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  4. Declarations under the law of names - submit a declaration of choice of law (Rechtswahlerklärung) for a civil partnership (Lebenspartnerschaft)

Declarations under the law of names - submit a declaration of choice of law (Rechtswahlerklärung) for a civil partnership (Lebenspartnerschaft)

Namensrechtliche Erklärungen - Rechtswahlerklärung für eine Lebenspartnerschaft abgeben
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.

Book an appointment

Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)

Requirements

• A registered partner (Lebenspartner/in) also holds (in addition) a foreign nationality • Documents in German • If the required documents/certificates are not available in German, they must be translated by a translator sworn in Germany (see "Further information"). • For some countries, a supralegalization (apostille or legalization) is also required. The apostille (issued by the competent home authority in the home country) 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 and family names, birth names) must follow the transliteration standards (ISO 9-1995 / ISO 843 / DIN 31634 / ELOT 734, etc.). • Documents in original As a rule, all required documents/certificates must be presented to the competent Standesamt (registry office) in original form. Certificates must not be altered and/or perforated/laminated. • Sworn interpreter, if applicable If the declarants are not sufficiently proficient in German, a sworn interpreter must be arranged by the declarants. • Notes The declaration can only be made once. Consultation on legal options and requirements is recommended.

Documents you need

• valid and signed identity cards or passports (originals) • Lebenspartnerschaftsurkunde (civil partnership certificate) • birth certificates if the civil partnership was established abroad • additional documents, if applicable This list is not exhaustive. Additional documents may be required. If one of the partners holds a nationality other than German, it is advisable to seek advice from the responsible Standesamt (registry office) regarding the documents required and the choice of family name.

Fees

• 25.00 euros: Namenserklärung (declaration of name) • 30.00 euros: Eidesstattliche Versicherung (affidavit), where applicable • 12.00 euros: Bescheinigung über die Namensführung (certificate of name usage)

Legal basis

• Personenstandsgesetz (PStG, Civil Status Act) § 42 - Declarations on the name used by registered life partners www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__42.html • Lebenspartnerschaftsgesetz (LPartG, Registered Life Partnership Act) § 3 - Life partnership name www.gesetze-im-internet.de/lpartg/__3.html • Einführungsgesetz zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch (EGBGB, Introductory Act to the Civil Code) Article 17b para. 2 - Registered life partnership and same-sex marriage www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgbeg/BJNR006049896.html#BJNR0060 • Personenstandsverordnung (PStV, Civil Status Ordinance) § 46 - Family-law declarations 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 determination <https://gesetze.berlin.de/jportal/?quelle=jlink&query=PStGAV+BE+%C2%A7+9&psml=bsbeprod.psml&max=true>

Further information

• Directory of authorized sworn translators and interpreters www.justiz-dolmetscher.de/Recherche/

Who is responsible

• Standesamt (registry office) where the civil partnership (Lebenspartnerschaft) was registered: for certification/registration of the civil partnership in Berlin • Standesamt of your place of residence: in all other cases • Standesamt I in Berlin: for establishing the civil partnership while resident abroad

Responsible for you

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

Original

German original

Service number 324603 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324603/