General information on registered partnerships

In a registered partnership, two people enter into a long-term cohabiting relationship with rights and obligations towards one another.

A registered partnership is established by both partners attending an authority responsible for civil status, in person and at the same time (registry office^{German text}). The registrar asks each of the partners one after the other in the presence of two (or only one or no witnesses if desired) if they want to enter into a registered partnership with one another. After these questions are answered in the affirmative, the registrar will pronounce them legally registered partners. It is also possible to enter into a registered partnership outside the official premises of the registry office, provided that the location reflects the significance of the registered partnership. The registrar sets down a written record of the establishment of the registered partnership.

Conditions for entering into a registered partnership:

• being of legal age
• being eligible for a partnership
• having no valid marriage
• having no valid registered partnership
• not being related in a direct line, not being full or half-siblings, not having an adoptive relationship

Appeal

An appeal against a decision by the department responsible for civil status ("Standesamt", registry office) can be filed with the relevant Regional Adminstrative Court. This must be submitted within four weeks to the authority which issued the decision.

Legal basis

• Eingetragene Partnerschaft-Gesetz (EPG)
• Personenstandsgesetz
• Personenstandsgesetz-Durchführungsverordnung