Germany’s federal court on Monday moved to strengthen the position of illegitimate children and their fathers by making it more difficult for a step-father to adopt a child when the biological father disagrees. According to the court ruling, a mother’s new husband can only adopt a child when the biological father concedes or if the step-father can prove the child would enjoy considerable advantages through the adoption. The court decision thereby prevents a mother from breaking off the contact between a child and his or her biological father or by using the issue of adoption to sway custody cases. According to the court, a mother with prime custody of a child is obliged to enable the child to maintain contact with its biological father as best as possible.