Name change

Source: BUS Rheinland-Pfalz

If 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.

Special information for Association Bad Marienberg (Westerwald)

Options for keeping or changing the name:

Spouses can keep their existing names (separate names). However, they can also choose a joint married name. This can be either the birth name or the name actually used (e.g. a name from a previous marriage). You can also choose a joint surname at any time after the marriage. The determination of the married name is irrevocable.

We would like to give you some general information on name declarations.

Subsequent determination of a joint married name: If no joint married name was determined at the time of the marriage and the marriage still exists, the joint declaration to determine the married name can be made at a later date. The determination of the married name is irrevocable.
Adding a name to the married name: The spouse whose name has not become the married name may, by means of a declaration, add his or her maiden name or the name used at the time of the determination of the married name to the married name. An addition is not possible if the married name consists of several names. If the name of a spouse consists of several names, only one of these names may be added.
Revocation of the addition of a name to the married name: The declaration of the addition of a name may be revoked without observing a time limit.
Reassumption of a previous name: After the dissolution of a marriage by a final divorce decree, annulment decree or the death of a spouse, a previous name may be reassumed without observing a time limit. This declaration is irrevocable.

In all other cases (e.g. name change for children, ethnic German immigrants), please contact the registry office.

Information on the various options for changing your name

The following name determinations or changes can be notarized at the registry office:

Determination of a married name
Subsequent determination of a married name
Addition of a name to the married name
Revocation of the addition of a name to the married name
Reassumption of a previous name after dissolution of the marriage
Naming of the mother with the consent of the custodial and/or name-giving parent
Naming by the mother (the father) and her husband (his wife)
New determination of the birth name after establishment of joint custody by the parents
Declaration following a change of name by the parents or one of the parents
First determination of a birth name after the birth of the child abroad
Declarations of assimilation under German law (Federal Expellee Act/BVFG, Introductory Act to the German Civil Code /EGBGB)
Change of first names and surnames under public law

Note: Declarations under name law are generally irrevocable. Please enquire on a case-by-case basis whether the requirements for the respective changes are met and which documents are required.

Proof that the applicant is either German within the meaning of the Basic Law or stateless, homeless foreigner, foreign refugee, asylum seeker (e.g. citizenship card, passport, travel document, identity card, child ID card)
late repatriate certificate or expellee identity card (for late repatriates and expellees)
a certified copy of the birth entry for the applicant and for all persons to whom the change of surname is to apply; the documents must be recent
if the applicant is or was married, the marriage certificate
In the case of a change of name for family law reasons, the birth and marriage certificates of the family members whose name the applicant wishes to adopt must also be submitted
for persons who have reached the age of fourteen, a certificate of good conduct in accordance with the Federal Central Register Act (to be applied for at the responsible registration authority; the certificate of good conduct will be sent directly to the name change authority by the issuing authority)

Please note:

The documents should always be submitted in the original. All application documents remain with the authority. The original documents submitted will be returned to you once the copies have been certified.

In individual cases, further documents and evidence may be required to process the application. You can obtain information on this from the relevant name change authority.

The amount of the fee depends on the administrative effort and the significance, economic value or other benefit of the official act for the applicant.

Special information for Association Bad Marienberg (Westerwald)

Fees

EUR 25.90 for public notarizations (e.g. resumption of maiden name after dissolution of marriage)

The amount of the fee for a change of name under public law depends on the administrative costs of the official act for the applicant.

2.50 - 1022.00 Euro Public-legal name change Change of name (of the first name/family name)

Name change

Fees

Legal bases (general)

Your responsible office:

Verbandsgemeinde Bad Marienberg (Westerwald) - Fachbereich 2 - Öffentliche Ordnung - Bürgerdienste

Visitor address

Building access

Contact

Telephone

Fax

Email

Website

Contact person

Visitor address

Telephone

Fax

Email

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room

Responsible for:

Name change

Who should I contact?

Which documents are required?

What are the fees?

Legal basis

Your responsible office:

Verbandsgemeinde Bad Marienberg (Westerwald) - Fachbereich 2 - Öffentliche Ordnung - Bürgerdienste

Verbandsgemeinde Bad Marienberg (Westerwald) - Fachbereich 2 - Öffentliche Ordnung - Bürgerdienste

Visitor address

Building access

Contact

Telephone

Fax

Email

Website

Contact person

Herr Marcel Wisser