In general, the surname of a German citizen does not change automatically as a result of divorce or the death of the spouse.

You have a name from a former marriage, are divorced by now, and would like to go back to your maiden name or the name you carried before your marriage?

General information

The surname of a German citizen does not change automatically as a result of divorce or the death of the spouse. It is possible, following a divorce recognised in Germany or the death of one’s spouse, to revert to one’s birth name or pre-marital name by means of a name declaration. If you wish to keep your married name from a marriage that has been dissolved due to death or divorce, no name declaration is required.

A unilateral name declaration is also an option if a spouse already uses a married name, but subsequently wishes to add their birth name to their married name with a hyphen and use a compound surname from then on. It is also possible, once only, to remove a surname that has been added to the married name with a hyphen.

Recognition of foreign divorce

If you divorced abroad, the foreign divorce decree first has to be recognised by the competent court in Germany before a name declaration can come into effect. On certain conditions, foreign divorces within the EU (except Denmark) are recognized automatically in the Federal Republic of Germany, i.e. without carrying out a special recognition procedure. However, a recognition procedure may be required for divorces that took place outside the EU. More detailed information on the recognition of foreign divorces can be found here.

The name declaration is filed by the German partner; their divorced spouse does not have to give consent or be present.

A unilateral name declaration does not usually affect the names of any children. If you want your child’s surname to change as well, you can find information about a name declaration here (Link einfügen).

What documents are required to submit the name declaration?

Normally, the following original documents are required to submit the name declaration:

• the completed application form for the name declaration (not yet signed)
• your birth certificate
• your valid German passport or ID card
• if applicable, proof of the German citizenship (valid certificate of naturalisation, valid certificate of citizenship)
• marriage certificate
• if the marriage concluded abroad has been registered in Germany, proof of this (e.g. excerpt from the family register or German marriage certificate)
• proof that you have a married name (name certificate from the German Registrar’s Office, excerpt from the family register/ marriage register or German marriage certificate)
• if applicable, deregistration from Germany (“Abmeldebescheinigung”) or an up-to-date registration certificate from your (last) German place of residence, if applicable
• proof of residence in Ireland (e.g. utility bill)
• in case of the dissolution of the marriage by death: Partner’s death certificate
• in case of the dissolution of the marriage by divorce: legally binding court decision on the divorce; in case of a foreign divorce outside the EU or in Denmark, a proof of recognition of the divorce by a German court is required in addition
• any other relevant documents, e.g. regarding name changes, changes in the civil status of the person (e.g. married, divorced, etc), or changes in citizenship

Please print out the declaration form and complete it carefully. Do not use block capital letters because this could result in deviated spelling.

Documents that are not in German or English should be submitted with a certified translation into German. Documents issued outside the EU should be submitted with an apostille or legalisation (if possible).

During your appointment, certified copies of the originals will be made for forwarding them to the Registrar’s Office (for a fee). The originals will be returned to you immediately.

Please note that the responsible Registrar’s Office may request additional documents at a later date.

Procedure, Costs and Duration - Important Information

1. To submit the name declaration, you must be present in person at the appointment in the Embassy Dublin, as your signature on the name declaration must be authenticated. The name declaration is filed by the German partner; their divorced spouse does not have to give consent or be present.

2. Please bring the originals of all required documents with you. The originals will be returned to you immediately.

3. Documents that are not written in German or English must be accompanied by a certified translation into German. However, the Registrar’s Office may also request a translation for English-language documents in individual cases. Occasionally, apostilles or legalisation are also requested for foreign documents.

4. The Embassy in Dublin forwards the declarations and documents you have submitted to the relevant Registrar’s Office in Germany, which can issue a certificate confirming your new name. For the name certificate the Registrar’s Office will charge an additional fee.

5. Data protection information regarding the processing of your personal data can be found here.

6. The fee charged by the Embassy Dublin for the authentication of signatures on the name declaration form is approx. 85,- Euros. In addition, there is a fee of approx. 31,- Euros for the legislation of the copies that must be provided to the Registrar’s office. Please note that the Registrar’s Office will later charge an additional fee. This fee is determined individually by the respective Registrar’s Office.

7. Processing times for name declarations vary depending on the Registrar’s Office. The German Embassy in Dublin has no influence on processing times and cannot give any estimates.

8. The declaration only becomes effective upon receipt by the competent Registrar’s Office and is subject to a further comprehensive legal review there.

9. A name declaration may also be necessary under certain circumstances if a passport has already been issued in the corresponding name, but the submission of a name declaration was omitted at the time.