Recognition of a child

The recognition of a child involves a declaration certified in due legal form,
to show a person ( male or female ) notifies a paternal or maternal tie between the person and the child presented.

The recognition is equal to an acknowledgement of paternity or maternity. The legislator has not laid down any restrictions about the age or the legal competence of the person wishing to recognise the child.

The birth certificate is accepted by any registrar of births, marriages and deaths on Belgian territory irrespective of the child's place of birth and the parent's residence. If the parents live abroad, the declaration should preferably be made to a competent Belgian diplomatic or consular official.

Time of recognition :
The recognition of the child (art.328, 2e al., of the Civil Code) may be undertaken
- for the benefit of a conceived child (so prior to the birth )
- any time during its existence.

In the case of pre-natal recognition, the person has to report to the marital status office with a pregnancy report.