First Month Checklist: Securing Your Parental Rights

The First Month: Admin Overload Meets Sleep Deprivation

You just had a baby. You're exhausted, overwhelmed, and learning everything from scratch.

But there are critical deadlines you cannot miss.

This checklist ensures you complete every legal and administrative task in the right order—while you're barely functioning on 3 hours of sleep.

Week 1: Immediate Priorities

✅ Day 1-3: Register Birth (If Hospital Didn't)

If hospital handled it: Relax, they've already submitted paperwork to Standesamt.

If you must register:

• Visit local Standesamt within 7 days
• Bring hospital's birth notification (Geburtsbescheinigung)
• Bring both parents' IDs, paternity/custody certificates
• Pay fees (€10-15)
• Order multiple certified copies

✅ Day 1-7: Add Baby to Health Insurance

This is urgent—baby needs coverage immediately

Which parent's insurance?

• If both parents are legally married: choose either parent's insurance
• If unmarried: baby usually goes on mother's insurance (unless joint custody established)
• If one parent has private insurance, the other public: rules vary (contact insurers)

How to do it:

1. Contact your health insurance provider (Krankenkasse)
2. Provide baby's birth certificate
3. Complete enrollment forms
4. Insurance card will arrive in 2-3 weeks

Until card arrives:

• Baby is still covered under temporary registration
• Bring birth certificate to any medical appointments

✅ Day 1-7: Register Baby's Address (Anmeldung)

Required by law within 14 days of birth

Where: Local Bürgeramt (citizen services office)

Bring:

• Birth certificate
• Both parents' IDs
• Proof of residence (rental contract or Meldebescheinigung)

What you get:

• Baby registered at your address
• Anmeldebescheinigung (registration confirmation)
• Tax ID (Steuer-ID) will arrive automatically in 2-4 weeks

Why this matters:

• Required for Kindergeld and Elterngeld
• Needed for future school registration
• Legal requirement

Week 2-4: Financial Benefits

✅ Apply for Kindergeld (Child Benefit)

What it is: Monthly payment of €250 per child (as of 2025)

When to apply: As soon as you have birth certificate and tax ID

Where: Familienkasse (family benefits office) or online

What you need:

• Birth certificate
• Baby's tax ID (Steuer-ID)
• Bank account information
• Your tax ID

Processing time: 4-6 weeks

Payments: Retroactive to birth month

How to apply:

• Download form from Familienkasse website
• Complete and submit online or by mail
• Include certified copy of birth certificate

✅ Apply for Elterngeld (Parental Allowance)

What it is: Income replacement during parental leave (65-67% of recent income)

When to apply: Within first 3 months (or you lose money!)

Where: Local Elterngeldstelle or online (ElterngeldDigital)

What you need:

• Birth certificate
• Last 12 months of pay slips
• Employer confirmation of parental leave
• Bank account information
• Tax ID

Processing time: 6-12 weeks

How much: Minimum €300/month, maximum €1,800/month

Duration: 12-14 months total (can be split between parents)

ElterngeldPlus option: Lower monthly amount but longer duration

Pro tip: Apply early—processing takes time, and late applications lose money permanently.

Week 2-8: Additional Admin

✅ Apply for Passport (If Needed)

When you need it:

• Planning international travel
• Dual citizenship requirements
• Family living abroad

Where: Bürgeramt or passport office

What you need:

• Birth certificate
• Both parents' consent (both must be present or provide notarized permission)
• Biometric photo of baby
• Fee: ~€13 for baby passport

Processing time: 3-4 weeks (or pay for express)

✅ Notify Employer (If Taking Parental Leave)

Timeline: At least 7 weeks before parental leave starts

What to provide:

• Written notice of parental leave (Elternzeit)
• Dates and duration
• Request confirmation in writing

Your rights:

• Up to 3 years of parental leave per parent
• Job protection during leave
• Cannot be fired during leave
• Right to return to same or equivalent position

✅ Register Baby with Foreign Embassy (If Applicable)

If you're not German:

• Check if your home country requires birth registration
• Contact your embassy or consulate
• May need apostilled birth certificate
• May qualify for dual citizenship

Timeline: Varies by country (some have strict deadlines)

Weeks 6-8: Preventive Legal Steps

✅ If You Haven't Established Custody Yet—DO IT NOW

If you're unmarried and didn't complete paternity/custody before birth:

1. **Schedule Jugendamt appointment immediately**
2. **Complete paternity acknowledgment** (if not already done)
3. **Sign joint custody declaration**
4. **Return to Standesamt** to update birth certificate with father's name

This is NOT optional if you want father to have legal rights.

✅ Create Emergency Care Plan

What if something happens to one parent?

Document:

• Who has custody (both parents if joint custody established)
• Emergency contacts
• Medical information
• Care preferences

Consider:

• Writing a will (Vormundschaft / guardianship designation)
• Naming a guardian in case both parents are unable to care for child
• Storing documents in accessible location

✅ Organize All Documents

Create a folder (physical + digital) with:

• Birth certificate (multiple copies)
• Paternity acknowledgment
• Joint custody declaration
• Health insurance card (when it arrives)
• Vaccination record (Impfpass, from pediatrician)
• Anmeldebescheinigung (address registration)
• Tax ID letter
• Elterngeld approval
• Kindergeld approval

Why: You'll need these constantly (daycare, school, travel, medical care)

Deadlines Summary

Month 2-12: Ongoing Tasks

Medical

• Pediatrician checkups (U1-U6 in first year)
• Vaccinations (Impfungen)
• Keep Impfpass updated

Practical

• Daycare applications (Kita-Gutschein, if needed)
• Update your will/guardianship
• Review custody arrangement (if separated)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Missing Elterngeld deadline (costs thousands of euros)

❌ Not adding baby to insurance immediately (no coverage for medical visits)

❌ Forgetting to order multiple birth certificates (you'll need them repeatedly)

❌ Not establishing custody (if unmarried) (father has no legal rights)

❌ Losing important documents (keep backups!)

Key Takeaway

> The first month is overwhelming—but these tasks are non-negotiable.

> Set reminders. Ask for help. Don't procrastinate.

> Future you will thank present you for finishing this admin.

Use Our Tools

• **Interactive first-month checklist:** Track completed tasks
• **Document organizer:** Upload and store all paperwork
• **Deadline calculator:** Never miss a critical deadline
• **City resource finder:** Find Standesamt, Elterngeldstelle, etc.