In the recent years German law underwent significant changes within the area of matrimonial and family rights that aimed at introduction of gender equality principal into the relevant acts. Basic law of the Federal Republic of Germany guarantees special protection of the marriage and family institution by the state. Furthermore, it provides also for protection and care of mothers by the community. As regards equality of rights and responsibility of parents the Basic Law and other Acts recognize the children's interest as a superior value. For this purpose children born out of wedlock are guaranteed the same opportunities for physical and mental development and for their position in the society as those born within marriage. Those basic provisions implicate further legislative developments towards securing the interest of children but also provide assistance and protection to single mothers.

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One of the first steps undertaken towards eliminating discrimination against women was the amendment introduced into marriage law. The Act Reforming Marriage Law of 1998 eliminated a ban on woman to get married within the period of ten months after a dissolution or annulment of her previous marriage.

Others improvement concerned mainly parentage law, parental custody and rights of access, to the maintenance of a mother who is not married to a father of her child, the law on family names, the law on adoption and law concerning criminal proceedings in matters relating to the law on parent and child.

After the reform, the provisions of the Civil Code don't contain the term of legitimate and illegitimate child any longer. Furthermore, the provisions on child maintenance apply in equal measure to children irrespective of whether or not their parents are married (Sections

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