Submit a declaration on the name of spouses without a domestic marriage or marriage entry

Spouses can also change their name after the marriage abroad, by declaration before a German registry office. The registry office will issue a certificate of this.

Spouses can shape the name during the existence of a marriage.

The following declarations of name may be considered, provided that the spouses are subject to German personal status:

• Determination of a common married name
• Adoption of a companion name (the spouse whose name does not become a married name may precede or add his or her maiden name or the name used at the time of the declaration of determination of the married name)

Re-acceptance of the maiden name or the name used until the determination of the married nameYou can have the declaration on the use of the name certified either by a notary or by a registrar. The declaration becomes effective as soon as it arrives at the registry office that certified the marriage.

You will receive a certificate confirming the change of your surname.

The registry office is responsible for receiving the declarations, which has to certify the marriage or keeps the marriage register in which the marriage is certified

is. If the marriage is not recorded in a German marriage register, the registry office in whose area of jurisdiction one of the declarants has or last had his domicile or has his habitual residence is responsible. If there is no jurisdiction thereafter, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible.

• Proof of identity (identity card or passport)
• Marriage certificate, or certified extract from the marriage register
• If necessary, translation, apostille

• The declarants must be married to each other.
• The declarations must be made in person.
• The declaration can only be made by persons with legal capacity.
• The declaration must be publicly notarized.

• The declaration on the use of the name in the marriage is made personally, by the spouses; it can be handed in at the responsible registry office.

There are no deadlines to observe.

The processing depends on the individual case.

The fee for the declaration is 23.50 euros if it is submitted to the registry office and the municipality has not set a different fee by statute.: Fee 23,50 EUR