Standesbeamtin

Standesbeamtin is the feminine form of Standesbeamter, a civil registry official responsible for civil status matters at the Standesamt in German-speaking countries. The Standesamt is the local civil registry office that handles births, marriages, and deaths and may also conduct civil wedding ceremonies. Standesbeamtinnen are civil servants employed by municipalities or states and are empowered to issue official certificates and maintain the civil status registers.

Typical duties include registering births, marriages, and deaths; issuing extracts and certificates (such as birth, marriage, and death certificates); recording changes of names and marital status; and performing civil wedding ceremonies that legally bind a marriage. They verify documents, ensure compliance with applicable civil law, and handle administrative tasks related to civil status records.

In Germany and Austria, Standesbeamtinnen (and their male counterparts) are the official civil authorities authorized to perform legally valid marriages; religious ceremonies may accompany or follow the civil ceremony but do not suffice for legal validity. In Switzerland, the equivalent position is usually called Zivilstandsbeamte or Zivilstandsbeamtin at the Zivilstandsamt, with similar functions. The office and the title reflect the historical development of civil registration and civil marriage in the 19th century and remain an essential part of modern civil administration.