Eheschließung beim Standesamt anmelden

• § 11 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG) – Zuständigkeit
• § 12 PStG – Anmeldung der Eheschließung
• § 13 PStG – Prüfung der Ehevoraussetzungen
• § 28 Verordnung zur Ausführung des Personenstandsgesetzes (PStV) – Anmeldung
• § 1303 Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) – Ehemündigkeit
• § 1304 BGB – Keine Geschäftsunfähigkeit
• § 1306 BGB – Verbot der Doppelehe/Lebenspartnerschaft
• § 1307 BGB – Eheverbote bei Verwandtschaft
• § 1308 BGB – Annahme als Kind
• § 1309 BGB – Ehefähigkeitszeugnis für Ausländer
• Verordnung (EU) 2016/1191
• Sächsisches Kostenverzeichnis (SächsKVZ), lfd. Nr. 75 – Personenstandsrecht, öffentliches Namensrecht

Before you can get married, you have to register the marriage. In the past, this was also known as "ordering the banns". The parties to the marriage should register the intended marriage in person at the registry office where one of the parties to the marriage has their place of residence or habitual abode.

To speed up the procedure, you can send the registry office your preferred date for the marriage as well as the data required to check your eligibility for marriage by pre-registration. The place where you register the marriage does not necessarily have to be the place where your marriage is to take place. In principle, you can marry at any registry office in Germany.

A civil marriage and a church wedding are independent of each other. No witnesses need to be present at the marriage ceremony. However, if you wish, you can appoint one or two people as witnesses.

Whether you wish to have a joint or separate surname during the marriage can be decided at the time of the marriage or at a later date.

Note: If both future spouses live abroad, you can register the marriage at the registry office where the wedding is to take place.

For German nationals entering into their first marriage

• valid identity card or passport
• Certificate of residence from the registration office (not older than four weeks)
• if the birth was notarised in Germany:
  certified printout from the register of births or copy from the register of births (from the registry office of the place of birth)
• if the birth was notarised abroad:
  current birth certificate

For partners who were already married or living in a registered civil partnership (additional):

• Marriage certificate and final divorce decree;
  in the event of death, the marriage certificate and the death certificate of the former spouse, or
• Proof of the establishment and dissolution of the last civil partnership

Note: If the divorce took place abroad, you should enquire in advance at the registry office whether a recognition procedure is required. Please bring this with you:

• all marriage certificates
• all final divorce judgements (with facts and reasons for the decision)
• a complete translation by a sworn translator in Germany

For partners who have children together or who have custody of children from previous marriages (additionally):

• Birth certificates of the children

In the case of a partner from abroad

• valid identity card/passport or other proof of identification
• Proof of nationality, if this is not evident from the identity card or passport
• Certificate of residence from the registration office (not older than four weeks)
• Birth certificate
• Certificate of no impediment to marriage

For partners from countries that do not issue "certificates of no impediment to marriage", it is advisable to seek advice from the registry office about exemption from the obligation to present a certificate of no impediment to marriage. This is issued by the President of the Higher Regional Court. The registrar takes the application and forwards it.

Foreign language documents:

For foreign-language documents, the registry office generally requires complete translations into German, prepared by a translator publicly appointed and sworn in Germany.

Foreign documents often also require legalisation by the competent foreign authority.

Documents from other EU member states

For civil status documents issued by another EU member state, it is generally sufficient to submit the national document with the translation aid in accordance with the EU Apostille Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/1191).

Tip: You can obtain the translation aid from the authority that also issues the document. It is recommended that you apply for both together.

Further documents:

The registry office may request additional documents, such as the naturalisation certificate.

Registration of the marriage

• EUR 60.00
• for each foreign law to be observed, additionally: EUR 35.00
• for review of a foreign judgement in matrimonial matters or civil partnership matters by the registry office, in addition: EUR 35.00
• if an application for recognition of a foreign judgement in matrimonial matters is to be submitted to the state administration of justice, in addition: EUR 33.00
• in the case of a preliminary examination regarding the decision in matrimonial matters for the submission of an application for exemption from the obligation to provide a certificate of no impediment to marriage to the competent Higher Regional Court, additionally: EUR 30.00
• re-examination of the requirements: EUR 27.00

Marriage ceremony

• at the registry office:
  • during general opening hours: EUR 20.00
  • outside opening hours: EUR 80.00
• outside the office hours of the registry office:
  • during general opening hours: EUR 100.00
  • outside opening hours: EUR 120
• Marriage by another registry office, additional EUR 30.00

Please note: The fees may differ in other federal states. In addition to the administrative fees, further costs may be incurred for the organisation of the marriage.

• To register the marriage, both fiancées usually go to the relevant registry office together.
• If one of the two is unable to attend, the other can register the marriage alone. The registry office requires written authorisation from the partner who is unable to attend.
• If the registry office finds that there is no impediment to the marriage, you will be notified that the marriage can take place.

for processing the application: up to four weeks depending on the registry office and individual case

If, after completing the examination, the registrar determines that the requirements for marriage have been met, you can get married within six months. After that, the marriage must be registered again.