Informations

Name change

A basic distinction is made between two types of name changes:

Name change according to civil law (BGB)

Changes under civil law only affect the family name; these do not have to be applied for at the registry office, but rather declared.

Changes can occur, for example, in the following areas of civil status law:

  • Marriage
  • subsequent married name determination
  • Divorce (resuming a previous name)
  • Establishment of a civil partnership
  • adoption
  • Declaration of names of displaced persons and late repatriates
  • naturalization

Change of name under public law

According to the law on changing family names and first names, it is possible to change the name of a German or a stateless person, refugee, asylum seeker with residence or habitual residence in Germany for important reasons (§1 NamÄndG). A foreigner is referred to the name change authority of his home country.

Public name changes are not possible if appropriate civil regulations exist.

Further information can be obtained from the relevant registry office.