🤰 Wegweiser Pregnancy & Parental Leave

15 topic pages for expectant and new parents in Germany and for anyone who advises them. Each page first explains the topic briefly and clearly – and below that in detail, with deadlines, legal bases and figures.

How this page works. At the top you can search all topics by keyword. Each topic page begins with the section In brief in plain language. Below that you will find the most important deadlines, typical mistakes and a collapsible specialist section "In depth" for advisory work, with legal bases and figures.

These pages are aimed primarily at employees in the private sector and in the public service (collectively agreed employees); civil servants (Beamte) are partly subject to their own, similar rules (see overview page). Special benefits for single parents (advance maintenance payments, relief amount) are covered in more depth in the separate guide "Single mothers".

As of September 2026. Where a statement could not be backed up beyond doubt by official sources or the legal position was not yet conclusively settled (e.g. individual euro amounts or the status of a paid family start leave for fathers/second parents), this is stated explicitly on the relevant page and in the sources and methodology rather than guessed. The information does not replace legal advice.

Frequently searched

📅 Notifying the pregnancy and maternity protection periods 💰 Parental allowance: basic parental allowance, ElterngeldPlus and partnership bonus 👶 Parental leave: entitlement, duration, transferability and registration 🛡️ Protection against dismissal during parental leave 🏫 Legal entitlement to a daycare place 👨‍👩‍👧 Child benefit and child supplement (Kindergeld and Kinderzuschlag) ⏳ Part-time work during parental leave 📞 Advice and contact points

All topic areas

🧭Overview and basicsGetting started: your rights around pregnancy, birth and parental leave.1 topic 🤰Pregnancy and maternity protectionNotification, maternity protection periods, bans on employment, protection against dismissal.3 topics 💶Money around the birthMaternity pay and parental allowance.2 topics 👶Parental leaveEntitlement, protection against dismissal and part-time work during parental leave.3 topics 🧒Childcare and family benefitsDaycare place, child sickness benefit, child benefit and child supplement.3 topics 🔄Returning to work and special situationsReturning to work, adoption and foster care.2 topics 📞Advice and contact pointsWho helps with which concern.1 topic

🧭 Overview and basics

Getting started: your rights around pregnancy, birth and parental leave.

🧭Rights around pregnancy, birth and parental leave at a glanceAn overview of the most important stages: maternity protection, parental allowance, parental leave and childcare – and who is responsible for each.

🤰 Pregnancy and maternity protection

Notification, maternity protection periods, bans on employment, protection against dismissal.

📅Notifying the pregnancy and maternity protection periodsWhen you should report your pregnancy and how long the protection periods before and after the birth last. 🚫Bans on employment during pregnancyWhen you may not work at all, or only to a limited extent, during pregnancy – and who determines this. 🛡️Protection against dismissal during pregnancy and maternity protectionFrom the start of pregnancy until four months after the birth, special protection against dismissal applies – with narrow exceptions.

💶 Money around the birth

Maternity pay and parental allowance.

💶Maternity pay (Mutterschaftsgeld)During the maternity protection periods, maternity pay together with the employer's supplement replaces your previous net income. 💰Parental allowance: basic parental allowance, ElterngeldPlus and partnership bonusParental allowance replaces part of the income lost after the birth – in three variants that can be combined.

👶 Parental leave

Entitlement, protection against dismissal and part-time work during parental leave.

👶Parental leave: entitlement, duration, transferability and registrationEach parent has their own entitlement to up to three years of parental leave per child – with timely registration with the employer. 🛡️Protection against dismissal during parental leaveProtection against dismissal begins with the registration of parental leave – in part even before it actually starts. ⏳Part-time work during parental leaveDuring parental leave you may work part-time – in some cases even with an enforceable legal entitlement against the employer.

🧒 Childcare and family benefits

Daycare place, child sickness benefit, child benefit and child supplement.

🏫Legal entitlement to a daycare placeFrom the completed first year of life, your child has a legal entitlement to early childhood support – enforceable in court if necessary. 🤒Child sickness benefit (Kinderkrankengeld)If your child falls ill and needs care, parents with statutory insurance can be released from work with pay for a limited time. 👨‍👩‍👧Child benefit and child supplement (Kindergeld and Kinderzuschlag)Child benefit is generally available to all parents; those who, despite working, are just above the basic income support threshold can additionally receive child supplement.

🔄 Returning to work and special situations

Returning to work, adoption and foster care.

🔄Returning to work after parental leaveAfter parental leave you are in principle entitled to return to your previous or an equivalent position. 👪Adoption and foster care: special rulesAdoptive and foster parents are also entitled to parental leave and parental allowance – with their own deadlines instead of being tied to the due date.

📞 Advice and contact points

Who helps with which concern.

📞Advice and contact pointsWho can help with questions about maternity protection, parental allowance, parental leave and childcare.

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.