to receive information about your origin, you must contact the adoption agency that referred you. For a first contact, you can also contact the adoption agency of the locally responsible youth welfare office.

The specialists will let you see the files and inform you about your origin as well as general living conditions such as the reasons for the release of the biological parents. As a rule, the file also contains reports on your development, which the adoption agency has prepared as part of the follow-up care.

The right to inspect files is restricted insofar as overriding personal interests of the persons involved preclude this. Then, as a rule, the sensitive areas are covered.

If you wish, the specialists will try to establish contact with your biological parents. If your family of origin also wants to contact you, they usually mediate this.

The adoption agency strives to find an appropriate individual solution for the biological parents and siblings from the family of origin. There is no right to inspect files.

To inspect the civil register, it is advisable to make an appointment for your personal appearance at the registry office. You can also request the information in writing, by fax or – if the municipality concerned offers this – online.

If the adoption took place a long time ago, there may no longer be a placement file, it may not receive meaningful information or in the case of adoptions carried out before 1977, no adoption agency was involved. At that time, the adoption was still carried out by a notarial contract, which was confirmed by the district court. An inquiry with the court involved may continue. The register of births is kept at the registry office of the place of birth.

The responsibility lies with the adoption agency that carried out the adoption, the adoption agency of the locally competent youth welfare office and the registry office at the place of birth.

No documents are required.

• Forms: none
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: yes

If you would like to consult the mediation files:

You are

• have been adopted and at least 16 years old, or
• Adoptive parents and your adopted child whose files you wish to inspect are not yet 16 years old.

If you want to view the data at the registry office:

The following can inspect the civil register at the registry office:

• the adoptive parents,
• their parents,
• the legal representation of the child, and
• the child at least 16 years old.

This restriction ceases to apply upon the death of the child.

After the death of the child, the civil status register may be inspected:

• persons to whom the entry in the register relates, and
• their spouses, life partners, ancestors and descendants.

Other persons have a right of access if they demonstrate a legal interest.

None

The adoption agency that carried out your placement will give you access to your placement file.

The specialists will inform you about your origin and life situation, if they have information about it.

There are no deadlines to be observed.

None

Information about the adoption agency file: Free of charge

Information or inspection of a civil register: 10,00 Euro

Information or inspection of the collective share of the registry office: 20.00 Euro