Provision of information

Children conceived with the sperm or ova of third persons have the right to inspect the data records (e.g. name, date of birth) regarding the ova donor or sperm donor and to receive information about them from the age of 14. A request to inspect and access information in this regard must be submitted to the hospital or clinic in question or, if the latter has already been dissolved or liquidated, to the competent governor of the province.

The person entrusted with legal representation in matters pertaining to the care and upbringing (e.g. mother, father) of a child conceived by means of the ova or sperm of a third person also has such a right to information and inspection in medically justified exceptional cases. If the child was conceived by means of the sperm of a third person before 24 February 2015, the legal representative or guardian also requires approval from a guardianship court in order to inspect or access information. Such approval is no longer required for children conceived after 24 February 2015.

Legal basis

Section 20 of the Fortpflanzungsmedizingesetz (FMedG)

Translated by the European Commission
Last update: 1 January 2023

Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry of Justice