Familienname Änderung aufgrund der Erklärung zur Namensführung von Ehegatten (Ehename)

As part of the marriage registration, you must decide which names you and your fiancé would like to use in the marriage. You can choose a common married name or keep the names used at the time of the marriage. The spouse whose name does not become a married name may precede or add his or her maiden name or previous surname, provided that the married name is not already multi-membered (accompanying name).

If the maiden name or previously used family name is multi-membered, only one of the names can be added or preceded by the married name. You also have the option of determining the maiden name or the actual name of your spouse as your married name at the time of marriage or later – there is no deadline for this. The name from a previous marriage, including a possible accompanying name, can also be considered as an actual name. An appended or preceding name can also be discarded during the marriage.

During the existence of the marriage, the married name cannot be revoked.

Which documents are required depends on the occasion of the declaration and the respective personal requirements/circumstances. Information can be obtained from the responsible registry office.

Marriage

There are no fees for the declaration of name use in the context of the marriage.

When registering for marriage, you make a declaration to the registrar as to what name you and your fiancée intend to use in the future. If you want to change your name at a later date, please go to the registry office in person.

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

There are several ways to explain the name. In some cases, special features must also be taken into account (e.g. for the naming of foreign fiancées or if there are children born before marriage). Therefore, seek advice from the registry office in these cases.

Children receive the married name of their parents as their maiden name. If the parents do not have a married name, you must decide at the birth of the first child whether the child should receive your name or the name of your spouse as a maiden name. This declaration then also applies to any other children.

As a spouse, you can:

• keep your existing names, or
• at the time of marriage or later – there is no deadline for this – determine the maiden name or the actual name of your spouse as your married name.

The determination of the married name is irrevocable during the existence of the marriage.

Please contact the responsible registry office.