Need help with marriage in Germany

Here is the situation:

I have dual citizenship american and bosnian, he is german and we would like to get married in germany.

He went to the local standesamt and here is what they requested:

us passport [that's fine no problem with that]

residency certificate or proof of residency [Meldebescheinigung von Wohnsitz in Amerika] I'm a resident of California and I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I WOULD GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET!

birth certificate with official govt. stamp and they didn't say anything about it being printed within the last 6 months [I have that but it's definitley not been printed within the last 6 months and there's NO WAY I could get one that's not printed within the last 6 months]

marital status certificate [Ledigkeitbescheinigung] same thing with residency certificate WHERE DO I GET THIS???!?!

Ehefähigkeitszeugnis which I'm assuming is the same thing as the marital status certificate...? I know that you could get this in Germany.

I also have a question about changing your last name as I'll be taking his last name and as far as having the change my name on the passport license...etc. Do I have to be back in the US to do all this?

Check the embassy in Frankfurt, I was fortunate to get all of that done before I left California. The Standesampt will want everything notarized and I think the easiest would be thru Frankfurt. Or go back to the states and hit the local city hall. And your right Ehefähigkeitszeugnis is marital status. Blue tape and Bureaucracy is everywhere eh?
Viel Glück

i'm sure other will tell you to search TT.
i haven't an answer and my suggestion might not help, but would a drivers license or state tax return help for proof of residency in CA?

mere, that is what I would suggest, seeing as there is no such thing as Meldebescheinigung in the States.

I searched everywhere and haven't gotten an answer...I just need to know where to get the paperwork! California doesn't even have such a thing as a residency certificate...I called the city I live in and the DMV...

I don't think that will work mere, there really isn't an easy way around this. It took me approx 2 months to get all of my paper work ready for the big day and that was back in the mother country. So I believe it will be a bit rougher her in Dland.

What does a DL tell them, that you have a P.O box somewhere in that state? Plus if the Polizei doesn't recognize a California Drivers license as a valid DL why would the Standesamt?

Pullo, did you have to submit all that and where did you get it? I don't mind that it takes that long it's just that I can get it in first place...apparently there's no such things as a meldebescheinigung and the ehefähigkeitszeugnis in the US, so how can the standesamt request something like that if it doesn't even exist here...?!?!?

O man I must have gotten really lucky when we got married. all I needed was a translated version of my birth certificate and the beamter said I probably don't even REALLY need that since its short, and in english and everyone can understand it lol and the meldezettel for the town we lived in when we got married. Seriously...we went in on a Friday JUST for info on what we need, etc...and 3 weeks later we were married! Oh...and my husband isn't even German..he's Austrian, so I would have thought that would complicate it even more hehe.

But yea, most of the stuff on your list doesn't even exist in the US.. I didn't need an ehefähigkeitszeugnis for that reason...

I went to the department of the secretary of state in So-Cal. There I gave them my Birth cert and they attached a cert called an Apostille to it and basically what that is is the king kong of notarized documents. Then I brought that with me to Dland and had the document Translated or Übersetzung. Im looking at the doc now and on the 2nd page there is the Bescheinigung. this was all done buy the paid translator. Hope this helps.

yeah it does thanks...! it's really complicating for me since my birth certificate is from bosnia and everything else I'm supposed to get from the US! Who knows if they have a translator that can translate my birth certificate from bosnian to german, etc. I told my b/f to contact the guy fromt he standesamt and let him know thta there's no such things in the US...I'll just have to wait and see what he says...!

Thanks for the help!

one more question...so when you left California did you have to report anywhere that you're leaving and as far as not paying taxes in the Us...etc. Chaning your last name on your US passport/Drivers lisence...?

I'd suggest going to your nearest German Embassy and asking them to help you. Most of the things you need would come from the American Embassy in Germany.

On the old topic, The Dokumentenbescheinigung is call an Apostille. Im not sure how that will work for you birth country but its worth a shot either saying that to them or translating it for them but that is the doc needed. I didnt change my name cause my wife took mine. State taxes are weird for me and Im probably not the best one to talk on that matter but Im not paying for road construction and schools and stuff like that if im not planning on living there for the next 10 years. Oh and dont be to concerned about checking outa the states unless you owe money or something other then that no one cares.

Best

You're in luck! I have just gone through this full process. I am American and have had to get all of these documents. I got the proof of residency at the KVR here in Munich. I got my certificate of no-impedement from the US Embassy (consulate) here in Munich. I had to order a copy of my birth certificate, previous marriage and divorce certificates which all had to be apostilled from the US. Most of them were from the Vital Records departments in Portland Oregon, where I lived and the B. Cert. from San Diego County Clerks office. The apostille's were done at the state capital offices. It was a lengthy process, but not as difficult as I thought tit would be. They do all need to be notarized/apostilled within the six months of the wedding. If you have other questions, please PM me, I'd be happy to help out as much as I can, and I realize that this post isn't written very clearly as I am quite tired right now! Sorry!

I'd recommend you get your marrying done in the US because it's way easier. Have a party here, but not the official marrying bit. Save yourself lots of trouble. Why do you want to get married here if you live in CA anyway? If you still want to, ask a travel agent there in CA about trips and getting married in Germany. They should know it all too.

