Marriage certificate - apply for issue

Marriage certificates are issued by the registry office from the marriage register. They provide information about the data of a married couple, in particular about the surnames or married names used in the marriage and the existence or dissolution of the marriage.

They also contain the following information:

  • First names and surnames of the spouses before the marriage
  • Place and date of their births
  • Place and date of the marriage
  • Names of the spouses after the marriage

Note: Marriage certificates for dissolved marriages also contain the reason for and date of the dissolution at the end.

Do you need further marriage certificates, for example for pension matters or to change identity documents? You can apply for these at any time.

Notarised printout from the marriage register

In addition to the marriage certificate, there is also a notarised printout from the marriage register. This is

  • a copy of the Entry in the marriage register kept at the registry office or
  • in the case of electronically managed registers, a printout thereof.

It contains all corrections under civil status law Correctionsand changes noted in the register.

You will need a notarised printout from the marriage register, for example, to prove changes to the spouses' names or adoptions.

International marriage certificate

An international marriage certificate is a multilingual marriage certificate. It can be used abroad without a translation. It is valid in all countries that are party to the Convention of 8 September 1976 on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records. A list of the contracting states can be found in the annex to the convention.

Related forms and processes

Prerequisite

The following persons over the age of 16 are eligible to apply:

  • Persons to whom the register entry relates
  • Ancestors and descendants such as parents, children, grandchildren
  • other persons who can credibly demonstrate a legal interest

Responsible department

the registry office where the marriage took place

Procedure

You can apply for the certificate in person at the registry office where the marriage took place and pay the fee immediately.

A written application is also possible. Some registry offices also offer the option of ordering certificates by fax, e-mail or telephone. In these cases, you must clarify with the registry office

  • whether the certificate should be sent to you or whether you should collect it and
  • how you can pay the fees (for example by bank transfer or in cash on collection).

Some municipalities and cities offer forms for electronic ordering on the Internet.

You can also be represented by an authorised person when applying for or collecting the certificate.

Please note: It is not always possible to have the certificate issued immediately.

Deadlines

none

Required documents

  • for personal appearance: identity card or passport
  • by proxy:
    • written authorisation of the authorised person to whom the entry relates
    • ID of the authorised person
  • Proof of legal interest: e.g. letter from the probate court, court judgement or enforceable title

Costs

  • Marriage certificate or notarised printout from the marriage register: EUR 20.00 each
  • International marriage certificate: EUR 20.00 each

Miscellaneous

none

Appeal

Application for a court decision at the local court responsible for the registry office

Legal basis

Personenstandsgesetz(PStG):

  • § 57 Eheurkunde
  • § 62 Urkundenerteilung

Verordnung zur Ausführung des Personenstandgesetzes(PStV):

  • § 50 Mehrsprachiger Auszug aus dem Personenstandsregister

Verordnung des Innenministeriums zur Durchführung des Personenstandsgesetzes (PStG-DVO):

  • §5 Erhebung von Gebühren und Auslagen

in Verbindung mitAnlage 1 (Gebührenverzeichnis)

Release note

machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 23.05.2024