Car hire in Germany - Children's Issues

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Children's Issues

CHILDREN'S ISSUES: Custody and access issues for children in dual American-German families have been a recent, high-profile concern in Germany. German law automatically gives sole custody and decision-making authority to the mother in cases of children born to unmarried parents unless both parents have executed a document acknowledging the child's paternity and providing for other custody or access arrangements. German law does not permit home schooling as an alternative to compulsory attendance at schools accredited by German state education ministries. Corporal punishment of children (spanking) is a crime in Germany that can lead to a child being taken away from parents by the local government youth authorities.

For information on children's issues, including international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's-issues.html or contact the Overseas Citizens Services call center at 1-888-407-4747. The OCS call center can answer general inquiries regarding international adoptions and abductions and will forward calls to the appropriate country officer in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. This service is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. Federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by dialing 1-317-472-2328.