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Converting a Civil Partnership into a Marriage

Registry Office · Civil Status Matters · Marriage for All

In person

Since 1 October 2017, marriage in Germany has been open to all couples — regardless of gender (Marriage for All). Since then, no new registered civil partnerships can be entered into. Anyone who wants to formalise their relationship today therefore gives notice of marriage at the Standesamt (registry office); the procedure is identical for same-sex and different-sex couples.

Civil partnerships entered into up to 30 September 2017 continue indefinitely and need not be changed. However, both partners can convert the partnership into a marriage at any time: under § 20a (1) LPartG, it is sufficient for both civil partners to declare before the registrar — in person and simultaneously present — that they wish to be married to each other. The procedure is governed by § 17a PStG; the only thing to be proved is that the civil partnership exists, by means of public documents. There is no deadline. Contrary to widespread assumption, the conversion does not incur the fees of a marriage either: in Berlin it is free of charge at the registry office that accepts and examines the notification; elsewhere the fee is governed by the law of the respective federal state.

Last updated25 August 2026
Legal basis§ 20a LPartG · § 17a PStG · § 1353 BGB
VerificationChecked by AmtsDeutschland.de
Written and reviewed byAndrés Sánchez Botta
Independent information website: we are not the Standesamt, not an authority and not paid advice — we do not submit applications on your behalf. All information comes from official sources and is explained here in simple terms; the competent body is always the final authority. All information is provided without guarantee. We are neither solicitors nor tax consultants: we document administrative procedures and check the information against the official source — this is information, not legal or tax advice.
CostsConversion free of chargeBerlin: free of charge at the examining registry office — fees only for certificates and surcharges
Processing timeDepends on the competent authorityNo statutory deadline — what matters is obtaining the documents and the appointment availability
MethodIn personBoth partners present at the same time (§ 20a (1) LPartG) — no representation
Legal situation since 2017

Two procedures — which one applies to you?

Conversion and new marriage are constantly confused in everyday life. They differ considerably in documents, examination and fees.

Case A — converting an existing civil partnership. You live in a registered civil partnership entered into by 30 September 2017 and want to turn it into a marriage. The legal basis is § 20a LPartG, and the procedure is governed by § 17a PStG. This is not a new marriage, but the conversion of an already existing legal relationship. The registry office therefore does not re-examine the requirements for marriage: § 17a (2) PStG expressly refers only to §§ 11, 12 (1) and (2) nos. 1 to 3 as well as §§ 14 to 16 PStG — and specifically not to § 13 PStG. A certificate of no impediment to marriage is therefore not provided for in the conversion. Under § 17a (1) PStG, all that is required is proof that the civil partnership exists, by means of public documents.

Case B — entering into a new marriage. You do not have a registered civil partnership and want to marry. In that case, the ordinary law on marriage applies: notification of marriage under § 12 PStG, examination of the requirements for marriage under § 13 PStG, marriage before the registrar under § 1310 BGB. Since the amendment of § 1353 (1) BGB, marriage is entered into "by two persons of different or the same sex"; same-sex couples go through exactly the same procedure as everyone else. Engaged persons who are subject to foreign law with regard to the requirements for marriage need a certificate of no impediment to marriage under § 1309 BGB or an exemption granted by the president of the Higher Regional Court. You can find all the details on our page Registering a marriage.

What is no longer possible since 1 October 2017. You can no longer enter into a new registered civil partnership in Germany — regardless of whether you are a same-sex or different-sex couple. The Civil Partnership Act now only applies to existing cases: it governs the rights and obligations of existing civil partnerships, their dissolution and, indeed, their conversion into a marriage. Anyone who still reads about "entering into a civil partnership" on an application form or an older authority website has come across an outdated version.

No automatic conversion. An existing civil partnership is not converted into a marriage by operation of law. Without the joint declaration of both partners before the registrar, it remains a civil partnership — with all the rights it carries, but also with the differences in adoption law and in recognition abroad. The conversion is voluntary, is not bound by any deadline and can also be declared years later.

Required documents

What you need to bring

Case A (conversion under § 17a PStG) comes first, followed below by Case B (entering into a new marriage). Ask your registry office in advance for the exact list — the scope of the examination depends on the individual case.

Valid identity documents for both partners

Each partner identifies themselves with a valid identity card or passport in the original; copies or photos on a smartphone are not accepted. Check the period of validity in good time before the appointment: an expired document means the registration cannot be accepted. A new identity card has cost €46.00 for people aged 24 and over and €27.60 below that age since 7 February 2026 under § 1 PAuswGebV; issuance takes several weeks.

