Apply for a marriage certificate

Our registry office is responsible for issuing certificates if the place of marriage is within our jurisdiction.

The marriage certificate proves the marriage of two people and contains the first and last names at the time of the marriage and before, the place and date of birth of the spouses, the place and date of the marriage and the details of the religious community of the spouses.

You can obtain the marriage certificate in the following forms:

• Marriage certificate
• International marriage certificate
• Certified printout from the marriage register

A certified printout from the marriage register (previously the family register) shows all the data entered by the registry office in connection with the marriage.

You will receive the certificate, including any marginal notes, either as a

• a new printout from the electronic register (if already held by your registry office) or
• a copy or verbatim transcript of the marriage entry from the marriage register.

To apply for a marriage certificate, you will need

• Your identity card or passport (a certified copy if applying in writing, online you must authenticate yourself electronically with the new identity card)
• if applying or collecting by a representative: written authorization from the authorized person, their identity card or passport (original or certified copy) and the identity card or passport of the representative,
• for other persons or institutions, proof of their legal interest

Marriage certificates contain personal data, so their issue is subject to data protection restrictions.

Authorized applicants (minimum age 16 years):

• the spouse to whom the certificate relates
• the parents
• the direct ancestors and descendants of the person concerned (in the direct line)
• Siblings with a legitimate interest

Other persons, including close relatives such as aunts and uncles, only receive a certificate if they can credibly demonstrate a legal interest (e.g. by means of a letter from the probate court).

PStG, PStV, BGB and Act on the Implementation of the Civil Status Law Reform Act

Personal application:

Apply in person as follows:

• An appointment may be required to apply in person.
• You must present your identity card or passport.
• You pay the fee directly at the registry office when you apply.

In addition to yourself, a person you trust may also order and collect the certificate on your behalf. In addition to a written power of attorney, they must present your identity card or passport (original or certified copy) and their own identity card or passport.

Application by post:

The written application is made as follows:

• Address an informal letter to the relevant registry office asking them to issue you with a marriage certificate.
• Your letter should contain the following information:
  • Surname, first name
  • Date and place of marriage
  • if known: Registry office and notarization number
• Enclose a certified copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
• You will then receive a notification of fees.
• Once you have provided proof of payment of the fees (e.g. by sending another email with a copy of your bank statement), the marriage certificate will be sent to you immediately by post.

Online application:

You can also apply for the certificate online.

Registry office district Baunatal/ Schauenburg:

Marriage certificates can only ever be issued where the marriage took place. I.e. if someone got married in Elgershausen, Hoof and since 01.01.1972 in Martinhagen, the registry office district Baunatal/Schauenburg is responsible for issuing the certificate.
For marriages before 01.01.1972 in Martinhagen, please contact the registry office Wolfhager Land.
If someone got married in Kassel, the registry office Kassel is responsible.

Our registry office is responsible for issuing the certificate if the place of marriage is in our area of responsibility.
If the marriage was concluded abroad and the marriage was subsequently notarized by our registry office, please call us or send us an e-mail.

The person whose marriage was notarized, their spouse, life partner, ancestors or descendants are entitled to apply. Other persons must credibly demonstrate a legal interest. The applicant must be at least 16 years old.

Joint registry office district Baunatal-Schauenburg: Inter-municipal cooperation: On February 1, 2010, the registry offices of Baunatal and Schauenburg were merged to form a joint registry office district.
Since then, the Baunatal-Schauenburg registry office has taken over all administrative tasks in Baunatal town hall for a fee, such as registering marriages, name changes, certifying births and deaths in the joint registry office district.
If you select this online service, you will be redirected to the joint registry office in Baunatal town hall. The payment modalities can be selected during the online process.