Declaration under name law - Addition/revocation of a name to the married name or civil partnership name

• A marriage/civil partnership name has already been determined The declaring person bears a marriage/civil partnership name consisting of only one name. • Declaration on the use of names The declaration can only be made by the person whose name did not become the marriage/civil partnership name. • An accompanying name to the marriage/civil partnership name has been determined The declaring person bears a marriage/civil partnership name with an accompanying name (double name) • Documents in German • If the required documents/certificates are not available in German, they must be translated by a interpreter sworn in Germany (see "Further information"). • For some countries, an additional authentication (apostille or legalization) is also required. The apostille (issued by the competent home authority in the country of origin) or the legalization (issued by the German embassy) must be affixed directly to the original or attached to it (more under "Further information"). • For certificates originally issued in Arabic, Greek, Hebrew or Cyrillic, the translation of personal names (such as first names, family names, birth names) must strictly follow the transliteration standards (ISO 9-1995 / ISO 843 / DIN 31634 / ELOT 734, etc.). • Documents in original All required documents/certificates must generally be submitted to the responsible Standesamt (registry office) in original form. Certificates must not be altered and/or perforated/laminated.

• Declaration on adding a name to, or revoking a name from, the married name (Ehename) or civil partnership name (Lebenspartnerschaftsname) You can submit the declaration in person at the office. • Valid and signed identity card (Personalausweis) or passport To be presented by the declaring person. • Marriage certificate/civil partnership certificate (Eheurkunde/Lebenspartnerschaftsurkunde) The married name or civil partnership name in use must be evident from the marriage/civil partnership certificate presented. • Certificate of name usage, if applicable If the determination of the married name/civil partnership name is not evident from the marriage/civil partnership certificate, a certificate confirming the married name/civil partnership name in use is required. • Birth certificate, if applicable This must be presented if the marriage/civil partnership was concluded abroad. • Sworn interpreter, if applicable If the declaring person is not sufficiently proficient in German, an interpreter must be involved at that person's own initiative and expense.

• none: for the declaration made as part of the marriage when the married name (Ehename) is determined at the same time • 25.00 euros: name declaration (Namenserklärung) • 12.00 euros: certificate on the use of the name (Bescheinigung über die Namensführung)

• Personenstandsgesetz (PStG – Civil Status Act) § 41 – Declarations on the use of names by spouses www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__41.html • Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB – Civil Code) § 1355a Begleitname (accompanying name) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1355a.html • Personenstandsverordnung (PStV – Civil Status Ordinance) § 46 – Declarations under family law www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstv/__46.html • Verordnung zur Ausführung des Personenstandsgesetzes im Land Berlin (PStGAV Bln – Ordinance Implementing the Civil Status Act in the State of Berlin) § 9 – Fee assessment gesetze.berlin.de/perma?j=PStGAV_BE_!_9 • Gesetz zur Änderung des Ehenamens- und Geburtsnamensrechts und des Internationalen Namensrechts (Act Amending the Law on Marital Names, Birth Names, and International Name Law) www.recht.bund.de/bgbl/1/2024/185/VO.html

Standesamt (registry office) that maintains the Eheregister (marriage register) The name declaration becomes effective upon receipt by the German Standesamt where the marriage was concluded or the civil partnership was formed, and which maintains the Ehe-/Lebenspartnerschaftsregister (marriage/civil partnership register). Standesamt (registry office) of residence The declaration can also be submitted at the Standesamt of your place of residence. For marriages concluded abroad, the Standesamt of your place of residence is likewise responsible.