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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

For an area outside of Lower Saxony and foreign languages, some menu items and functions are not available. Please go to the service page of the respective country.

Please specify an area.

Your selected location: Haren (Ems) (497...)

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Declaration of the right to a name

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Surname declarations can be made in the following cases, among others:

In the case of spouses:

  • Subsequent determination of a married name, e.g. after marriage abroad
  • Declaration of a double name (prefixing and appending a name to the married name) by a spouse
  • Re-adoption of the former name after dissolution of the marriage

In children:

  • Granting of the mother's name with the consent of the parent who does not have custody
  • Granting of names by the mother and her husband
  • Redetermination of the maiden name after the establishment of joint custody by the parents
  • Follow-up declaration to a change of name of the parents or one of the parents
  • Determination of a birth name for the first time after the birth of the child abroad

Whether and in what form a name declaration or name change is possible in each case must be clarified in each individual case by the competent authority.

Declarations under the law on names are generally irrevocable.

Who should I contact?

The responsibility lies with the municipality, the joint municipality and the city in which the marriage was concluded or the child was born. The declaration may also be made to the administration where the applicant resides.

Which documents are required?

Documents are required. Please contact the competent authority.

What are the fees?

Fee: 30,00 EUR
Payment in advance: no

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

The declaration of name shall take effect upon receipt by the competent authority.

If the name declaration is submitted to an incompetent authority, it does not become effective until it has been received by the competent authority (the marriage or place of birth).

Legal basis

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)

Further Links

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Single points of contact of the state of Lower Saxony, Single points of contact of the countries of Europe, advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families.
Access information on the single point of contact for the state of Lower Saxonyvisit Website Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEsVisit advice and assistance for EU citizens and their families