In Rotterdam, with its many blended families in neighborhoods like Kralingen and Charlois, many stepparents opt for authority change instead of stepparent adoption. This grants the stepparent joint authority over the child without severing the biological tie with the other parent. This fits perfectly with the port city's dynamic families and maintains contact with both parents.
Conditions and Procedure in Rotterdam
Required: a durable relationship, priority for the child's best interests, and consent of the biological parents. Submit the application to the Rotterdam District Court (location Schiedamsesingel), including a child welfare investigation by the Child Protection Board Rotterdam-Rijnmond. The procedure typically takes 2-4 months, with a success rate of approximately 90% with full cooperation.
Differences with Adoption
With authority change in Rotterdam, the maintenance obligation of the ex-parent remains intact and the surname does not change. This is ideal for Rotterdam families with good co-parenting, such as divorced parents in the Rijnmond region.
Advantages per 2025 for Rotterdam
The new law simplifies the application via the national online portal, accessible for Rotterdam law firms such as those in the Centrum. There is no longer an age difference requirement, which is beneficial for diverse blended families with involved ex-partners in neighborhoods like Delfshaven.
Consider authority change as a less disruptive solution for your Rotterdam family. Consult a local family law attorney for a personal comparison and support at the Rotterdam District Court.