Have a new name certified

If you have adopted a new first name or surname, you can have this certified by your registry office.

You can adopt a new first name or surname for various reasons, for example:

• You get married or divorced.
• You have a changed gender entry with a new first name under the Self-Determination Act.
• You have a translated or spelling-adjusted name under the Minority Name Change Act.
• You have dropped parts of your name under the Federal Expellees Act, for example the feminine form.
• In accordance with the Introductory Act to the German Civil Code (BGB), you have formed first names and surnames under German law or have discarded foreign name elements, for example middle names, patronymics or intermediate names.

You can obtain a certificate of the new name from your local registry office. The registry office will also certify a changed gender entry on request.

Registry office that accepted the name change declaration

• Application to the competent local court