Proof of the existing civil partnership (§ 17a (1) PStG)

This is the central document of the conversion: under § 17a (1) PStG, the civil partners must prove that the civil partnership exists by means of public documents. Eligible documents are the civil partnership certificate or a certified extract from the civil partnership register. Both are issued by the authority before which the civil partnership was originally established — depending on the federal state and year, this was the registry office or another competent body. Order the extract early if you have since moved and the certificate has to come from a different city.

Certified extract from the register of births (§ 12 (2) no. 1 PStG)

Through the reference in § 17a (2) PStG, § 12 (2) no. 1 PStG also applies to the conversion: both partners submit a certified extract from the register of births. It is issued by the registry office of the place of birth, and in many local authorities it can also be ordered online. How current the extract needs to be is determined by the examining registry office — ask in advance rather than relying on an old birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) from the Stammbuch (family record book).

Extended registration certificate (erweiterte Meldebescheinigung) or certificate of residence (§ 12 (2) no. 2 PStG)

The certificate shows place of residence, marital status and nationality, and at the same time establishes the registry office's jurisdiction. You obtain it from the Bürgeramt (citizens' office) of your place of residence. The fee is set by each local authority in its own by-law; if the certificate is issued electronically, it is free of charge under § 18 (3) BMG. If both partners live in different places, each brings their own certificate.

Proof of previous marriages or civil partnerships (§ 12 (2) no. 3 PStG)

If one of the partners was previously married or in a civil partnership, the dissolution of that relationship must be proved — by the final divorce decree (Scheidungsurteil) or the court's order of dissolution, or by the death certificate (Sterbeurkunde) of the former spouse or civil partner. The proof must bear the certificate of finality; a mere copy of the judgment without this certificate is not sufficient. Foreign divorces may additionally need to be recognised in Germany — allow considerably more time for this.

Foreign documents with translation and proof of authenticity

Registry offices regularly require documents from abroad in a certified translation by a translator publicly appointed or sworn in Germany. Depending on the country of origin, proof of authenticity is also required: an apostille under the Hague Convention or legalisation. Clarify with your registry office which form is required before commissioning the translator — subsequent certifications cost both time and money twice over.

Not required: certificate of no impediment to marriage

You do not need a certificate of no impediment to marriage for the conversion of an existing civil partnership — not even if one of the partners holds a foreign nationality. The reason lies in the referencing technique of § 17a (2) PStG: the provision refers to §§ 11, 12 (1) and (2) nos. 1 to 3 as well as §§ 14 to 16 PStG, but not to § 13 PStG, which governs the examination of the requirements for marriage. The certificate of no impediment to marriage under § 1309 BGB belongs to a new marriage. So do not let yourself be pushed into an onerous process of obtaining it in your home country before the registry office actually requires it.

Case B: Additional documents for entering into a new marriage

Notification of marriage under § 12 PStG

Couples without an existing civil partnership give notice of marriage at the registry office in whose district one of the engaged persons has their place of residence or habitual abode. Identity documents, certified extracts from the register of births, an extended registration certificate and, where applicable, proof of the dissolution of a previous marriage must be submitted. The registry office then examines under § 13 PStG whether anything stands in the way of the marriage.

Certificate of no impediment to marriage under § 1309 BGB (only where foreign home law applies)

Anyone subject to foreign law with regard to the requirements for marriage must, under § 1309 BGB, produce a certificate from the competent authority of their home country confirming that nothing stands in the way of the marriage. If the home country does not issue such a certificate — for example, because it does not recognise same-sex marriage — the president of the competent Higher Regional Court can grant an exemption from producing it. This exemption procedure takes several months and is subject to a fee; the amount of the fee is dependent on the competent authority. None of this applies for conversion under § 20a LPartG.

Step by step

How to proceed

  1. 1

    Check which procedure applies to you

    First establish whether you are converting an existing civil partnership (§ 20a LPartG) or entering into a new marriage. This decision determines the documents, scope of examination and fees. Anyone who is not in a registered civil partnership has been unable to enter into one since 1 October 2017 and goes straight to marriage. For the conversion, it is sufficient that the civil partnership still exists at the time of the declaration — in particular, it must not already have been dissolved by a court.

