Registering marriage
You must register the intended marriage in person at the registry office in whose jurisdiction you have your domicile or habitual abode.
In order to speed up the procedure, you can send the registry office both your desired date for the marriage and the data required for the examination of marital capacity by means of a pre-registration.
The place where you register the marriage does not have to be the place where your marriage is to be celebrated. In principle, you can get married at any registry office in Germany.
Civil marriage and a church wedding are independent of each other.
There is no need for witnesses to be present at the marriage. However, if you wish, you can designate one or two people as witnesses.
Whether you want to have a common or separate surname in the marriage can be determined at the time of marriage or at a later date.
Process flow
You must submit the application for registration of marriage in person at your local registry office.
- In order to register the marriage, you usually visit the responsible registry office together with your partner or fiancée. There you will get all the necessary information.
- If one of you is unable to attend, the other can register the marriage on his own. For this purpose, the registry office requires the written power of attorney of the partner who is unable to attend.
- If the registry office does not find any impediment to marriage, you will be notified that the marriage can be concluded. The notification shall be made either orally, in writing or electronically.
Who should I contact?
Civil registry office in the jurisdiction of which one of the spouses (fiancée) has his domicile (main or secondary residence) or habitual residence.
In case of domicile or habitual abode abroad: registry office that is to carry out the marriage.
Requirements
A marriage can be registered:
- persons of legal age
Other prerequisites:
- A marriage may not be entered into before the age of majority.
- Marriage between relatives in a direct line (for example, parents and their children) and between siblings and half-siblings is not permitted. In principle, this also applies if the family relationship was established through adoption.
- Double marriages are not allowed in Germany. A previously entered into marriage must have been dissolved by death, divorce or other final court judgment before a new marriage can be concluded.
- If a previous marriage was divorced abroad, the divorce must usually first be expressly recognized in Germany in order for it to take effect here. Exceptions to this principle apply above all to most countries of the European Union (EU). A previously established civil partnership must also be dissolved.
Which documents are required?
When applying, you must submit:
If you have German citizenship and enter into your first marriage:
- valid identity card or passport
- Certificate of residence from the registration office (not older than 4 weeks)
If your birth was certified in Germany:
- current certified extract from the (electronic) birth register or current certified copy from the birth register (in paper form) from the registry office of the place of birth.
If your birth was certified abroad:
- current birth certificate
If you were already married or in a civil partnership, you will also need:
- marriage certificate and final divorce decree or
- Proof of the establishment and dissolution of the civil partnership.
If your former partner has since passed away:
- the marriage certificate, or
- proof of the establishment of the civil partnership, and
- the death certificate of the former partner.
If your divorce took place abroad, you should inquire in advance at the registry office whether a recognition procedure is required. Please bring with you:
- all marriage certificates
- all final divorce decrees (with facts and reasons for decision)
- a complete translation by a sworn translator of documents in Germany.
If you have children together with your future spouse or have custody of children from previous marriages, you will also need:
- Children's birth certificates.
In the case of a partner from abroad, the following are required:
- valid identity card/passport or other proof of identification
- Proof of nationality, if this is not evident from the identity card or passport
- Certificate of residence from the registration office (not older than 4 weeks)
- Birth certificate
- Certificate of no impediment to marriage
- Foreign-language documents
Hints:
For partners from countries in which no certificates of no impediment to marriage are issued, it is advisable to consult the registry office about the exemption from the obligation to present a certificate of no impediment to marriage. This is granted by the President of the Higher Regional Court. The registrar receives the application and forwards it.
For foreign-language documents, the registry office generally requires complete translations into German, prepared by a publicly appointed and sworn translator in Germany. Foreign documents often also require certification by the competent foreign authority. Your local registry office will be happy to provide you with information in advance.
Further documents:
Under certain circumstances, the registry office may request additional documents, such as the naturalization certificate.
What are the fees?
Fee: 50,00 EURPayment in advance: NoFor the examination of the marriage requirements in the context of the registration of the marriage, a basic amount of 50 euros is incurred. This amount may increase further. If, for example, foreign law is to be examined, a further 40 euros per right to be examined must be charged. The amount is also increased by a further 40 euros per foreign decision to be examined in matrimonial or civil partnership matters. A further 40 euros will be charged for each application for recognition of a foreign judgment in matrimonial matters to the State Administration of Justice and/or a preliminary examination of a decision in matrimonial or civil partnership matters for the submission of an application for exemption from the production of a certificate of no impediment to marriage, if a determination by the State Administration of Justice is not required. Your registry office responsible for registration will be happy to provide you with information. In connection with the marriage, additional costs may be incurred, e.g. if the marriage takes place outside the premises of the registry office, at a so-called external wedding location, and/or outside the usual office hours of the registry office. The registry office that carries out the marriage will be happy to provide you with information.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
If, after completing the examination, the registrar determines that the requirements for marriage are met, you can get married within 6 months. After that, the marriage must be re-registered.
Processing duration
The processing time varies depending on the examination effort in the individual case.
Applications / forms
Forms available: Yes
Written form required:
Yes. Unless the registration is made orally.
Personal appearance necessary: Basically, yes.
Appeal
If the registry office refuses to register the marriage, you can file an application with the competent court to instruct the registry office to accept the registration of the marriage.
What else should I know?
The marriage can also be concluded by a registry office in another place. However, registration is always made with the competent authority.
Technically approved by
Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior and Sport
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
