Surname Change due to the declaration of expellees, ethnic German repatriates, their spouses and descendants

As a displaced person or ethnic German repatriate or their spouse or descendants, you have various options for changing your name.

As a displaced person or ethnic German repatriate, you, your spouse or your descendants can discard components of the previous name if these are not customary in Germany. They can also take the original form of a modified name. This applies to names that have been modified according to gender or kinship.

You can also take German-language forms of your first or last name. If such German-language forms do not exist, you can also adopt new first names.

If you are married, you can also adopt the common surname in a German translation, provided that the translation results in a family name that can be considered in the German-speaking world.

Registry offices, notaries, Federal Office of Administration in the distribution procedure.

• Identity card or passport
• Birth certificate with official translation
• Registration form
• if available:
  • Certificate of ethnic German repatriation
  • Expellee ID card

Additional documentation may be required in your specific case. It is advisable to contact the registry office by telephone.

• You are a German within the meaning of Article 116(1) of the Basic Law and a displaced person or ethnic German repatriate or their spouse or descendant

The fee for the certification of the declaration by a Hessian registry office is 23.50 euros, unless the municipality has set a different fee by statute.

You can call in an interpreter at your expense.