Service Finder
Marriage
Have you found your partner for life and do you want to make it official? Which authorities do you need to inform of your change in status and perhaps name when you get married? When planning and preparing for your wedding, you need to provide numerous different certificates, agree on the time and place, and clarify questions relating to property. Local registry offices are responsible for the majority of the government services you will need.
Services:
Annulment of marriage
If you think that your marriage is not legal, you can apply for annulment of your marriage.
Apply for a marriage certificate
Do you need a marriage certificate? You must apply for this at the relevant registry office.
Apply for pension compensation for surviving spouses from statutory accident insurance in the event of remarriage
As a surviving dependant, you will receive a settlement from the statutory accident insurance instead of a pension if you remarry or enter into a new civil partnership.
Apply for subsequent certification of a marriage contracted by Germans abroad or with their participation
You got married abroad and at least one of you is a German citizen? Then you can have the marriage certified at a registry office in Germany.
Applying for subsequent certification of a marriage concluded abroad
You need information on the subsequent certification of a marriage. You can find out more here.
Change first name
You can apply for the change of your first name at the competent administrative authority if there is an important reason.
Change surname of a child by naming
If your spouse is not a parent of your child and you want him or her to have your married name, you can change the child's name.
Change surname of a child by single custodial parent
You can have your child's name changed to the other parent's surname.
Change surname of spouses
If you marry or are already in a marriage, you can determine a common family name.
Change surname of the child by declaration of affiliation
If your name has changed, then you can also have the name of your child over 5 years old changed by declaration of affiliation.
Change surnames of expellees, late repatriates, their spouses or descendants
As a displaced person or late repatriate or their spouse or descendants, you have various options for changing your name(s).
Change surnames of registered civil partners
If you live in a registered civil partnership, you can determine a common name (civil partnership name).
First names change order
If you have more than one first name, you can have their order changed by making a declaration.
Issuance of a certificate of marriageability for German citizens with residence, or habitual abode abroad.
The Certificate of Marriage Ability is issued when it is required for marriage abroad.
It is issued for German citizens with residence or habitual abode abroad, by the registry office 1 in Berlin.
Issue a certificate of no impediment
If you wish to marry abroad, you may need a certificate of no impediment to marriage. You must apply for this at the relevant registry office.
Issue of civil partnership certificate
You can obtain your civil partnership certificate from the registry office in whose area the civil partnership was established.
Name declaration of spouses without domestic marriage or marriage registration
If you are married, you may be able to arrange your name by declaration before a German registry office even after you have married abroad.
Public law change of the family name
If a change of the family name is not possible according to the civil-legal requirements, the change of the family name can be applied for at the responsible administrative authority (municipality) if there is an important reason.
Redetermine surname of the child
If you do not share joint custody of a child until after the birth, you can redetermine the child's family name.
Resume family name after dissolution of marriage or civil partnership
If your marriage or civil partnership is dissolved, you can change your family name.
Register marriage
If you wish to marry in a German registry office, you must register the marriage beforehand at the registry office of your place of residence. When registering the marriage, the marriage requirements are checked.
Rules and recognition of marriage
If you would like to get married, you can find more information about your rights and obligations in the context of marriage and marriage recognition here.
Subsequent certification of a marriage contracted abroad
If you got married abroad, you can have your marriage subsequently entered in a German marriage register under certain conditions.