  2. 2

    Identify the competent registry office and arrange an appointment

    The conversion is registered at the registry office in whose district one of the civil partners has their place of residence or habitual abode — § 17a (2) PStG refers to § 12 (1) PStG for this purpose. You can then also declare the conversion before a different registry office if the examining registry office authorises you to do so under § 16 PStG; this is the classic case where the ceremony is to take place at a chosen location. Note that this is exactly where fees arise that do not apply when the conversion takes place at your own competent registry office. Many registry offices allocate appointments online, others only by telephone.

  3. 3

    Obtaining the documents

    Order the documents as soon as the appointment is fixed: proof of the existing civil partnership, certified extracts from the register of births for both partners, and the extended registration certificate. Documents from a different city or from abroad are the most common cause of delays — for documents from abroad, translation and, where applicable, an apostille are also required. Submit all documents in the original; certified extracts are not photocopies but are newly produced by the registry office that keeps the register.

  4. 4

    Registering and having the conversion examined

    When registering, the registry office takes down your details and checks the documents for completeness and authenticity. Unlike with a marriage, it is not re-examined whether the requirements for marriage are met — § 17a (2) PStG does not refer to § 13 PStG. The examination essentially focuses on whether the civil partnership exists and whether the public documents submitted prove this. If a document is missing, the registry office will inform you what needs to be provided; the appointment for the declaration is only finally confirmed after the examination has been completed.

  5. 5

    Setting the date, place and arrangements

    Set when and where the conversion will be declared. Within the usual opening hours and in the official premises of the competent registry office, the process is free of charge in Berlin; an appointment outside opening hours costs €80.00 there, and a conversion outside the official premises costs between €75.00 and €150.00. Witnesses are not required, but up to two witnesses can be included if desired. If one of the partners does not speak sufficient German, an interpreter must be brought in; the costs of the interpreter are borne by the parties themselves.

  6. 6

    Making the declaration before the registrar

    The actual legal act is brief: both civil partners declare under § 20a (1) LPartG, in person and simultaneously present, that they wish to be married to each other. Representation by an authorised person is excluded, as is a declaration made one after the other or in writing. Whether the declaration is received in a simple setting at a desk or with an address and guests in the ceremony room depends on your wishes and on what the registry office offers — legally, this makes no difference to its effect.

  7. 7

    Receiving the marriage certificate and dealing with follow-up steps

    The conversion is recorded, and you receive the marriage certificate (Eheurkunde); in Berlin it costs €12.00. If your name does not change as a result of the conversion — the usual case, because a civil partnership name chosen earlier automatically becomes the married name — you do not need to exchange any identity documents. Only if a married name is actually determined for the first time do you need a new identity card (€46.00 from age 24, €27.60 below that) and, where applicable, a passport (€70.00 from age 24, €37.50 below that); a digital photograph has been mandatory for this since 1 May 2025, and paper photos are no longer permitted. Also inform your employer, health insurance fund (Krankenkasse), insurers and banks of the change to your civil status.

Fee information

Costs and payment

Fees

Conversion of the civil partnershipFree of charge (Berlin, at the examining registry office)
Marriage certificate (Eheurkunde)€12.00 (Berlin)
Appointment outside opening hours€80.00 (Berlin)
Conversion outside the official premises€75.00–150.00 (Berlin)
InterpreterCosts borne by the parties themselves
Means of paymentEC card, bank transfer or cash — depending on the registry office

The widespread assumption that the same fees apply to the conversion as to a marriage is incorrect. The conversion is not a new marriage but the continuation of an existing legal relationship in a different form — accordingly, Berlin, for example, provides for no fee for the process itself, provided it takes place at the registry office where it was registered and examined. There, costs arise only for ancillary services: for the marriage certificate (€12.00), for appointments outside opening hours (€80.00), for conversion outside the official premises (€75.00 to €150.00), and for a required interpreter. There is no nationwide uniform fee, because fee law for registry offices is a matter for the federal states: for your registry office, the amounts are therefore dependent on the competent authority and can be found in its fee ordinance. You should also budget for the cost of the documents to be submitted — certified extracts from the register of births, proof of the civil partnership, the extended registration certificate and, for documents from abroad, translation and apostille. Anyone who, instead of converting, enters into a new marriage pays the regular fees for notification and marriage under the law of the respective federal state.

Good to know

Important notes

There is no deadline for the conversion. Neither the LPartG nor the PStG sets an end date: you can have your civil partnership converted today, in five years or in twenty years. The conversion is voluntary, and anyone who does not declare it loses no rights from the existing civil partnership as a result.

