Namensgebung - Beratung

• Civil Code (BGB)
• Introduction Act to the German Civil Code (EGBGB)
• Civil status law
• Civil status ordinance
• General administrative regulation on the Civil Status Act
• State Status Execution Act
• Life Partnership Act
• Federal Persons of Displaced Persons Act
• Minority Name Change Act
• Law on the change of surnames and first names
• First Ordinance implementing the Law amending Surnames and First Names
• General administrative rule on the law on the amendment of surnames and first names
• Name change order
• Transsexual law

The choice of a (new) name may be necessary due to various family law events (birth, marriage, adoption) or by the change of personal circumstances (entry to Germany, change of nationality, problems with the name kept so far). Depending on the application, a free or limited choice of one or more names is possible. The application of foreign law must also be observed or selected.

Advice should therefore in principle only be provided by the staff of the registry office or the name change authority trained for this purpose, since often only a one-off declaration is allowed and subsequent changes are not possible and, if necessary, effects on other family members (such as children born later) should also be taken into account.

Depending on the application, different documents must be provided.

As a rule, however, all documents that reflect the previous naming or from which the name to be derived (e.B. birth and marriage certificates) are to be provided. In addition, the identification of the applicant by identity card, passport or similar is also required.

No prerequisites are attached to advice.

As a rule, there are no fees for the consultation.

The different case constellations do not allow for any indication here.

The different case constellations do not allow any indication here.

Birth name of the child

The parents of a child who have joint custody and do not have a married name must decide on their child's maiden name within one month. If they fail to reach a decision, the family court shall assign the right of determination to one of them, also setting a deadline.

If the parents' joint custody is established only after the child's birth, the parents may determine the child's name again within 3 months.

First names of the child

The child's first name must be notified when the birth is reported to the registry office, but within one month at the latest.

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Further information on the public name change under the Law on the Change of Family Names and First Names can also be found in the service description "Change of first and last name".

The Society for German Language can also help with the first name choice (also for transsexuals).

The choice of a (new) name may be necessary due to various family law events (birth, marriage, civil partnership, adoption) or by a change in personal circumstances (entry to Germany, change of nationality, problems with the name kept so far).

In addition to the competent authority, the professional supervisors at the district councils and the supreme professional supervisor at the Ministry of the Interior and Europe can also provide information.

The Society for the German Language can also help with the choice of first names (also for transsexuals).

The submission of declarations under name law is possible at any German registry office. This becomes effective upon delivery to the registry office responsible for processing. For declarations concerning the married name, the registry office of the marriage is responsible, for those concerning the birth name, the birth registry office. If there is no German civil status entry, the registry office of the (last) place of residence is responsible. If there is also no (former) residence in Germany, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible.

For name changes under public law, the name change authority at the place of residence (lord mayor of the independent cities, head of the district office or mayor of the independent municipalities) is responsible.

Name declarations of ethnic German immigrants in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act can be submitted to the Federal Administration Office in the distribution procedure or to the registry office.

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