Entitlement to a family name

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Marriage

 

The current law on names has been in force since 1 January 2013. The law provides that each spouse retains his or her family name upon marriage. However, the spouses can jointly select  the husband's or wife's single name as their joint family name. The double name system was abolished at that time. There is, however, the possibility of using a so-called alliance name in everyday life, i.e. if each keeps his or her respective family name, each can put the other's name after his or her own. The alliance name is a hyphenated double name. It is not an official name but  is nevertheless recorded in the civil registry. However, it can also be recorded  in the passport or on the identity card if expressly requested.

 

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Divorce

If married before 1 January 2013: Spouses who changed their surname through marriage before 1 January 2013 can declare at any time before the civil registry agency  (i.e. also already during the separation) that they wish to use their own single surname again.

 

Marriage after 1 January 2013: As soon as you have been legally divorced or your registered partnership has been dissolved by the court, you can declare at any time before the civil registry agency  that you wish to use your single surname again.

 

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