If you wish to change your surname and/or first name outside the provisions of civil law (i.e. not, for example, when getting married or divorced), you must apply for a change of name under public law.

You must note the following:

• Name changes can only be carried out for Germans within the meaning of the Basic Law, stateless persons, homeless foreigners, foreign refugees or persons entitled to asylum.
• Only important reasons justify the change of name. The reasons must therefore be explained in detail in the application.
• For a person with limited legal capacity, the legal representative (father, mother, guardian, custodian) submits the application; a guardian or custodian requires the approval of the guardianship court. A person with limited legal capacity who has reached the age of 16 must be heard by the guardianship court on the application. The approval of the guardianship court and proof of the result of the hearing of the applicant by the guardianship court must be attached to the application.
• The application must contain a statement as to whether a change of name has been applied for previously, if so, when and with which authority.
• The applicant must also declare that he/she is aware that the change of name or the rejection or withdrawal of the application is subject to a fee.