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  4. Declarations under naming law (Namensrecht) - Submitting a child's declaration of accession (Anschlusserklärung)

Declarations under naming law (Namensrecht) - Submitting a child's declaration of accession (Anschlusserklärung)

Namensrechtliche Erklärungen - Anschlusserklärung eines Kindes abgeben
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
If the parents of a child determine a joint Ehename (married surname) only after the child's birth, this married surname extends by operation of law to their joint child, as long as the child is under 5 years old. If the child is already over 5 years old, an Anschlusserklärung (declaration of joining the name) is required. There is no legal obligation to make an Anschlusserklärung. An adult child may also join the joint married surname of their parents.

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Requirements

• The parents have determined a shared married name (Ehename) A child may adopt the parents' shared married name. • Age of the child A declaration of adoption of the name is only required if the child is already over 5 years old. If the child is between 5 and 14 years old, the child can make the declaration themselves, which requires the consent of the parents. The parents may also submit the declaration of adoption as legal representatives on their own. If the child is already over 14 years old, the child must make the declaration of adoption themselves; this still requires the consent of the parents.

Documents you need

• Namenserklärung (name declaration) Please submit the name declaration in person at the responsible Standesamt (registry office). • Identity cards (Personalausweise) or passports If the child already has a Kinderausweis (children's identity card). In any case, identity documents of the parents. • Child's birth certificate If the child was born abroad, an official translation is required. • Proof of the name change / marriage certificate Proof is required that the parents have determined a married name (Ehename). This can be provided by the marriage certificate or a name certificate (Namensbescheinigung). • Interpreter If one of the persons making the declaration does not have sufficient command of the German language, an interpreter must be brought in at that person's instigation and expense.

Fees

• 25.00 euros: Namenserklärung (declaration of name) • 12.00 euros: Bescheinigung über die Namensführung (certificate of the name used)

Legal basis

• Personenstandsgesetz (PStG, Civil Status Act) § 45 www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__45.html • Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB, Civil Code) § 1617c www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1617c.html • Personenstandsverordnung (PStV, Civil Status Ordinance) § 46 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) § 8 gesetze.berlin.de/bsbe/document/jlr-PStGAVBE2019pP8

Who is responsible

The Anschlusserklärung (declaration of accession) becomes effective at the German Standesamt (registry office) that recorded the child's birth. The declaration can also be submitted at the Standesamt (registry office) of the place of residence. If the child was born abroad, the Standesamt (registry office) of the place of residence is likewise responsible.

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Original

German original

Service number 324621 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324621/