Standesamt Procedures

The Standesamt is responsible for recording births, marriages and deaths, issuing civil status documents (birth, marriage and death certificates), changes of name, acknowledgements of paternity and accepting declarations of leaving the church. It maintains the civil status registers under the Civil Status Act (Personenstandsgesetz, PStG).

Responsibility depends on the particular matter: for the notice of marriage, the Standesamt at the place of residence of one of the two partners is responsible. For birth certificates (Geburtsurkunden), it is the Standesamt of the place of birth (§ 18 para. 1 PStG), not the place of residence. For death certificates, it is the Standesamt of the place of death. For leaving the church, the competent body differs by federal state: in Berlin, Brandenburg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Thuringia the Amtsgericht (local court) is responsible, in the remaining eleven federal states the Standesamt.

Civil status documents (birth, marriage and death certificates) cost €10.00 to €15.00 per copy depending on the federal state and local authority — the fee is governed by state law under § 72 PStG; there is no uniform nationwide fee. If several copies are ordered at the same time, additional copies usually cost only €5.00 to €9.00. Certificates needed for statutory pension, health and accident insurance, or for Kindergeld and Elterngeld (parental allowance), are free of charge. Apostilles cost a separate €19.00 to €40.00.

An appointment is generally required for the notice of marriage, as both partners must appear together. For simple certificate orders, no appointment is needed at many Standesämter — many local authorities also offer online applications.

Yes, in many local authorities birth, marriage and death certificates can now be requested online. The certificate is then sent by post. The notice of marriage, however, requires both partners to appear in person.