Getting Married in Germany

Countries have their own rules and regulations about the marital bliss of their citizens and when marring non-citizens. Germany is no exception to this rule and when in the process of marring a noncitizen in Germany can be very cumbersome. For example, in the US, you can elope to Vegas or Atlantic City and go to anyone of the many marriage chapels and get married. This simply does not exist in Germany. However, there are numerous options that you can do to help make the transition to marital bliss as easy as possible in Germany.

If, you are an expat marrying a local German then check with your local embassies on the current laws and get the information you need to make sure that you are following both countries legalities before getting married.

There are certain documents that you will want to bring with you and have apostle prior to getting married.

- Official passport

-Long Form birth Certificate

-Any Previous marriage Divorce Decree

-Annulment Decrees

-Death Certificates

-Birth Certificates (children)

-Additional documents you may find pertinent.

If, you are unsure about which documents you require then hire a local attorney with experience. They can guide you in getting the papers and documents together that you need.

One document that must be signed and notarized in Germany is called the Ledigkeit Bescheinigung (Ledigkeit - Single) (Bescheinigung - Certificate). It is a document that states that both parties are under no previous marital obligations and are free to pursue a current marriage.

Another requirement of getting married in Germany as an expat is that you must prove that you or your spouse is able too financially support each other. You can do this by providing current paystubs and bank records prior to the service. If, you are still unsure which documents you need to bring with you to prove your financial status. Then bring them all. It is always a good rule of thumb to be over prepared then under prepared.

While, searching for that perfect setting in Germany for you and your partner you might not realize that you have to get married twice. This only affects those that wish to have a religious ceremony to consummate the marriage. In Germany, it is a requirement that foreign expats marrying a German citizen apply for a civil wedding. Once the civil wedding has been completed they can then pursue a religious ceremony at the faith of their choosing.

Of course, if you are not fluent in the local German dialect any legal papers or ceremonies you attend make sure you have translated so that you may understand what is being said and what you are signing. This is as much a protection for yourself and for your spouse.

Using the steps listed above will help you in your quest to the blissful union you so wait to enjoy but don’t forget if you find this all too cumbersome there are many marriage professionals who for a fee will take care of everything for you. However, the most important part is to remember to love your new wife and enjoy your new life together.