A new married name is usually excluded. If you determined a civil partnership name under § 3 LPartG when the partnership was entered into, you cannot determine a new married name under § 1355 BGB on conversion — § 20a (2) LPartG expressly provides this; the previous civil partnership name becomes the married name. Only couples who have never held a joint name can choose a married name on conversion. This is the most common disappointment at the appointment: anyone who still wants to change the name is referred to the narrow public-law name change procedure.

Your civil partnership agreement continues to apply. Under § 20a (3) LPartG, a civil partnership agreement concluded between the partners continues to apply as a marriage contract after the conversion. You therefore do not need to have it newly notarised by a notary. You should still check the agreement, though: provisions tailored to the LPartG rules on dissolution do not always transfer smoothly to divorce law.

A joint will remains unaffected. § 20a (4) LPartG makes clear that the conversion does not affect a joint will under § 10 (4) LPartG. Your last will therefore does not lose its validity as a result of the conversion and does not need to be revoked and drawn up again. A substantive review is nonetheless sensible if your financial or family circumstances have changed since then.

The conversion takes effect retroactively from the start of the civil partnership. Under § 20a (5) LPartG, the day the civil partnership was entered into is decisive for the rights and obligations of the spouses — so the years together continue to count, for example for the equalisation of accrued gains. For the equalisation of pension rights, § 20a (6) LPartG provides that the first day of the month in which the civil partnership was entered into applies. You do not start from zero legally with the conversion.

Less changes for tax purposes than you might expect. Spousal income splitting has been available to registered civil partners since 2013 already: § 2 (8) EStG provides that the provisions of the Income Tax Act relating to spouses and marriages also apply to civil partners and civil partnerships. The conversion therefore does not newly create this advantage. Whether the retroactive effect under § 20a (5) LPartG has implications in the individual case for past assessment periods depends on whether the tax assessments can still be amended procedurally — clarify this with the Finanzamt (tax office) or a tax adviser.

Adoption and international recognition are the real differences. Joint adoption of a child is reserved for spouses under § 1741 (2) BGB; § 9 (7) LPartG only allows registered civil partners to adopt the other partner's child. There is also the practice abroad: many states do not recognise the legal concept of the registered civil partnership and recognise only marriage. For couples with connections abroad — moving, inheritance or a right of residence abroad — this is often the decisive argument for conversion.

Divorce law applies after the conversion. A civil partnership is dissolved by a court under § 15 LPartG; after conversion, dissolution is instead governed by the divorce provisions of §§ 1564 et seq. BGB. The family court at the Amtsgericht (local court) then has jurisdiction. Since, under § 20a (5) LPartG, the day the civil partnership was entered into remains decisive for the rights and obligations of the spouses, the entire period of the civil partnership is also included in the financial settlement.

Avoid these mistakes

Common mistakes

Obtaining a certificate of no impediment to marriage that nobody requires. This is not provided for in the conversion, because § 17a (2) PStG does not refer to § 13 PStG. Anyone who nonetheless applies for it abroad regularly loses weeks to months and pays fees, translation and legalisation costs for no benefit whatsoever. Ask the registry office in writing before obtaining any document what is actually required.

Wanting to register a new civil partnership. Since 1 October 2017, entering into one has been excluded; a corresponding application is rejected and the appointment produces no result. Anyone who wants to formalise their relationship legally gives notice of marriage instead — with the same rights and obligations, but without the disadvantages of the civil partnership in adoption and international law.

Relying on automatic conversion. Existing civil partnerships do not become marriages by operation of law — without the declaration of both partners at the registry office, everything stays as it was. Anyone who mistakenly assumes they are married feels the consequences when it really matters: in a planned joint adoption, in an inheritance case with a connection abroad, or when a foreign authority does not recognise the marital status.

Planning a new married name. If a civil partnership name was determined under § 3 LPartG, § 20a (2) LPartG excludes choosing a new married name. The disappointment at the appointment is considerable, and a later change is only possible under the narrow requirements of the public-law name change procedure. So clarify the question of the name before giving notice, not once you are already in the ceremony room.

Only one partner appears or sends a power of attorney. § 20a (1) LPartG requires the declaration of both civil partners in person and simultaneously present. Representation, a written declaration or appearing one after the other are excluded — the appointment is simply lost and has to be rearranged, with the registry office's usual waiting times.

Booking a chosen location or an evening appointment without knowing the surcharges. The fee exemption in Berlin applies only at the examining registry office within opening hours. An appointment outside opening hours costs €80.00 there, and a conversion outside the official premises costs between €75.00 and €150.00 — amounts that many couples only notice once they receive the fee notice. Ask about your registry office's surcharges before fixing the location.

