Eheschließung

A marriage in Germany is the official union of two people in a marriage in front of the registry office. The marriage is legally binding and is certified by the issuance of a marriage certificate or marriage certificate. In Germany, getting married in a registry office is the only formal way to get married.

The following points must be met for marriage:

Minimum age: Both partners must be at least 18 years old.
Consent: If one of the partners is between 16 and 18 years old, he/she needs the consent of their parents or legal guardian.
Capacity to act: Both partners must have unrestricted legal capacity to act.
Ability to marry: There must be no obstacles to marriage, such as an existing marriage, a close relative or a lack of desire to get married.
Registration: Registration for the marriage must be made at the registry office.
Language skills: If one of the partners does not speak German sufficiently, an interpreter must be called in.
Witnesses: Witnesses are not mandatory, but can be present at the marriage ceremony.
the required documents (see next point.)

Required Documents

Certified copy of the birth register (not older than 6 months), which can be requested online
Valid passport or ID card
Certificate of residence, which can be obtained from the residents‘ registration office of the main place of residence and contains information on marital status, nationality and apartment
Certified copies of the birth register entries or birth certificates of common children in which both partners are registered as parents
Cash to pay fees
Additional documentation may be required, especially if one of the partners is divorced.

Name management

If you are both German citizens, you can choose one of your two birth names or your current family name as your common married name.

The spouse (whose name does not become his married name) has the option of adding or adding his birth name to his married name.

It is also possible for each spouse to continue using their own maiden name. (separate names)

Further information can be obtained from the relevant registry office.

Marriage certificate

A marriage certificate is an official document that certifies the marriage of two people. It is issued after the civil wedding and contains information about the married couple as well as the time and place of the marriage.

The marriage certificate serves as proof of the existence of the marriage and is often required by authorities and institutions to regulate certain matters, such as applying for joint insurance or changing names.

A marriage certificate is usually valid for an unlimited period and can be applied for at the registry office where the marriage took place. Alternatively, you can simply order here. Even if the marriage is dissolved through divorce or death, the marriage certificate remains as proof of the previous marriage.

There are the following 3 documents from the marriage register:

Marriage certificate
Certified copy from the marriage register
international marriage certificate

A certified copy of the marriage register with a note about the dissolution of the marriage by divorce (or with a corresponding note) provides information that a marriage has been dissolved. If a person wishes to remarry, an updated marriage certificate that records divorce from previous marriages is often required. This information is important for the registry offices to ensure that there are no existing marriages or obstacles to marriage.

An international marriage certificate, like the international birth certificate, is written in 16 different languages.