HELP! My fiance and I would like to get married while in Germany. Does anyone know what documents or steps we will have to take here in the US before we go. We are thinking about having the ceremony in the black forest if anyone knows a scenic spot as well, that would be great.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
Noelle, your birth certificate was issued at the day of your birth and therefore cannot be 6 months old. Germany doesn't work like the US, our ID's don't expire, our driver's license doesn't expire. In the US when your ID expires you seize to exist as well. In Germany once you're born you are considered to be alive, legal and valid. Your passport has to be valid for at least 6 months after your departure from Germany. That's the only thing I know. I read the fine print from Frankfurt Standesamt und couldn't find anything about 6 months. But please double-check with the Standesamt of the town you intend to get married in.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
Noelle, a very popular romantic place to get married is the Wallfahrtskirche in Birnau at the Lake of Constance. Regarding the paper work: After you have picked a city/town you need to contact the locat "Standesamt" and regíster with them. They need proof of your citizenship, certification of your ancestry or birth certificate, proof of residency, your marital status (in case on of you is divorced, they need that document), in case one of you holds an academical title that documentation is important, too. According to German law you must either a) pick a joint family name which can only be one of the two last names or b) pick a family name as in a) but the other partner keeps his/her old name in addition and builts a hyphenated name (only one of you can do that) or c) pick a family name but the other spouse continues using his/her old name. Depending on the actual town and German state the fees vary between €60 and €75. Declaration of hyphenated name always...
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
costs €15 to €17 extra. This all goes for different-sex as well as same-sex marriages.
Posted by
OP
Lake Worth, Florida, USA
2 posts
Thank you Andreas
I read that the documents have to be printed with in the last 6 months. Do you know if this is true? Do I need to have any of these documents notarized, or is the original court stamp accepted?
Posted by
Orlando, FL, USA
14 posts
You have to get a new birth certificate from the state you were born in 6 months before the wedding. It can't be any older than 6 months old. Get a wedding planner in Germany. It will save you time and make your day beautiful. You need permission from the German embassy in the US and then the capitol of Germany and then the city you will be married in. We were married in Switzerland in Sept of 2006. It's work but what isn't and a lot cheaper than a US wedding. Congrats.