Acknowledging a child is a declaration in which you make it clear that a bond of paternity, maternity or co-maternity exists between yourself and a child. By acknowledging a child, you have the same rights and obligations towards your child as your partner.
Target Group
- Burger
Conditions
The mother and/or the child consent to recognition. Who must give consent depends on the age of the child:
- If the child is under 12, the mother must give consent.
- If the child is between 12 and 18, the mother and the child must give consent.
- For the recognition of an adult or a minor custodial child, only the child's consent is required.
Acknowledgement is not always necessary:
The mother is the woman who gave birth to the child. Listing her name in the birth certificate is sufficient to know who the child's mother is.
- A child born during marriage automatically has the mother's partner as father or co-mother.
Proof
- identity cards
- in case of recognition before birth: doctor's certificate confirming that the mother is pregnant and stating the expected date of delivery
- in case of recognition after birth: recent birth certificate of the child (max. 1 year old)
If you are not registered in the population or foreigners' register, you might also need to submit the following documents:
- proof of unmarried status. This is only necessary if, according to the legislation of the country of origin, a married person cannot acknowledge a child with a person other than their spouse.
- proof of nationality.
- proof of residence.
These documents must have the necessary legalisation and, if necessary, a translation by a sworn translator from the court in Belgium.
Procedure
Procedure
You can acknowledge a child:
- before the birth with an attestation of the presumed date of delivery. The gynaecologist can issue this attestation.
- after the birth. This can be done at the time of the birth declaration or later without a time limit.
For recognition, both parents must go together to the registrar of births, marriages and deaths to apply for recognition. This can be done in the municipality
- where you live
- where the other parent lives
- or where the child was born.
If the father is married to a partner other than the mother, the father's wife or spouse must be notified of the recognition.