Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

If the parents are married:

• one of the parents or their special proxy, before the Health Director of the institution where the birth took place, within three days from the date of birth
• one of the parents, before the Civil Registrar of the municipality of residence of the mother (or father, if there is a specific agreement), within ten days from the date of birth
• one of the parents, in front of the Civil Registrar of the Municipality of birth, within ten days from the date of birth.

If the parents are not married:

• both parents, in front of the Health Director of the institution where the birth occurred, within three days from the date of birth
• both parents, before the Civil Registrar of the municipality of residence of the mother (or father, if there is a specific agreement), within ten days from the date of birth
• both parents, in front of the Civil Registrar of the Municipality of birth, within ten days from the date of birth.

The recognition of children born out of wedlock can be carried out at different times than the birth.

Before birth

• Recognition before birth is carried out during gestation before the civil registrar or with a notarial deed
• it can take place in the presence of only the mother or of both parents (in this case the subsequent birth declaration can also be made by only one of the parents).

At the time of birth
The recognition of children at the time of birth by one or both parents occurs at the same time as the birth declaration.

After birth
It can be done by one or both parents.

• If the recognition occurs by only one parent, until the other parent reaches the age of 14, it can only be done with the consent of the parent who had previously recognized it
• this consent cannot be refused if the recognition is in the interests of the child. In case of refusal, the parent who intends to recognize can appeal to the competent judge.

Children over 14 years old

• The recognition of a daughter/son over 14 years old is not valid without his/her consent
• the parent carrying out the recognition must have already reached 14 years of age and be in possession of an authorization from the Court - (L. 219/2012) 
• between the parents there must be an absence of kinship ties or affinity in degrees that prevent recognition - (art. 251 of the Civil Code).

New parents can give their daughter/son, by mutual agreement, a double surname - paternal and maternal - establishing the order.

If the recognition of the father occurs after that of the mother, the daughter/son can take the father's surname - placing it before, adding to or replacing it with that of the mother - or keep only the maternal surname.

• For minors, the ordinary Court decides upon a party's request
• for adults, the recognized daughter or son decides.

The attribution of the surname to non-Italian citizens follows the legislation of the country of origin.

National adoptions
For the adoption of minors:

• The Juvenile Court competent for the territory transmits the sentences directly to the Municipality
• at the request of the adopters, the Municipality transcribes the sentence, makes changes to the birth certificate, changes the personal details in the registry office
• if the adopted person has foreign citizenship, the Municipality recognizes Italian citizenship.

For the adoption of adults, the adopters must submit to the Municipality:

• the adoption sentence issued by the civil court, including the finalization in the municipality of birth of the adopted person.

International adoptions
International adoptions are permitted only to people who have Italian citizenship.

If the adopted person is a minor:

• the Italian Juvenile Court recognizes the sentence
• the adopting persons deliver the sentence to the municipality of residence of the adopted person, together with the birth certificate which will also be transcribed
•  if the adoption took place abroad, the adoptive parent citizens will have to present the birth certificate to the Municipality.

If the adopted person is of age, adopters must deliver:

• the certification of the finality of the adoption order issued abroad.

For more information Legalization and translation of foreign documents