Register marriage

If you want to get married, you should contact the registry office where your marriage is to take place as early as possible. In principle, you can conclude your marriage at any registry office in Germany.

You must register the marriage in person at the registry office in whose jurisdiction you have your residence or habitual abode. When you register your marriage, the prerequisites for marriage are checked. The registration of the marriage can take place at the earliest six months before the intended marriage.

• To register your marriage, you and your partner should usually go together to the registry office of your place of residence. There you will receive all the necessary information.
• If one of you is unable to attend, the other can register the marriage alone. The registry office requires the written power of attorney of the prevented partner for this.
• If the registry office does not find any impediment to marriage, you will be informed that the marriage can take place.
• If the requirements for marriage are met, you can marry within 6 months. After that, the marriage must be registered again.

To the registry office in whose jurisdiction one of the spouses (fiancées) has his or her residence (main or secondary residence) or habitual abode. If you do not wish to marry in the registry office of the place of residence, please additionally contact the registry office which is to perform the marriage.

If you are domiciled or habitually resident abroad, please first contact the registry office that is to perform the marriage.

Only persons of legal age can register a marriage. In addition, the spouses must be of marriageable age and legally competent. If the spouses do not speak the language, an interpreter must be brought along at the request of the spouses.

• Marriage between relatives in a straight line (for example, parents and their children) and between siblings and half-siblings is not permitted. This also applies in principle if the relationship was established by adoption.
• Multiple marriages are not permitted in Germany. A previously entered marriage must have been dissolved by death, divorce or other legally binding court decision before a new marriage is entered into.
• If a previous marriage was divorced abroad, the divorce must generally first be recognized in Germany in order for it to take effect here as well. Exceptions to this principle apply above all to most countries of the European Union (EU). A previously established civil partnership must also have been dissolved.
  

The following documents are required to register your marriage:

• if you have German citizenship and are entering into your first marriage:
  • valid identity card or passport
  • extended registration certificate from the registration office of your main residence (usually not older than 4 weeks)
• if your birth was registered in Germany
  • certified extract from the (electronic) register of births or certified copy of the register of births (in paper form) from the registry office of the place of birth
• if your birth was notarized abroad:
  • current birth certificate
• if you were already married or living in a civil partnership, you will also need:
  • Marriage certificate and final divorce decree or
  • proof of the establishment and dissolution of the civil partnership or
• if your former partner has died in the meantime:
  • the marriage certificate or
  • the proof of the establishment of the civil partnership as well as
  • the death certificate of the former partner
• If your divorce took place abroad, you should inquire in advance at the registry office whether a recognition procedure is required. Please bring with you
  • all marriage certificates
  • all final divorce decrees (with facts and reasons for the decision)
  • a complete translation by a sworn translator in Germany
• If you have children in common with your future spouse or if you have custody of children from previous marriages, you will also need the following
  • Birth certificates of the children and
  • proof of joint custody
• in the case of a partner from abroad, the following are required
  • Valid identity card/passport or other proof of identification.
  • Proof of citizenship, if this is not evident from the identity card or passport
  • extended registration certificate of the registration office of the main residence (usually not older than 4 weeks)
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate
  • Foreign language documents with translation, if not on international form

Notes:

For partners from countries where certificates of marriageability are not issued, it is advisable to seek advice at the registry office about exemption from the obligation to present a certificate of marriageability. This is granted by the President of the Higher Regional Court. The registrar takes the application and forwards it.

For foreign-language documents, the registry office generally requires complete translations into German, prepared by a translator who is publicly appointed and sworn in Germany. Foreign documents often also require certification by the competent foreign authority. In such a case, the registry office will draw your attention to this.

• Further documents:
  • The registry office may require additional documents under certain circumstances, such as the naturalization certificate.

The costs for registering the marriage and for the actual marriage depend on the individual case and may vary.

If the requirements for marriage are met, you can marry within 6 months. After that, the marriage must be registered again.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs

10.08.2023