Standesamt — Marriage, Birth Certificate and Name Change

Marriage in Germany — Step by Step

Marriage in Germany is only legally valid at the Standesamt — church or religious ceremonies have no legal effect.

Prerequisites

• Both partners must be at least 18 years old
• No existing marriage (present divorce decree)
• Ehefähigkeitszeugnis — foreign nationals need this document from their home country. It confirms that there are no obstacles to marriage. Some countries do not issue such a certificate — in that case, the appellate court decides on an exemption.

Required Documents

• Valid passport or ID card
• Extended registration certificate (not older than 4 weeks)
• Birth certificate (certified and translated by a sworn translator)
• Ehefähigkeitszeugnis or exemption decision
• If applicable, divorce decree or death certificate of former spouse

Costs

Process

1. Registration at the Standesamt of your place of residence (6 months to 6 weeks in advance)
2. Review of documents by the Standesamt (duration: 2–6 weeks)
3. Schedule an appointment for the marriage ceremony
4. Wedding before the registrar with at least 2 witnesses

Birth Registration — Deadline 7 Days

After a child is born in Germany, the birth must be registered within 7 days at the responsible Standesamt. The responsible office is the Standesamt of the place of birth (not place of residence).

Required Documents

• Birth certificate from the clinic
• ID cards/passports of both parents
• Marriage certificate (for married parents)
• Paternity recognition (for unmarried parents, preferably before birth)
• Birth certificates of both parents

The Child Receives:

• A German birth certificate (regardless of parents' nationality)
• Automatically a tax identification number after registration

Name Change

Name changes in Germany are only possible in exceptional cases:

• After marriage: Shared marital name, double name, or retention of own names
• After divorce: Return to birth name
• Public law change: Only for "important reason" (e.g., offensive name, gender transition)

The application for name change after marriage is free and is determined directly during the marriage ceremony. A subsequent change costs €25–100 and requires an application at the Standesamt.

Status: March 2026. All information without warranty.