Name change
Source: BUS Rheinland-PfalzIf you wish to change your surname and/or first name outside the regulations of civil law (e.g. not in the case of marriage or divorce), you must apply for this change of name under public law.
Please note:
- Name changes can only be carried out for Germans within the meaning of the Basic Law, stateless persons, homeless foreigners, foreign refugees or persons entitled to asylum.
- Only important reasons justify the change of name. The reasons must therefore be explained in detail in the application.
- For a person with limited legal capacity, the legal representative (father, mother, guardian, custodian) submits the application; a guardian requires the approval of the family court, a custodian the care court. A person with limited legal capacity who has reached the age of 16 must be heard on the application by the family or guardianship court. The court's approval and proof of the result of the court hearing of the applicant must be attached to the application.
- The application must contain a statement as to whether a change of name has been applied for previously, if so, when and with which authority.
- The applicant must also declare that he/she is aware that the change of name or the rejection or withdrawal of the application is subject to a fee.
Please seek advice from the authorities when completing the application if anything is unclear.
The parent who has sole or joint parental responsibility with the other parent and their spouse, who is not the child's parent, or their civil partner may give their married name or civil partnership name to the child they have taken into their joint household.
They may also prefix or append this name to the name used by the child at the time of the declaration. The inclusion of the child in the joint household must be proven by submitting a certificate from the registration office. If the child bears the name of the other parent, the granting, prefixing or appending of the name requires his or her consent; in the case of joint custody, consent is also required if the child does not bear the name of the other parent. The family court can replace the consent of this parent if the name change is necessary for the child's welfare.
This declaration is made by the parties involved before a registrar in a notarized form.
Naming is only possible for unmarried children who are minors. If the child has already reached the age of 14, he or she must consent to the granting of the name, i.e. he or she must also be present in person at the notarization of the declaration and identify himself or herself. For younger children, their legal representative can make the declaration.
The granting of a name is irrevocable, i.e. neither the parents/parent nor the child itself can revoke it. It should not be confused with an adoption. The rights and obligations of the other parent do not change; the stepparent has no rights or obligations.