Surname: resume maiden name or previously used name

If your marriage or civil partnership is dissolved, you can take your previous surname or maiden name again. However, you can also prefix or append your maiden name or the surname you previously used to your name acquired through marriage or civil partnership. You can also discard a companion name that was added or prefixed during the marriage.

• § Section 46 Ordinance on the Implementation of the Civil Status Act (Civil Status Ordinance - PStV)
• § Section 41 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
• § Section 1355 of the German Civil Code
• Tariff item 9.1.26 Costs Ordinance of the Ministry of the Interior of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (IMKostVO M-V)
• § Section 1355 a of the German Civil Code (BGB) (accompanying name)

• Passport or identity card
• Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate (not required if the name declaration is made at the registry office keeping the marriage register)
• Proof of dissolution of the marriage or civil partnership by:
  • final judgement on divorce or dissolution of civil partnership, or
  • Death certificate of the spouse/life partner

Dissolution of marriage or civil partnership by:

• Divorce,
• Dissolution of the civil partnership or
• Death of the spouse or partner.

You can submit a declaration of name change at any registry office. The registry office keeping the marriage register will check the validity of the declaration submitted. This office can issue you with a certificate of the name change on request.

You must appear in person at the registry office to submit the name declaration.

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You can submit a declaration of name change at any registry office. The registry office keeping the marriage register will check the validity of the declaration submitted.