Custody and Visitation Rights

Children and custody matters (Kindschaftssachen) are among the most personal and conflict-prone areas of family law. At their core are not abstract legal questions but the lived realities of children and parents navigating often deeply difficult separation situations.

Ms. Paßmann represents parents in proceedings concerning parental responsibility and visitation rights, advising on:

• The right to determine a child’s place of residence (Aufenthaltsbestimmungsrecht),
• Joint and sole parental custody,
• The arrangement and enforcement of contact and visitation schedules.

She supports both consensual resolutions and contested court proceedings. Throughout, the best interests of the child form the central standard of her work: the focus is on stability in children’s daily lives, reliable relationships with both parents, and workable solutions that minimize stress for everyone involved.

Parentage Law

In the area of parentage law (Abstammungsrecht), Ms. Paßmann advises and represents clients on the acknowledgment and contestation of paternity, as well as adoption proceedings. This includes legal assessment, procedural guidance, and the determination of the legal parent-child relationship before the family court.

Questions of parentage have far-reaching implications for the legal status of the child concerned, and Ms. Paßmann advises comprehensively on the consequences of an established, acknowledged, or contested parentage and on the effects of adoption. A particular focus lies on the implications for the child’s German citizenship, especially in cases with an international dimension. Her background in immigration and citizenship law gives her a precise understanding of how parentage determinations interact with nationality law, an intersection that can be decisive in cases involving foreign-born parents or children born abroad.

Child and Spousal Support

Maintenance disputes are among those areas of family law where calculation errors or missed deadlines can have lasting financial consequences. Ms. Paßmann advises both claimants and respondents on child support (Kindesunterhalt) and spousal support (Ehegattenunterhalt), including:

• Assessment of financial capacity and calculation of entitlements under the applicable guidelines,
• Enforcement and defense of maintenance claims,
• The variation of existing maintenance orders where income or life circumstances have changed.

Domestic Violence Protection Proceedings

In situations involving domestic violence, prompt and effective legal action is essential. Ms. Paßmann represents victims of domestic violence in proceedings under the Protection Against Violence Act (Gewaltschutzgesetz, GewSchG) and acts with determination to secure her clients’ protection and safety.

It is important to recognize that protection under the GewSchG is not limited to physical violence: psychological abuse, threats, stalking, and digital harassment fall equally within its scope and can be effectively addressed through legal action. Ms. Paßmann’s work in this area includes:

• Contact and approach prohibitions,
• Allocation of the shared home to the affected party,
• The judicial enforcement and monitoring of existing protection orders.

She supports clients through these difficult circumstances with a clear focus on effective protection, working in close coordination with police authorities, youth welfare offices, and support services where required.

Divorce Matters

Ms. Paßmann advises on the full range of legal consequences that follow from separation and divorce, with the aim of developing consensual solutions where possible and pursuing claims through the courts where necessary. Her advisory services cover:

• Spousal and post-marital maintenance,
• Equalization of accrued gains (Zugewinnausgleich) and asset division,
• Pension rights equalization (Versorgungsausgleich),
• Arrangements regarding the matrimonial home and household contents,
• Prenuptial agreements and divorce settlement agreements.

Germany is home to a large and growing international community, and the family law questions that arise for those who have built their lives here across borders require expertise that goes well beyond domestic law alone. When spouses hold different nationalities, have lived in multiple countries, or face a divorce or custody dispute with cross-border dimensions, questions of jurisdiction, applicable law, and the recognition of foreign decisions can each determine the outcome of a case.

Ms. Paßmann is particularly well placed to advise international clients. Her background in immigration and citizenship law at Schlun & Elseven gives her a grounded understanding of the residence and nationality issues that frequently run alongside family law disputes: the effect of divorce on a spouse’s residence permit, the citizenship implications of parentage determinations, and the intersection of immigration status with custody arrangements are all areas where family law and immigration law meet in practice. For international clients, this breadth of understanding can make a significant difference.

Her international family law practice covers:

• International jurisdiction and the determination of applicable law in divorce and separation proceedings
• Asset division and maintenance matters with a cross-border dimension
• The recognition and enforcement of foreign family court decisions in Germany
• The effect of divorce or separation on residence permits and immigration status
• Cross-border custody and contact disputes, including jurisdiction and enforceability across multiple legal systems
• Proceedings under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
• Parentage determinations and their consequences for German citizenship and nationality status
• International adoption proceedings and the recognition of foreign adoption decisions in Germany

For international clients facing family law matters in Germany, early legal advice is essential. The rules governing which court has jurisdiction and which country’s law applies are often determined by factors such as habitual residence and nationality at the time proceedings begin, meaning that the timing and manner in which proceedings are initiated can have lasting consequences. Ms. Paßmann advises clients on their position and options before proceedings commence, wherever possible.