Surrogacy has become a significant option worldwide for couples with an unfulfilled desire to have children. German couples are also using surrogate mothers increasingly every year to realise their wish for a child. However, as surrogacy is not legally permitted in Germany, many couples travel abroad to realise this wish. The USA is a [...]
A Case Study from our Legal Practice In July 2023, our lawyers successfully obtained the registration of our clients' parenthood before the Düsseldorf Local Court for surrogacy that took place abroad. This spared our clients the time-consuming adoption procedure. This judgement not only represents a further milestone in the field of surrogacy but is [...]
The current war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine is also showing its devastating effects in other countries, including Germany. On the one hand, some babies of surrogate mothers have already been born amidst the destruction in Ukraine. Terrifyingly, however, there are currently few possibilities to bring the babies out of the country without [...]
Divorce cases in Germany have become more complex, as Germany becomes an increasingly popular country for inward migration. Our previous article "International Divorce in Germany" has outlined some of the complications involved in such divorce cases and in this article, we will examine the question of whether a personal appearance in court is required [...]
Parents have a right of access to their children, and this is in place even after divorce or when the parents were not married in the first place. As families become more international in nature, with people now working worldwide, international contact rights cases are becoming more common. Even if a parent has sole [...]
Marriages and relationships are becoming more international. As people work across borders and move to the different corners of the globe, family law becomes more global and, in many cases, more complex. This is especially the case when children are involved. In German law, generally, both parents are given joint custody per § 1626 [...]
Divorced spouses whose main activities in the marriage were household and child-rearing may in the future demand an equitable distribution of pension rights claims from the occupational pension of the working spouse. Even though familial roles have progressed to a state beyond merely the traditional family model, it is still mainly women who are [...]
A divorce is undoubtedly not only an emotional situation but also a legal challenge. This can be an additional burden for those affected if it takes place abroad. Especially if your German residence permit is linked to your marriage. To provide our clients with the necessary overview of the legal options in such a [...]