The German Child Protection Association has broadly welcomed the Bundestag’s Thursday‑evening decision to make it easier for biological fathers to challenge the legal paternity of non‑biological fathers. “Children need clarity, stability and legally secure arrangements when it comes to their lineage” said Daniel Grein, the association’s national executive director, in an interview with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. He noted that the draft bill follows the Federal Constitutional Court’s guidance, incorporates useful measures such as a stronger emphasis on the child’s welfare, and streamlines agreements when parties reach a consensus.
Grein, however, added that some provisions still raise concerns. In particular, he criticised the provision for a “second chance” for biological fathers. Although he acknowledges that this option is constitutionally justified, he argued that it is still unsatisfactory to allow a father’s rights to be superseded by the child’s right to certainty and reliable parent‑child relationships.
Under the new reform, a biological father can now contest the paternity of an adopted or non‑biological child if he has a close relationship with the child or if a prior relationship was severed without his fault. Another clause is intended to curb a race for paternity: if a father has already initiated a court proceeding to establish his paternity, no other man may legally acknowledge paternity until the court’s decision is rendered.
The bill also expands the child’s say in the matter. Once a child is at least 14 years old, he or she can prevent another man from being declared the legal father instead of the biological father.
