Lebenspartnerschaft in eine Ehe umwandeln

The conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage is legally equivalent to a marriage.

The conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage in accordance with the Act on the Introduction of the Right to Marriage for Persons of the Same Sex of July 20, 2017 is legally equivalent to a marriage under the Civil Status Act (PStG). The conversion (marriage) is an act establishing the status and must be dated and signed by the declarant, the participating registrar and any witnesses. Irrespective of this, the date on which the civil partnership was established continues to be decisive for the rights and obligations of the civil partners after the conversion.

As the rights and obligations of the civil partnership continue to apply after the marriage, the determination of a married name in accordance with the German Civil Code (BGB) is not permitted if a civil partnership name has already been determined by the civil partners. An existing civil partnership name is adopted as the married name in the marriage register during the conversion (marriage), including any accompanying names.

Civil partnerships established abroad under foreign law cannot be converted in Germany. These civil partners can enter into a marriage in Germany without the foreign civil partnership having to be dissolved first.

• If the existing civil partnership was not established at the registry office where the marriage was registered, the civil partners must submit a civil partnership certificate or a printout from the civil partnership register.
• In addition to the civil status (proof of the existing civil partnership by public deed), the
  • identity,
  • nationality
  • the place of residence or
  • habitual residence and legal capacity.
• In addition, the name must be checked with regard to the notarization in the marriage register.

No fees are charged for the conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage at the registry office.

Fees are charged for the issuing of certificates, for the execution of the conversion outside the opening hours and/or outside the premises of the registry office as well as for declarations under name law

Competent registry office.

The civil partners can register the conversion of their civil partnership (marriage) at the registry office in whose jurisdiction one of the civil partners is domiciled or habitually resident and arrange an appointment to make the declarations. Any German registry office is responsible for the conversion (marriage) itself.