Applying for a marriage certificate
Service description
If you have married and need a new marriage certificate or a printout from the marriage register, you can apply for this at the registry office. To do this, please contact the registry office in whose district you got married.
The marriage certificate proves the marriage of you and your spouse. It contains the first names and surnames from the date of marriage and before, the birth names of the spouses from the date of marriage, the place and date of birth of the spouses, the place and date of marriage and, if applicable, a subsequent certification of the dissolution of the marriage through divorce or death or annulment of the marriage by court decision.
You can obtain the marriage certificate in the following forms:
- Marriage certificate
- Multilingual marriage certificate, colloquially also international marriage certificate
- Certified printout from the marriage register
A certified printout from the marriage register shows all the data that the registry office has entered in connection with your marriage.
If the personal details of the spouses change, for example due to a change of name, divorce or annulment of the marriage by court order, the marriage entry is supplemented by subsequent notarizations. An updated marriage certificate can then be issued on request.
Prerequisites
Marriage certificates contain personal data, so their issue is subject to data protection restrictions:
- You are eligible to apply under the following conditions:
- You are at least 16 years old.
- You are the spouse to whom the deed relates.
- They are the parents of one of the spouses.
- You are a child of the spouses.
- Close relatives, such as siblings or grandchildren, as well as persons without any family connection can only apply for a certificate if they can credibly demonstrate a legal interest, for example by means of a letter from the probate court.
- If the marriage took place abroad, you must first have it certified at the registry office in Germany.
- You are eligible to apply under the following conditions:
What fees apply?
Costs may be incurred for the issue of a marriage certificate. Please contact the relevant registry office.
The issuing of a marriage certificate or a certified register printout costs 15.00 euros, the second and each additional certificate requested and produced in the same process costs 7.50 euros.
Legal basis
- No. 16.5.5.1 of the State Ordinance on Fees for General and Internal Administration including Police Administration (Special List of Fees)
- § Section 5 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
- § Section 57 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
- § Section 61 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
- § Section 48 (1) of the Ordinance on Civil Status (PStV)
- § Section 50 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
Applications / Forms
You can submit the application verbally, in writing or by fax. Many registry offices also have an electronic form on their website that can be used to order certificates.
Special information for the city of Idar-ObersteinRequest for civil status documents
If you would like to request civil status certificates from the Idar-Oberstein registry office, you can do so simply by email (urkundenanforderung@idar-oberstein.de), by telephone (06781/643500) or in writing. The person for whom the certificate is issued must prove their identity. The certificates are also subject to a fee (€13). Please contact us, we will be happy to help you.
Cryptshare®
We refer here to the use of Cryptshare. Cryptshare offers you the possibility of encrypted electronic communication with the Idar-Oberstein city administration.What else should I know?
Personal application:
- Go to the relevant registry office.
- To prove your identity, please present your identity card or passport.
- You usually pay the fee in advance when you apply at the registry office.
A person you trust can apply for and collect the certificate on your behalf; your representative will present their own identity card or passport in addition to a written power of attorney and your identity card or passport or a certified copy thereof.
Application by post or fax
- Send an informal letter to the relevant registry office asking them to issue you with a marriage certificate. Depending on what the town or municipality offers, you can also find application forms on the Internet.
- Your letter must contain the following information:
- Surname, first name,
- Date and place of birth,
- Date of marriage,
- Details of the spouse,
- if known: Registry office and notarization number.
- Enclose a certified copy of your identity card or passport with the letter.
- You will receive a notification of fees when the certificate is sent to you.