If you wish to change your last name and/or first name outside the provisions of civil law (i.e., not in connection with marriage or divorce), you must apply for this name change under public law.

Please note:

• Name changes can only be granted to German citizens as defined by the Basic Law, stateless persons, stateless foreigners, foreign refugees, or persons entitled to asylum.
• Only compelling reasons justify a name change. The reasons must therefore be explained in detail in the application.
• For a person with limited legal capacity, the legal representative (father, mother, guardian, or conservator) submits the application; a guardian requires approval from the family court for this, and a conservator requires approval from the conservatorship court. A person with limited legal capacity who has reached the age of 16 must be heard by the family court or guardianship court regarding the application. The court’s approval and proof of the outcome of the applicant’s court hearing must be attached to the application.
• The application must include a statement indicating whether a change of name has been requested previously, and if so, when and with which authority.
• The applicant must also declare that they are aware that a fee is required for the name change, as well as for the rejection or withdrawal of the application.

If you have any questions, please consult the relevant authority for guidance when completing the application.

• Proof that the applicant is either a German citizen as defined by the Basic Law, or a stateless person, a foreigner without a homeland, a foreign refugee, or a person entitled to asylum (e.g., certificate of citizenship, passport, travel document, national ID card, child’s ID card)
• Certificate of Repatriation or Displaced Persons ID (for repatriates and displaced persons)
• A certified copy of the birth record 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 name change for family law reasons, birth and marriage certificates must also be submitted for those family members whose names the applicant wishes to adopt
• For persons who have reached the age of fourteen, a certificate of good conduct in accordance with the Federal Central Register Act (to be requested from the competent registration authority; the certificate of good conduct will be sent directly from the issuing authority to the name change authority)

Please note:  

The documents should be submitted as originals. All application documents generally remain with the authority. You will receive the original documents back after the copies have been certified.

In some cases, additional documents and evidence may be required to process the application. You can obtain information on this from the competent name-change authority.

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

You can only pay by card.