Parental custody for unmarried parents in The Netherlands: FAQs
This article answers some frequently asked questions we are regularly asked about parental custody and paternity in The Netherlands for unmarried parents.
How to get a passport for a child after divorce when the other parent is not cooperating
In The Netherlands, joint custody requires both parents’ consent to apply for a child’s passport. If one parent is uncooperative or unreachable, judicial consent can be sought to bypass this. The process varies for applications made domestically versus from abroad, necessitating legal advice in contested cases. Starting early is essential.
Read moreAdoption by a step-parent in The Netherlands
What if the biological parent is not a feature in the children’s lives but your new partner is? Sometimes after a divorce the other parent disappears and is not there to make the important decisions and a new partner is the ‘Dad’ in the children’s lives. Or the biological parentRead more
New Dutch legislation to automatically grant parental custody
A proposal to enshrine in law that fathers* have automatic legal custody of a child once they are legally recognised as the father, was recently passed by the Dutch lower house. This legislation, fully recognising parental custody of unmarried parents, now awaits approval in the upper house. *This bill isRead more