1. name management for spouses / life partners
As a married couple, you can keep your existing names or declare a joint surname (= married name). There is no time limit for this. This married name cannot be changed during the marriage. Civil partners also have the option of making a subsequent declaration of name retention during an existing civil partnership.
In individual cases, special features must be taken into account, e.g. when changing the name of a person of foreign nationality. In these cases, seek advice from the registry office.
If you have children, you can also make a declaration for them.
If no declaration is made, spouses or civil partners will continue to use the name they had at the time of the marriage.
A change of surname is also possible after the dissolution of a marriage or civil partnership.
Determine married name
Determine married name with choice of law
Double name (unilateral)
Determination of joint double name in marriage / revocation of married name / revocation of unilateral double name
Reassumption of a previous name after dissolution of the marriage
2. first name and surname Children (including adults)
2.1 First name(s)
If both parents are entitled to custody, they can only determine the first name of their child jointly.
If only one parent has parental custody, that parent may choose the first name.
Not permitted are names that are not first names by nature, such as trade names, fantasy names, slurs or names that are detrimental to the child's welfare.
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Tip:
First names contained in first name books are unproblematic. These are available in bookshops or on the Internet.
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Changing the order of first names
Self-determination law
2.2 Family name (birth name) of the child
If you are married, i.e. have joint custody, and haveamarried name, your child will be given your married name as their birth name by law under German law.
If you have joint custody of the child and do not have a married name, you can designate one of your two surnames or, since 01.05.2025, a double name formed from the names of both parents with a hyphen (or without a hyphen if you wish) as the child's birth name by means of a joint declaration.
If you are not married and one parent has sole custody of the child, the child's birth name under German law is the name used by this parent at the time of the child's birth.
If the name of this parent is made up of several names, since 01.05.2025 only one or more of these names can be designated as the child's birth name.
Important note
In some cases, special features must be taken into account, e.g. for the names of persons with foreign nationality. In these cases, please seek advice from the registry office.
Determining the child's new surname after establishing joint custody
Determining a double name for a child
Declaration of connection of a child to the change of name of its parents (or one parent)- also adults
Renaming / renaming a child - also for adults
Determination of a new surname by a person of legal age
3. declaration of name for naturalized citizens / late repatriates (declaration of assimilation)
Name declaration for naturalized citizens or late repatriates (declaration of assimilation)
More information
How to contact us:
Stuttgart registry office
Registry office Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt
Registry office Stuttgart-Botnang
Registry office Stuttgart-Degerloch
Stuttgart-Feuerbach registry office
Stuttgart-Möhringen registry office
Registry office Stuttgart-Mühlhausen
Stuttgart-Münster registry office
Registry office Stuttgart-Obertürkheim
Registry office Stuttgart-Plieningen-Birkach
Registry office Stuttgart-Sillenbuch
Registry office Stuttgart-Stammheim
Registry office Stuttgart-Untertürkheim
Registry office Stuttgart-Vaihingen
Stuttgart-Wangen registry office
Registry office Stuttgart-Weilimdorf
Registry office Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen
Registry office and pension office Stuttgart-Hedelfingen
Service hotline
You have questions? Call us: from any network, without an area code. Authorities number 115: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can usually reach the authorities number 115 at fixed network tariffs and thus free of charge via flat rates. Sign language telephone: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.