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  4. Namensrechtliche Erklärung (declaration under name law) - (New) determination / revocation of a married name or civil partnership name

Namensrechtliche Erklärung (declaration under name law) - (New) determination / revocation of a married name or civil partnership name

Namensrechtliche Erklärung - (Neu-) Bestimmung / Widerruf eines Ehe- oder Lebenspartnerschaftsnamens
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
All statutory provisions on names — including determining, revoking and re-choosing a shared name — apply to registered civil partners (eingetragene Lebenspartnerinnen und Lebenspartner) in the same way as to married couples; for readability, only the term "married couples" is used below. Married couples can decide at the wedding — or at any time afterward — whether they want to use a shared family name. The following options are open to them: One of the existing family names or birth names can be designated as the sole married name (Ehename); both partners then carry the same name. They can also simply keep their existing family names. In that case they continue to use their names as before the marriage. It is also possible to use an official double name (Doppelname). This can consist of both of the couple's names, combined in either order, and may optionally be written with or without a hyphen. For couples who are already married, having married before 1 May 2025 and already carrying a married name, the option is available for them to convert — once only — their existing married name into such a double name. Alternatively, they can also revoke their married name if it was determined before 1 May 2025. In that case they resume the names they carried before the marriage.

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Requirements

• Existing marriage The determination of the married name (Ehename) can take place as part of the marriage. If the married name is declared only at a later point, the marriage must still exist at that time. This declaration is then irrevocable for as long as the marriage exists! After the dissolution of a marriage, a determination of the married name is no longer possible. • Determination of the married name / civil partnership name (Lebenspartnerschaftsname) made before 01.05.2025 • The joint name determination in the marriage or civil partnership (Lebenspartnerschaft) must already have been made before 01.05.2025 by declaration at the Standesamt (registry office), and the marriage or civil partnership must still exist. • A new determination of a name is possible in the form of a double name (Doppelname). • Revocation of a declaration regarding the married name or civil partnership name is only possible if it was validly declared before 01.05.2025. • Interpreter, if applicable If one of the persons making the declaration does not have sufficient command of the German language, an interpreter must be brought in, arranged and paid for by that person.

Documents you need

• Declaration on the married name (Ehenamenserklärung) Please submit the declaration in person at the Standesamt (registry office). • Passports or Personalausweise (identity cards) (of both spouses) • Marriage certificate (Eheurkunde) If the marriage took place abroad - unless it is an international certificate - an official translation is additionally required. • If the marriage was concluded abroad: birth certificates

Fees

• None: for an Ehenamenserklärung (declaration of married name) made as part of the marriage • 25.00 euros: for a subsequent declaration of married name • 12.00 euros: certificate of name usage

Legal basis

• Civil Status Act (Personenstandsgesetz, PStG) § 41 • Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB) § 1355 • Civil Status Ordinance (Personenstandsverordnung, PStV) § 46 • Ordinance Implementing the Civil Status Act in the State of Berlin (Verordnung zur Ausführung des Personenstandsgesetzes im Land Berlin, PStGAV Bln) § 8 • Act Amending the Law on Marital and Birth Names and International Name Law www.recht.bund.de/eli/bund/bgbl-1/2024/185 • Civil Partnership Act (Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetz, LPartG) § 21 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/lpartg/__21.html

Further information

• Application of marriage-law provisions to civil partnerships (Lebenspartnerschaften), § 21 LPartG (Life Partnership Act) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/lpartg/__21.html

Who is responsible

Standesamt (registry office) that maintains the Eheregister (marriage register) The determination of the married name (Ehenamensbestimmung) becomes effective at the German Standesamt (registry office) where the marriage was concluded and which maintains the Eheregister (marriage register). Standesamt (registry office) of the place of residence • The declaration can also be submitted to the Standesamt (registry office) of the place of residence. • For marriages concluded abroad, the Standesamt (registry office) of the place of residence is likewise responsible (Zuständigkeit).

Responsible for you

Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.

Original

German original

Service number 324589 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324589/