Unmarried fathers have a right of access as well. That means if a father wishes to have contact with his child, the mother can only deny this if she can prove that contact with the father might do harm to the child.

Children, too, have a suable right of access to each parent. The child can get counsel in the context of Official Assistance (Beistandschaft) by the Department for Youth and Family and be advocated in front of the Family Court if necessary.