Recognizing a child and choosing a surname

Are you not automatically the legal parent of a child? Then you can acknowledge the child. You can also choose which surname the child will get. To do this, you go to the municipality.

Make an appointment

Download application form (pdf)

Approach

To acknowledge a child and choose a surname, come to the municipality in person. Do you acknowledge the child at the birth registration? Then go to the municipality where the child was born. Do you acknowledge the child before the birth or after the declaration of birth? This is possible in any municipality in the Netherlands.

Is mother unable to come with you? Then bring the completed Acknowledgment of Child form with you.
Do you choose to not exercising custody together with the recognizer? Then you cannot use the form. Make an appointment where both of you must be present.
For an acknowledgment of the first child in a relationship, both parents must be present. You cannot use the consent form then.

This is how you acknowledge a child:

You come to the congregation.
Do you want to choose a last name when recognizing your first child? If so, the mother must also be present.
You take to the congregation:
- A valid ID of yourself
- A valid ID from the mother
- written consent of the mother for recognition, if she is not present. Please use the pdf: acknowledgement child
- written consent of the child for recognition, if the child is over 12 years of age
- If the child was not born in Heerlen, bring a copy of the birth certificate.

Does the child's mother or recognizer live abroad? You must show proof of marital status. Sometimes you may also need to bring other documents. Make an appointment at the municipality for more information and advice on your personal situation.

Cost

Recognition and name choice are free. For a copy or extract from the civil registry you pay € 17.10. You pay this amount when you apply.

(Rate 2025)

Description

Are you not married and do not have a registered partnership? Then the birth mother is automatically the sole legal parent of a child from this relationship.

Does the father or co-mother also want to become the legal parent? Then he or she must acknowledge the child.

The legal parents are responsible for the upbringing of the child. Read more about the consequences of recognition.

You can acknowledge a child before it is born.

Child's surname

If you are not married and do not have a registered partnership, the child will automatically receive the birth mother's surname when the birth is registered.

Do you, as father or co-mother, acknowledge the child? Then you and the birth mother can choose together which surname the child will receive. You can choose the surname of the birth mother, of the partner, or a combination of both.

The surname you choose for the first child will also become the surname of subsequent children from the same relationship.

If you do not have Dutch nationality, different rules may apply. Sometimes you cannot acknowledge a child. For more information and advice about your personal situation, you should contact a Make an appointment .

Requirements

The most important Requirements to recognize a child are:

You are 16 years of age or older.
You are not related to the mother.
There are not already 2 parents. Because a child has a maximum of 2 legal parents.

You can also acknowledge a child if you are not the biological parent.

The most important conditions for choosing a surname upon recognition are:

It is the first child from the relationship.

Objection and appeal

Do you disagree with the decision of the municipality regarding the recognition of your child? Then you can ask the court whether the municipality has made a good decision. This is called 'appealing'. Do this within 6 weeks.