Source: BUS Sachsen-Anhalt (Linie6PLus)

Applying for a change of surname in a civil partnership

Description

There are many ways to determine the name. In some cases, special features must also be taken into account (e.g. for the naming of foreign life partners or if there are joint children born before the civil partnership). Therefore, get advice from the registry office, especially in these cases. At many registry offices, you can also request a leaflet by phone or e-mail or view or print it out on the Internet at your municipality.

As a life partner, you can keep your previous names.

You also have the option of determining the birth name or the actual name of your life partner as the civil partnership name when establishing the civil partnership or later – there is no deadline for this. As an actual name, the name from a previous civil partnership including a possible accompanying name can also be considered.

Once chosen, you may not change the common civil partnership name during the civil partnership.

Prerequisites

Establishment of a civil partnership

Required documents

Identity card
Civil partnership certificate

Fees (costs)

There are no costs for determining the name during the establishment of the civil partnership. For the later declaration there are costs, which you will find out at the registry office.

Responsible body

Please contact the registry office.

Procedure

When establishing the civil partnership, you make a declaration to the registrar as to which name you and your life partner want to use in the future.

If you want to change your name at a later date, please speak to the registry office in person.

Foreign life partners are generally subject to the naming rights of their home country. If (at least) one of the future life partners has his habitual residence in Germany, there is a right to choose between the law of the state to which the foreign partner belongs and German law.