Geburtenregister

The Geburtenregister, or birth register, is an official record maintained by civil registration offices in German-speaking countries and other jurisdictions with similar legal systems. It documents the birth of a child and contains essential information about the event and the individuals involved.

The primary purpose of the Geburtenregister is to establish legal proof of birth, which is crucial for various administrative and legal purposes. This includes obtaining citizenship, securing inheritance rights, and applying for identity documents such as passports and identity cards. It serves as a fundamental document for establishing a person's legal identity from birth.

Key information typically recorded in a Geburtenregister includes the child's full name, date and place of birth, sex, and the names of the parents. Details regarding the parents, such as their names, addresses, and marital status, are also included. In cases where the parents are not married, information about who acknowledged paternity may also be noted. The register entries are usually made by the Standesamt (civil registry office) shortly after the birth.

The Geburtenregister is a confidential document, and access to it is restricted to individuals with a legitimate legal interest. This generally includes the person whose birth is registered, their legal representatives, and close family members under specific circumstances. Historical birth registers can be a valuable resource for genealogical research, although their accessibility may be subject to privacy regulations and archival policies. The system ensures that births are officially recognized and recorded, providing a secure basis for a person's legal standing throughout their life.