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Declarations under the law of names - declaration of consent for a child

Namensrechtliche Erklärungen - Einwilligungserklärung für ein Kind abgeben
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
Acceptance of a Namenserklärung (name declaration) There are various types of name declarations: • after the child's birth has been registered, the parents wish to determine the child's birth name • a child wishes to join in the determination of its birth name made by the parents, • a child applies to receive as its birth name the name borne by its mother at the time of the child's birth, if the child bears the name of a man who has been legally and finally determined not to be the child's father, • a man (who turns out not to be the father of the child) submits the application, if the child has not yet completed its fifth year of life, • a child joins in the change of the family name of the parents or of one parent, • the parent who holds parental custody alone or jointly with the other parent, and their spouse who is not a parent of the child, or their civil partner, gives the child their married name (Ehename) or civil partnership name (Lebenspartnerschaftsname), or places this name before or adds it to the name borne by the child at the time of the declaration, • the parent who holds sole parental custody gives the child the name of the other parent.

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Requirements

• Bestowal of a name (Namenserteilung) or naming after a step-parent (Einbenennung) is requested • Declarants / persons involved Both parents with custody, or the parent with sole custody. If the child is already 14 years old, their presence is required because they must make their own declaration. The child's declaration requires the consent of the legal representative. • Documents in German • If the required documents/certificates are not available in German, they must be translated by an interpreter sworn in in Germany (see "Further information"). • For some countries, additional authentication (apostille or legalization) is also required. The apostille (issued by the responsible 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 last names, birth names) must strictly follow the transliteration standards (ISO 9-1995 / ISO 843 / DIN 31634 / ELOT 734, etc.). • Original documents 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. • Interpreter, if applicable If one of the declarants does not have command of the German language, an interpreter must be engaged at their initiative and expense. • Note Consents must be given in advance or at the same time. Legal advice on the legal options and requirements is recommended.

Documents you need

• Valid, signed identity card (Personalausweis) or passport of the person making the declaration (original) • Child's birth certificate • If applicable: marriage certificate of the parents, or acknowledgment of paternity, if applicable together with a declaration of joint parental custody (Sorgeerklärung) • If applicable: certificate of no objection (Negativbescheinigung) from the Jugendamt (youth welfare office) if one parent has sole custody • If applicable: further documents This list is not exhaustive. Additional documents may be required. If one or both parents hold a nationality other than German, it is advisable to seek advice from the responsible Standesamt (registry office) regarding the documents required and the use of the 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) § 45 - Declarations on the surname of the child www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__45.html • Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB, Civil Code) § 1617a para. 2 and § 1618 - Birth name where the parents have no married name and have sole custody, and change of surname (Einbenennung) www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/ • Einführungsgesetz zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuche (EGBGB, Introductory Act to the Civil Code) Article 10 para. 3 no. 3 - Name www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgbeg/BJNR006049896.html#BJNR0060 • 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 <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/ • Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office): Foreign public documents for use in Germany www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/urkunden/2007718#content_1

Who is responsible

• Standesamt (registry office) where the birth is registered: if the birth was certified/registered in Berlin • Wohnsitzstandesamt (registry office of place of residence): in all other cases • Standesamt I in Berlin: if the birth and residence are abroad

Responsible for you

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

Original

German original

Service number 324623 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/324623/