Getting Married in Dortmund

You must register your marriage at the registry office. Popular dates go fast – so book early! In Hannover you can choose from many special wedding venues.

If one of you is not a German citizen, you MUST first make a consultation appointment at the registry office. There you'll learn which extra documents you need.

The foreign partner needs documents from their home country. These often need an apostille and translation by a sworn translator.

You can choose: Each keeps their name, one takes the other's, or double name. The decision is set at registration.

If you change your name, you need a new ID card. You can apply 8 weeks before the wedding if you have the registry office confirmation of your future name.

After marrying a German, the foreign partner can apply for a new residence permit (family reunification). In Hannover much can be done online.

After the wedding, you can change your tax classes and possibly save taxes. This can be done online via ELSTER.

Inform your employer about the wedding – for tax class change and possibly name change in payroll.

As a married couple, you can often combine insurance policies and save. Check liability, household contents, legal protection and car insurance.

Marriage is also a financial decision. Now is the right time for joint insurance – home contents, liability and pension provision as a couple are often cheaper than individual policies.

Those who marry take responsibility for each other. Two insurances protect your shared standard of living: risk life insurance protects the partner in case of death – life insurance combines protection with wealth building.

Moving or new start as occasion: now is worth comparing current property financing conditions. Those who want to buy or are looking for cheaper credit – rates vary greatly by bank.