Conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage
Service description
Persons living in a registered civil partnership can convert it into a marriage as of October 1, 2017. To do so, the civil partners must declare mutually in person and in the simultaneous presence of a registrar that they wish to marry each other for life.
If the civil partners have not previously had a common civil partnership name, they can determine a married name within the scope of the marriage.
Process flow
The civil partners concerned register the intended conversion of their civil partnership into a marriage at the competent registry office.
In order to register the marriage, both partners usually visit the competent registry office together. If one of the two partners is unable to attend, he or she can authorize the other partner in writing. The registry office requires the written power of attorney of the prevented partner.
If both are prevented from doing so for good cause, they may also register the conversion in writing or by proxy.
Requirements
The two partners must be living in a registered civil partnership and must mutually declare in person and in the presence of a registrar that they wish to marry each other for life.
What documents are needed?
- valid identity card or passport
- extended certificate of registration from the registration office
- if the birth was registered in Germany: certified extract from the (electronic) register of births or certified transcript from the register of births
- if the birth was registered abroad: current birth certificate
If the existing civil partnership was not established at the registry office that is to receive the declaration of conversion, the civil partners must also submit a civil partnership certificate or a printout from the civil partnership register.
What are the fees?
There are no fees if the marriage is to take place during general opening hours on the premises of the registry office.
If, at the request of the civil partners, the declaration of conversion is to be made outside the general opening hours and/or outside the offices of the registry office, fees in the amount of 59.00 euros to 177.00 euros will be charged.
Legal basis
What else should I know?
For the rights and obligations of the spouses, even after the conversion of the civil partnership into a marriage, the date of the establishment of the civil partnership is decisive.
Short text
Persons of the same sex who are already in a registered civil partnership can convert this into a marriage.