Ordering documents too late or submitting them in the wrong form. Without proof of the existing civil partnership by public documents (§ 17a (1) PStG), the registry office cannot complete the registration. Photocopies, simple printouts or foreign documents without a certified translation and without an apostille are rejected. For documents from abroad, allow for several extra weeks of processing time.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Can I still register a new civil partnership today?

No. Since 1 October 2017 – when Marriage for All came into force – no new registered civil partnerships can be entered into in Germany. Anyone who wants to formalise their relationship legally today gives notice of marriage at the registry office instead; the procedure is identical for same-sex and different-sex couples. Existing civil partnerships remain unaffected by this and continue to apply indefinitely.

What legally changes through conversion into a marriage?

Less changes in everyday life than many expect, because under tax and social law registered civil partners are already largely treated the same as spouses. The most practically important difference concerns adoption law: joint adoption of a child is reserved for spouses under § 1741 (2) BGB, while § 9 (7) LPartG only allows civil partners to adopt the other partner's child. There is also the international level, because many states do not recognise the legal concept of the registered civil partnership and recognise only marriage.

What does converting a civil partnership into a marriage cost?

The conversion itself does not trigger a marriage fee: in Berlin it is free of charge if it takes place at the registry office where it was registered and examined. Costs only arise for ancillary services such as the marriage certificate (€12.00 in Berlin), an appointment outside opening hours (€80.00), a conversion outside the official premises (€75.00 to €150.00), or an interpreter. Since fee law is a matter for the federal states, the exact amounts are dependent on the competent authority.

Do we need a certificate of no impediment to marriage for the conversion?

No. § 17a (2) PStG expressly refers only to §§ 11, 12 (1) and (2) nos. 1 to 3 as well as §§ 14 to 16 PStG, and specifically not to § 13 PStG, so the requirements for marriage are not re-examined on conversion. Under § 17a (1) PStG, all that must be proved is that the civil partnership exists, by means of public documents. The certificate of no impediment to marriage under § 1309 BGB applies exclusively to entering into a new marriage with a foreign party involved.

By when do we have to convert our civil partnership?

There is no deadline for the conversion; it is possible at any time and is entirely voluntary. A civil partnership that is not converted remains unchanged in effect and does not automatically turn into a marriage either. Without the personal declaration of both partners before the registrar, nothing happens legally.

Can we determine a new married name on conversion?

Generally not. If you determined a civil partnership name under § 3 LPartG when the partnership was entered into, § 20a (2) LPartG excludes determining a new married name; the previous civil partnership name becomes the married name. Only couples who never determined a joint name can choose a married name under § 1355 BGB on conversion.

Does the marriage take effect retroactively from the start of the civil partnership?

Yes, in effect it does. Under § 20a (5) LPartG, the day the civil partnership was entered into is decisive for the rights and obligations of the spouses, so the time spent together is not lost. For the equalisation of pension rights, § 20a (6) LPartG provides that the first day of the month in which the civil partnership was entered into applies.

What happens to our civil partnership agreement and a joint will?

Both remain in place. A civil partnership agreement continues to apply as a marriage contract under § 20a (3) LPartG, without needing to be newly notarised. A joint will under § 10 (4) LPartG is likewise unaffected by the conversion under § 20a (4) LPartG.

Does the conversion bring tax advantages?

Spousal income splitting has been available to registered civil partners since 2013 already, because under § 2 (8) EStG the provisions of the Income Tax Act relating to spouses also apply to civil partners. The conversion therefore does not newly create this advantage. Whether changes for past assessment periods arise in the individual case from the retroactive effect under § 20a (5) LPartG depends on whether the relevant tax assessments can still be amended procedurally; clarify this with the tax office or a tax adviser.

How long does it take from registration to conversion?

There is no statutory processing deadline; the duration is dependent on the competent authority and, above all, on its appointment availability. As soon as the documents are complete and the registry office has examined the registration, the declaration can be made. Allow extra time for obtaining documents, especially if they come from abroad and need to be translated.

Related official procedures

Give notice of marriage
New marriage at the registry office
Registration €40–75
Applying for a marriage certificate (Eheurkunde)
Proof of marriage
€10–€15 depending on the local authority
Applying for a change of name
Married name or compound surname
Standesamt from €25
Stammbuch (family record book)
Collection of certificates
€20–50 (purchase price)

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