Spouses can choose their own name.

The following name declarations can be considered if the spouses are subject to the German personal statute:

• Determination of married name (also after the marriage)
• Adoption of a companion name (prefix or addition)
• Reassumption of the birth name

The relevant declaration must be made to the registry office The declaration is personal.

Furthermore, the person making the declaration must have legal capacity; for persons with limited legal capacity, the provisions of § 106 BGB apply; for persons under guardianship, §§ 119ff BGB apply.

Declarations made after the marriage must always be officially notarized.

In Germany, notaries and any registrar appointed in Germany are responsible for notarization. In the case of declarations made abroad, the certification and authentication powers of German consular officials must be observed.

Declarations of name are declarations of intent requiring official receipt and only become effective after receipt by the competent German registry office.

If there is no German marriage or marriage entry for the marriage, the registry office in whose jurisdiction one of the declaring parties has or last had his or her domicile or habitual residence is responsible for accepting a declaration on the use of names in the marriage. If there is such a domestic connection, this jurisdiction applies if the marriage was concluded abroad and has not yet been subsequently notarized in a German marriage register. If there is no such domestic connection in the form of a domicile or habitual residence in Germany, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible.

Notaries in Germany and registrars appointed in Germany are responsible for notarization. In the case of declarations made abroad, the certification and authentication powers of German consular officials must be observed.