Heiratsurkunde

A Heiratsurkunde, also called Eheurkunde or Auszug aus dem Heiratsregister, is an official civil-status document that confirms the legal marriage of two people. In Germany it is issued by the Standesamt, the civil registry office, in the district where the marriage was registered. The certificate typically states the names of the spouses, the date and place of the marriage, and the current marital status. Some copies may also include parental names or other registry details, depending on the issuing office.

Purpose and use: A Heiratsurkunde serves as formal proof of marriage for a variety of administrative, legal and contractual purposes. It may be required for name changes, social security or pension matters, inheritance procedures, bank or insurance transactions, immigration or naturalization processes, and when dealing with courts or authorities. For international use, the document is often accompanied by a sworn translation and, in many cases, an apostille or legalization to ensure recognition abroad.

Types and availability: The document may be issued as a full certificate or as an extract (Auszug) from the marriage register. Depending on national regulations, a certified copy or an extract with limited information may be available.

Process and prerequisites: A request for a Heiratsurkunde is typically made to the Standesamt that holds the marriage record. Eligible applicants usually include the spouses themselves, their legal representatives, or authorized third parties, with proof of identity and, if necessary, proof of a legal interest.

Legal basis and regional variation: In Germany, civil registration and the issuance of marriage certificates are governed by the Personenstandsgesetz and related regulations; terminology and formats can vary by country and region in the German-speaking world.