Civil wedding: procedure and ideas

Civil marriage - registration, expiry and costs

Even if you want to marry church, the first way leads to the registry office. Only by the registrar marriage becomes valid before the law. But what does it mean to have the "yes" word? When and where do you register? How does the civil marriage take place? And are there high costs on the future spouses? We get to the bottom of all these questions.

Registration at the registry office

In the run-up to the civil ceremony, you must have the wedding ceremony at the competent registry office for yours Register residential district, If you do not live together, you can choose one of them. As a rule, you have to personally go to the registry office. Only in exceptional cases is a written application valid. In addition, you should pay attention to you not more than half a year before the scheduled wedding at the registry office, Only in this timeframe is the registration for the marriage valid.



Generally you can marry in every civil registry office in Germany. For example at an other place When you want to marry your hometown, you just have to register with the registry office of your current place of residence. The wedding can then be completed in another registry office.

During the preliminary discussion, the registrar will clarify with you any Questions about the expiration of the wedding ceremony and to the required documents, The officer discusses with you also the details of the surname. Also you can ask him if there is one Dress code so that you are well dressed in a pretty dress or a simple blazer.



Required documents for the civil ceremony

The required documents vary from case to case. If you German citizens who marry for the first timethen you have to submit the following to the registrar:

  • a valid identity card or passport
  • a certified copy of the birth certificate
  • a certificate of residence from the registration office (this is normally only valid for the person who is not registered in the district of the selected registry office)

Have you already have children together, you need:

  • the birth certificate of the children
  • the paternity recognition

is your partner is registered in another city, he needs:

  • a residence certificate of his principal place of residence

Are you divorced, you need:



  • a certified copy from the marriage register of the previous marriage with a note to the dissolution

Are you are widowed, you need:

  • the death certificate of your deceased husband

Watch out! If you or your partner has another citizenship, special cases apply. The registrar will be glad to explain you which documents you have to present in this case.

Cost of the civil ceremony

As a rule, you have to pay a fee for the civil marriage 50 and 100 euros pay. However, the fees vary from state to state. If one of the partners has another citizenship, the costs are even higher. Additional fees also arise if the wedding is to take place on Saturday. Then you have to budget an amount between 70 and 200 euros. If you want to create a family book, you should calculate for the purchase between 15 and 70 euros. However, the family register is not required.

Expiration of the wedding ceremony in the registry office

The civil marriage usually lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, So not so long for the covenant to last forever. At the beginning, the registrar keeps a small one speechreferring to the bride and groom.

Subsequently, aspects of the surname are addressed. The partner who wants to give his birth name is explicitly asked again. Here you could decide otherwise quickly. The bride and groom will then sign this together Document for naming.

Now comes the most important part of the wedding ceremony: The registrar asks the wedding couple to stand up and asks them individually if they would like to marry the present partner. After this Yes word of the bride and groom? we'll go over that now - the official explains the couple to husband and wife. The wedding couple can now the Replace rings.

Finally, the registrar reads the Marriage document before and asks the newlyweds to sign this. The witnesses also sign the transcript, which, however, is only a symbolic act and has not been required by law since 1998. At the end of the ceremony, the registrar says goodbye to the bridal couple and the wedding party, and the wedding celebration can begin.

Everything you need for a perfect wedding can be found on our Pinterest page. From wedding planning to bridal gowns to bridal hairstyles, there is everything. You are looking for the marriage ceremony beautiful wedding sayings? Then take a look at our wedding spells. And here you will learn how to make your wedding invitations yourself!

Videotipp: If you use this word for your relationship, there is something big between you!

Civil Wedding Requirements, Fees, and Procedures (May 2024).



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