Acknowledging parentage of a child
By acknowledging parentage of a child, you become the child's legal parent.
Where to request this?
You can request this at the municipality where:
- The official residence of the mother, the child or the person who wishes to acknowledge parentage is
- The child was born
When to request this?
- Before the birth
- When registering the birth
- At a later time after the birth
How to request this?
The person who wishes to acknowledge parentage has to go to the city office together with:
- The mother (if the child has not yet been born or is under 12 years of age)
- The mother and the child (if the child is over 12 years of age)
- The child (if the child is at least 18 years of age or an emancipated minor)
By appointment only.
Make an appointment
What do you need to bring?
Both partners have been born and registered in Belgium
- Identity cards of the mother and the person who wishes to acknowledge parentage
- Before the birth: medical certificate (original version, no scan or copy) containing these matters:
- Stating that the mother is pregnant
- Expected date of birth
- Signature of doctor or midwife
-
If the child was not born in Leuven: recent copy of the child’s birth certificate
One of the partners does not have the Belgian nationality or was not born or registered in Belgium
Phone us or send us an email to determine what documents you need.
Civil Registry
Stadskantoor
Professor Van Overstraetenplein 1
3000 Leuven
- Tel.016 27 21 93
- Tel. (afspraak - appointment)016 27 28 29
- E-mailburgerlijke.stand@leuven.be
Price
Free of charge.
Conditions
You can find more information about the conditions for acknowledging parentage of a child on the website of the Flemish Government (Dutch only).