For Citizens - Service Finder

The family book was a civil status book, which was created of its own motion after each marriage in Germany and kept at the registry office. It included information on the spouses, the dates of marriage, the names of the spouses, parents and children of the spouses and the termination of the marriage. The family book is not to be confused with the family register, which is in the possession of the family and contains a collection of documents (marriage certificates, birth certificates, death certificates).

With the entry into force of the amendment of the Civil Status Act on 1 January 2009, the publication of the family book has ceased to exist.

The family books, which are created until 31 December 2008, are continued as marriage records in accordance with Section 77 (2) of the Civil Status Act and are located in the competent authority in which the marriage was concluded.