Change of name, under public law

Your surname and first name can be changed. You must have an important reason for the change. There are important reasons if the private interests worthy of protection of you as the bearer of the name outweigh the public interest or a private interest of third parties in retaining your name.

• Registration certificate and valid official photo ID (identity card, passport)
• Extract from the register of births (available from the registry office of the place of birth)
• for stateless persons: travel document or entry from the foreigners authority in the passport or passport replacement
• for homeless foreigners or persons entitled to asylum: entry from the foreigners authority in the passport or passport substitute
• for foreign refugees: Entry by the immigration authority in the passport or passport replacement
• for persons who have reached the age of 14, a certificate of good conduct in accordance with § 28 of the Federal Central Criminal Register Act,
• proof of the result of the hearing by the family or guardianship court if the application is made by a guardian or custodian,
• the result of the hearing by the family court if the applicant has reached the age of 16.
• A statement as to whether, where and with what result an application for a change of surname has already been made.

For further documents, please contact the name change authority responsible for you in advance.

There are so-called "framework fees" for a change of name under public law, which are between 28.00 euros and 560.00 euros for a change of first name and between 28.00 euros and 1,680.00 euros for a change of surname.