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Having a Baby in Dortmund

Everything you need to do after the birth

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7 Schritte · ca. 5 Minuten0%

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Step 1

Register the birth

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Frist: 7 days after birth · Without birth certificate you cannot apply for parental allowance, child benefit or insurance for the child.

The birth must be registered at the Dortmund registry office. If born in hospital, the clinic handles this for you (baby service) – you don't need to do anything! The birth certificate arrives by mail.

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Dortmund baby service: Hospital reports directly to registry office
  • Registry office Dortmund: Altes Stadthaus, Friedensplatz 5
  • Phone: 0231/50-13331 | Email: standesamt@stadtdo.de
  • Order at least 3 birth certificates (parental allowance, child benefit, health insurance)
  • Home birth: Personal registration within 7 days
Step 2

🛡️ Dein Kind finanziell absichern

Gleich nach der Geburt ist der beste Zeitpunkt, dein Kind abzusichern. Kinderunfallversicherung, Haftpflicht und Vorsorge – in wenigen Minuten verglichen.

Direkt nach der Geburt💰 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos)
📅

Save this deadline to your calendar so you don't forget.

Works with iPhone, Google Calendar, Outlook and many others.

💡 Tips
  • ⏱ Dauert nur 2 Minuten
  • 💰 Kostenlos & unverbindlich
  • 🔒 Früh starten = niedrigere Beiträge
⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich
Step 3Only if you are not married

Acknowledge paternity

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Frist: Before or after birth · Without acknowledgment the father has no automatic custody and the child doesn't automatically inherit.

If you are not married, the father must officially acknowledge paternity. This can be done before the birth – at the youth welfare office or registry office Dortmund!

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Youth welfare office: Hospitalstraße 2-4, 44149 Dortmund
  • Phone: 0231/50-23425 | Email: beistandschaften@stadtdo.de
  • Appointment lead time: 3-6 weeks – ask early!
  • Best to do BEFORE the birth
  • Alternative: At registry office Dortmund (without custody declaration)
  • Mother must consent in person
Step 4

Apply for parental allowance

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Frist: Within 3 months after birth · You risk losing months of parental allowance – the earlier you apply, the better.

AmtPilot helps you understand and properly prepare the parental allowance application. You'll be guided step by step through all questions and then safely forwarded to the official application.

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • AmtPilot shows you exactly which documents YOU need
  • Maximum 3 months retroactive
  • Basic parental allowance: 65-67% of net income
  • ElterngeldPlus for part-time work is automatically checked
Apply for parental allowance online
Step 5

Apply for child benefit

You receive child benefit monthly from the family benefits office – currently €250 per child. You can submit the application completely online.

⚠️Every month without application means less child benefit. Maximum 6 months retroactive possible.
6 months retroactive possible💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Child's tax ID arrives about 2-4 weeks after birth by mail
  • Apply online via Familienkasse.de
  • Also for children up to 25 in training/studies
Step 6

Health insurance for child

Register your child with your health insurance. In public insurance, they are automatically covered under family insurance free of charge.

⚠️Without insurance card you may have to pay for pediatric checkups upfront.
Immediately after birth💰 0 € (Familienversicherung)

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Child is insured retroactively from birth
  • Insurance card arrives by mail
  • Pediatric checkups billed directly with card
  • Premature birth: Maternity protection extends to 12 weeks (instead of 8)
  • Premature birth certificate immediately to health insurance – children are often intensively monitored
Step 7

Find daycare spot

Register your child for daycare as early as possible. In Dortmund you can do this right after birth via the Kita portal!

⚠️Waiting lists can be long. Early registration significantly increases your chances.
6-12 months before desired start💰 Einkommensabhängig (0 - 500€/Monat)

📄 Required Documents

💡 Tips
  • Kita portal Dortmund: kita-portal.dortmund.de
  • Registration possible right after birth
  • List up to 6 daycares + 6 childminders at once
  • FABIDO: Municipal operator with about 100 daycares
  • From age 1: Legal right to childcare spot!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have time?
7 Tage nach Geburt
What does it cost?
0 € (für Sozialzwecke), 14 € regulär, 7,50 € weitere, 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos), 0 €, 0 €, 0 €, 0 € (Familienversicherung), Einkommensabhängig (0 - 500€/Monat)
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Ohne Geburtsurkunde kannst du kein Elterngeld, Kindergeld oder Versicherung fürs Kind beantragen.

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