Family name change due to the declaration on the name of civil partners
Service description
There are many possibilities when determining the name. In some cases, special features must also be taken into account (e.g. for the naming of foreign civil partners or if there are joint children born before the civil partnership). You should therefore seek advice from the registry office in these cases in particular. You can also request an information sheet from many registry offices by telephone or e-mail, or view or print it on the Internet from your municipality.
As a life partner, you can keep your previous names.
You also have the option to determine the birth name or the name actually used by your partner as the name of the civil partnership when the civil partnership is established or later - there is no time limit for this. The name from a previous civil partnership, including any accompanying name, can also be considered as the name actually used.
Once you have chosen a common name for your civil partnership, you may not change it during your civil partnership.
Process flow
When establishing a civil partnership, you make a declaration to the registrar of births, marriages and deaths as to which name you and your civil partner wish to use in the future.
If you want to change your name at a later date, you can do so in person at the registry office.
Foreign life partners are generally subject to the name law of their home country. If (at least) one of the future life partners has his or her habitual residence in Germany, there is a right to choose between the law of the state to which the foreign life partner belongs and German law.
Requirements
Establishment of a civil partnership
What documents are needed?
- Identity card
- Civil partnership certificate
What are the fees?
There are no costs for the determination of the name during the establishment of the civil partnership. For the later declaration costs are incurred, which you will find out at the registry office.
Legal basis
What else should I know?
The civil partner whose name does not become the civil partner's name may prefix or append his or her maiden name or the name actually used to the civil partner's name by declaration; the declaration may be revoked at any time.
Short text
As a life partner you can:
- Retain your existing names or
- when establishing the civil partnership or later - there is no deadline for this - designate the birth name or the name actually used by your civil partner as the civil partnership name.