Change surname of spouses

There are many options when determining the name. You can determine the birth name or the name actually used by your spouse as the married name at the time of or after the marriage. The name from a previous marriage, including any accompanying name, can also be considered as the name actually used. There is no deadline for the declaration.

As spouses, you can also retain your previous names.

In some cases, special considerations must be taken into account, e.g. for the names of foreign spouses or if there are joint children born before the marriage. In these cases in particular, you should seek advice from the registry office.

The determination of the marriage name is irrevocable.

• When you marry, you make a declaration to the registrar as to which name you and your spouse wish to use in the future.
• If you wish to change your name at a later date, you should do so in person at the registry office.
• Foreign spouses are generally subject to the name law of their home country. If (at least) one of the future spouses has his or her habitual residence in Germany, there is a right to choose between the name law of the state to which the foreign spouse belongs and the German name law.

The registration of the marriage, in which you indicate your intended name in the marriage, takes place at the registry office of the place of residence. On the day of the marriage, the name declaration is submitted to the registry office of the marriage. You can submit a name declaration after the marriage at any German registry office. The validity of the subsequently submitted name declaration is checked by the registry office of the marriage, which also issues a certificate or document about the name change.

It is therefore always advisable to contact the registry office that performs or has performed the marriage.

Marriage

For the name declaration on the common surname, at least the identity cards of both spouses and, if the declaration is made during the existing marriage, the marriage certificate are required. Under certain circumstances, further documents or proof may be required. Therefore, please inquire in advance at the registry office.

There are no costs for the name declaration within the scope of the marriage. For the later declaration, fees of € 25.00 are incurred in Thuringia. A marriage certificate, from which the name is stated, costs 10.00 €.

The spouse whose name has not become the married name may prefix or append his or her maiden name or previously used surname to the married name, provided the married name does not already have several members (accompanying names). If the maiden name or previously used family name has several members, only one part can be added. This means that the spouse has a double name. A later revocation of the double name is possible.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content per DeepL.

Thuringian Ministry of the Interior and Local Affairs

30.08.2022