When Is A Birth Certificate Not A Birth Certificate???
The genealogical certificate (Abstammungsurkunde) was a 'civil status' document made under German law. It was created to prove the birth of a child and it differed (ever so slightly) from a actual Birth Certificate. It's main purpose (of the genealogical certificate) was to determine marriage bans with adopted children. This became just another example of excess paperwork, and the genealogical certificate was abolished in Germany on the 1 January, 2009 by the 'Civil Status Law Reform Act'. So. Genealogical certificates were issued up until the 31 December, 2008 by the civil registry office that had certified the birth. Contained on the certificate, amongst other things, was the name of the child, the child's sex, date of birth, place of birth, and the parents' names. Also contained on the certificate were any changes listed that may have occurred since the birth of the child, for example, the adoption of the child and/or any name changes. Genealog