Raue represents the spouses Dr. Gesa C. Teichert-Akkermann and Verena Akkermann in family court proceedings for parent-child assignment.
Dr. Teichert-Akkermann gave birth to her daughter Paula in February 2020. Her wife had already acknowledged the co-motherhood for the child before the birth.
Nevertheless, the child has only one mother so far. Mrs. Akkermann cannot become Paula’s second legal parent either as the wife of the mother or through her declaration of recognition. She would have to adopt Paula and, like a stranger, would be checked by the Youth Welfare Office for educational, financial and health suitability.
The case raises fundamental constitutional questions. Children born into same-sex marriages have fewer rights and guarantees compared to children born into heterosexual marriages. The latter have two parents from birth. The mother’s husband also becomes the legal father of the child if it is clear from the outset that he is not biologically related to the child (e.g. in the case of sperm donation by a third party).
Raue represents the family in the process that the mother’s wife is named on the child’s birth certificate as a co-mother. In cooperation with the Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF), the spouses are determined to go to the Federal Constitutional Court if necessary.
(13 March 2020)