If your marriage was divorced outside Germany, you can have this decision formally recognized in Germany.If you are married or in a registered civil partnership but living separately, you can demand reasonable maintenance from your partner even before the divorce.If you want to end your marriage, you can file for a divorce of your marriage.If you want to end your civil partnership, you can apply to dissolve your civil partnership.If you have lost your divorce decree or your divorce decree (divorce certificate), you can apply for a new certified copy or copy at the local court or family court where your divorce proceedings were conducted at the time. Only this court keeps the so-called original, i.e. the original of your divorce certificate. You should assure the court that you have lost the divorce certificate. It can be very helpful for the court if you can provide the file number of your divorce proceedings at the time. You may still be able to find a letter from the court or your lawyer on which the file number is printed.If you are married or in a registered civil partnership but living apart, you can ask for a distribution of household goods for the time you are living apart.If you are legally divorced and are unable to support yourself, you can demand reasonable maintenance from your former spouse.