You have the right to complain about the refusal to register (or change) a child’s name, if you believe that your (or child’s) right to a private and family life, or any other human rights have been violated.
Refusal to register (or change) a child’s name
The Civil Status Office may refuse the registration (or change) of your child’s name if the name you have chosen does not conform to certain restrictions such as the rules of literary language. You can challenge this decision in the Administrative Court. The procedure and time-limits for the appeal should be indicated in the decision.
Application
In your application to the Administrative Court, you should:
- refer to the relevant legal provisions that give you the right to request the registration (or change) of a child’s name
- explain why the name you have chosen corresponds to the registration requirements for a person’s name, such as the rules of literary language
- add all relevant documents that substantiate your request, if there are any
note You may also ask for compensation, if you feel that the refusal to register (or change) a child’s name has caused you material damages and violated your (or the child’s) right to a private and family life.
You can learn more about the legal requirements for your application in the Administrative Code and the Civil Procedure Code.
Decision
The Court will assess whether the Civil Status Office had acted lawfully in refusing to register (or change) your child’s name. If the court finds such a decision to be unlawful, it may order the Civil Status Office to register (or change) your child’s name. If you have asked for compensation, the court may order the Civil Status Office to provide compensation.
Read more about your rights in the Administrative Court.