A married couple from Germany approached us with the task of obtaining a court decision recognizing them as the parents of a child born to a surrogate mother in Ukraine.
Why Court Proceedings Were Necessary Rather Than an Administrative Procedure
Surrogacy is not legally recognized in Germany. As a result, parentage documents issued in Ukraine through an administrative procedure are not accepted by German state authorities. In practice, an effective mechanism has been developed for such cases: filing a claim with a Ukrainian court to have the intended parents legally recognized as the child’s parents. Unlike administrative documents, a court decision can be apostilled and used in Germany without obstacles for the subsequent registration of parental rights.
How We Resolved the Case
Zilver attorneys Yevgen Zarudnyev and Olga Lazareva consulted the German couple, prepared the full set of required documents, conducted negotiations, and filed the claim with the court. Our lawyers supported the case at every stage — from filing to the final court decision.
Result: On August 26, 2026, the Podilskyi District Court of Kyiv issued a decision in case No. 758/4156/26 (link), fully granting the claim and recognizing the plaintiffs — the German couple — as the parents of the child.
The next step is obtaining an apostille on the court decision once it enters into legal force, followed by sending the document to Germany for further use.
Why This Matters for Foreign Parents
A significant number of foreign couples turn to surrogacy in Ukraine — a country with one of the most clearly regulated legal frameworks in this field. However, legal recognition of parentage abroad often remains a separate and equally important task, particularly when the parents’ home country (such as Germany, Austria, France, and a number of other states) does not directly recognize surrogacy. Court-based recognition of parentage is a proven, effective tool that allows foreign parents to obtain full legal status in relation to their child.
Zilver’s attorneys assist foreign couples with:
— Obtaining parentage documents following surrogacy in Ukraine
— Securing a court decision recognizing parentage for use abroad
— Apostille and legalization of documents for use in other countries
— Handling family law matters with an international element
Planning a surrogacy program in Ukraine, or already a parent facing questions about the recognition of parentage abroad? Zilver’s lawyers know how to resolve this — from initial consultation through to obtaining an apostilled court decision.