Detailed description
For an adoption, the consent of the mother, father and child is generally required. It is irrelevant whether the adoption is by a new family, a so-called third-party adoption, or by a step-parent, i.e. a stepchild adoption.
For children younger than 14 years, only the person or persons who legally represent them can give their consent. For older children, as a rule only the child themselves can give their consent. In addition, the consent of the legal representative is required.
If you have consented to an adoption as a child or stepchild but now decide against the adoption, you can revoke your consent as long as the adoption is not yet effective.
This is also possible if the legal representative has given consent for the child and the child later turns 14, but only if the adoption has not yet been completed. The child can revoke the consent on their own. No permission is required for this. It does not matter why the child wants to revoke the consent.
There is a prescribed form for revoking consent. The revocation must be publicly certified. This certification can be done at a notary's office or at a youth welfare office. Certification at the youth welfare office is free of charge. Certification at a notary's office incurs costs. The revocation must then be submitted to the family court.