Register for marriage
You must register the intended marriage in person at the registry office in whose jurisdiction you have your domicile or habitual residence.
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 prior notification.
The place where you register the marriage does not have to be the place where your marriage is to be contracted. In principle, you can get married at any registry office in Germany.
The civil marriage and a church wedding are independent of each other.
There is no need for witnesses to be present at the wedding. However, if you wish, you can appoint 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 apply for marriage registration 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 fiancé. There you will receive all the necessary information.
- If one of you is unable to attend, the other can register the marriage alone. The registry office requires the written power of attorney of the prevented partner.
- If the registry office does not find any impediment to marriage, you will receive the notification that the marriage can be carried out. Communication shall be made either orally, in writing or electronically.
Who should I contact?
Registry office in whose jurisdiction one of the parties to the marriage (fiancée) has his domicile (main or secondary residence) or his habitual residence.
In case of domicile or habitual residence abroad: registry office that is to perform the marriage.
Requirements
A marriage can be registered:
- Persons of legal age
Further requirements:
- A marriage may not be entered into before reaching the age of majority.
- Marriage between relatives in the direct line (for example, parents and their children) and between siblings and half-siblings is not permitted. In principle, this also applies if the relationship was established by adoption.
- Double marriages may not be concluded in Germany. A previous marriage must have been dissolved by death, divorce or other final court judgment prior to remarriage.
- If a previous marriage was dissolved abroad, the divorce must usually first be expressly recognized in Germany so that it becomes effective 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
- Residence certificate from the registration authority (not older than 4 weeks)
If your birth was certified domestically:
- 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 have already been married or in a civil partnership, you will also need:
- marriage certificate and final divorce decree or
- Evidence 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 the decision)
- a complete translation by a document translator sworn in Germany.
If you have children together with your future spouse or have custody of children from 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 stated in the identity card or passport
- Residence certificate from the registration authority (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 on 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 takes up 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 be able to request additional documents, such as the naturalisation certificate.
What are the fees?
Fee: 50,00 EURPayment in advance: NoA basic amount of 50 euros is charged for the examination of the marriage requirements in the context of the registration of the marriage. This amount may increase further. If, for example, foreign law is to be examined, a further 40 euros per law 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 EUR 40 will be charged to the Land Justice Administration for recognition of a foreign judgment in matrimonial matters 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 Land Justice Administration is not required. Your registry office responsible for registration will be happy to provide you with information. In connection with the marriage, further costs may be incurred, e.g. if the marriage takes place outside the offices of the registry office, at a so-called external wedding venue, and / or outside the usual working hours of the registry office. The registry office that performs the marriage will be happy to provide you with information.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
If the registrar determines after completing the examination that the requirements for marriage have been met, you can marry within 6 months. After that, the marriage must be re-registered.
Processing duration
The processing time varies depending on the examination effort in individual cases.
Applications / forms
Forms available: Yes
Written form required:
Yes. If the registration is not made orally.
Personal appearance necessary: In principle, yes.
Appeal
If the registry office refuses to register the marriage, you can apply to the competent court to order the registry office to receive 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 must always be made to 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.
