Choosing a child's last name

• Your child will automatically receive the father's last name.
• Do you want your child to have the mother's last name?
  • You must arrange this before the birth or at the time of the birth declaration.
  • You and your partner must visit together.
  • To do this, make an appointment "Child's Name Selection" online (see "Making an Appointment").
  • Note! Often the mother cannot be present at the declaration of the birth. Therefore, make an appointment at the municipality together before the birth.

• Your child will automatically receive the mother's last name.
• Do you want your child to have the father's or duo mother's last name?
  • Then the father or the paternal mother must acknowledge the child.
  • At the time of recognition, you can specify the choice of surname together at the municipality.
  • To do this, make an appointment online 'Appointment for recognition of (unborn) child' (see 'Making an appointment').

• The mother is pregnant from an unknown donor (see: Artificial insemination donor data law).
  • Your child will automatically receive the surname of the paired mother.
  • This is only possible if the duo- mother automatically becomes a legal parent at birth. To do this, the person who declares the child to the municipality (usually the duo- mother) must submit a statement from the Donor Data Foundation.
  • Do you want your child to have the biological mother's last name? Then you must register this together with the municipality.
• The mother is pregnant from a known donor and the paired mother acknowledges the child.
  • Your child will automatically receive the biological mother's last name.
  • Do you want your child to have the surname of the paternal mother? Then you must register this together with the municipality.
  • For more information, see the Recognition of (unborn) child product.

• At the moment of a child's birth, there is also always a mother.
• Motherhood can only end through adoption.
  • With adoption, you can choose the last name of your first child.
  • This is done at the Court.
  • Subsequent children will have the same last name as your first child together.

Do you have a child from a previous relationship and will you have a child with your new partner? Then this child does not have to have the same last name as his half-brother or half-sister. Because legally it is not a child of the same parents.

Do you and your new partner have more children? Then the following children will get the same last name as the first child of you together.

Are you getting married or entering into a registered partnership and have made the choice of the child's last name upon recognition? Then you can change the child's last name once. You can still choose the surname of the other parent. The child will then have the new surname from the moment the deed of name choice is made.

Name selection in adoption for the first child is done at the Court. Subsequent children will have the same last name as your first child.

A child who is 16 years of age or older upon recognition or adoption chooses his or her own last name.

A child aged 18, 19 or 20 can change 1 parental choice. The child can choose the other parent's name by requesting a name change.

As an educator, do you want to give your stepchildren or foster children your last name? Then apply for a name change. You can download the Application Form for Name Change from the Dienst Justis.

Child's name choice

To make an appointment, call 14 079

Child recognition

To make an appointment, call 14 079.

Acknowledgment of unborn child

Appointment acknowledging unborn child

Consent to recognition of child

Change or cancel appointment?

Once you have made an appointment you will receive a confirmation email. This e-mail also contains a link that allows you to change or cancel your appointment yourself.

Are you changing your appointment? Then don't forget to delete the other appointment!

Do you no longer have the e-mail? Then call 14 079. A staff member can change or cancel the appointment for you.

• Valid ID of you and your partner.

Double surname

Also keep in mind the cost of new IDs.

The municipality records your child's last name immediately.