You get an Ehefähigkeitszeugnis here at the city hall where you'd be doing the marriage ceremony -- you take an oath that you're not currently married and you get a piece of paper that says that on it. The actual marrying here is always a civil service, only available during the week at city hall (Standesamt). The church bit is only a ceremony and you have to be a church tax paying person for it too.

Yeah and the Meldebescheinigung (proof of residency) that Beckita mentions is for people who live in Germany. Do you?

I did think about getting married here but there's no we can fly out 70 people from germany to california...!

I don't live in Germany right now, I just got back but I plan on going back in the summer and then get married and the the aufenthaltserlaubnis, look for a job in the economy, etc. etc.

Yeah looks like I have to get the Ehefaehigkeitszeugnis in Germany.

Also, it sounds as though you are planning to marry under German law? Why don't you marry under American law, since you're in America?

Zdravo!

I, a Canadian, married my Bosnian sweetie in Sarajevo 11 years ago and also had a hell of a time figuring all the required documents out. I had to come up with several papers that don't exist in Canada. In the end for this pesky "Ledigkeitbescheinigung" (my husband told me at the time I needed to bring my "Lady Papers" in order to get married!!) the registry office in my home city suggested that I order records searches through my Provincial archives to prove that I had never been married--in my Province!! I could have been married in another Province, or in Las Vegas or something and no one would no, but anyway... Then I was advised to take these documents to a lawyer and swear an oath that I was indeed unmarried. There were some other requirements that the lawyer addressed as well in this way (you could probably also swear before a lawyer that you are indeed a resident of whatever city in California), and then he made a really impressive packet out of the whole swack of papers with a lovely seal and stamp and green ribbons! Then on the other end, I had to take this pile of goodies to a notarized translator in Sarajevo. All was accepted by the Bosnian powers that be.

Canada-wise I had a few translated copies of our marriage certificate notarized for proof of marriage and name change in Canada and done! I just submitted a copy of this the next time I did taxes and showed one to my bank and Driver's license registry, passport office etc for name change and no problems. Hopefully a similar scenario would work for you!

Sretno,

Jasmine

Do yourself a BIG favour and get married in Denmark, thus avoiding the beurocratic bull...t here in Germany. And, by the way, best wishes!

EDIT: oops! Just realised that you do not plan to get married in Germany! For anyone else who is, my advice stands.

I'd still recommend you get married in a civil ceremony in California where all you need is to show up with your and his passports. Cost us $55. Have the party for the 70 people in Germany. Have a church ceremony here if you want. The marriage is valid in Germany as long as you get an Apostille, which cost $13 at the time. Absolutely no hassle at all. Priceless.

We should have a poll actually as this issue comes up again and again -- get married here or anywhere else on the planet, what do those who've done it recommend? Bet you anything Germany loses the competition.

I've done it here in Germany. never again. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, not even people I didn't particularly like.

For a Canadian getting married in Europe and needed proof of being single, every Canadian embassy (and consulate, I assume) will easily and quickly provide the necessary document. You just make an appointment, show up with Canadian id, raise your right hand and swear that you're single, and it's done. I needed it to get married in Switzerland, and did it at the embassy in Bern. Took less than an hour and I walked out with the "certificat de celibataire" in my hand. Hubby and I had a giggle that I was now officially celibate! (yeah, I know... the French word just means single, but it does look funny at first glance.)

Wouldn't US embassies provide a similar service?

I went though this a year and a half ago> I recommend looking at the US Consulate website - they have a fairly comprehensive list of what you will need to get married here:

http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/servi...ng_married.html

Compared to the US Immigration and Naturalization/Dept. of Homeland Security, any bureaucratic working-over you get here will be like a trip to the spa by comparison. In my experience the German bureaucracy was very reasonable, understanding, and quite helpful. Compared to these, the US agencies are utter embarrassments.

I think we managed to get everything done in six weeks or so - but they did help us out here with one step, by getting it processed in a day rather than the usual 4-6 weeks...

Also note: When I went to the consulate here regarding my marriage to a German citizen, I was advised by the consulate not to expect my wife to be admitted into the US after any paperwork had been filed regarding her eventual US residence/work status until everything had finished processing -- which could take up to nine months. Since we didn't plan on moving to the States it didn't crimp our schedule; however if you're looking to head back there, be aware that you can end up in a real mess (e.g. it is illegal to enter on a Tourist Visa with the intention of changing it once in the US).

update...

ok so my b/f went to the standesamt and the guy said that he knows the US doesn't really issue the "Martial Status Certificates" so he said we don't have to have it...he did say that we do need the Meldebescheinigung and Birth Certificate that's been issued in the LAST 3 MONTHS!!!

so I called the local DMV here to see if they had something like a proof of residency certificate and of course they didn't have anything like that or could issue something. Told me to use my driver's lisence...LOL!

And I have no idea where to even start looking into get a new copy of my Birth Certificate...this is lovely!!!

That sounds wrong.

The birth certificate simply has to be certified or translated within 3 months, not issued, and the US does indeed issue the marital status certificates. You have to go someplace and swear to your identity and status, then everyone signs, and you get it translated and notarised. Proof of residency is also tax forms, pay stubs, utility bills, btw.

Why is your boyfriend asking about the US side? Why don't you ask the US side yourself and ask the German consulate wherever you are? It sounds like things are getting lost in translation, a bit.

Yeah that's the problem someplace...I've called the German Consulate in Los Angeles and they couldn't help me. They said that here in California they don't issue Martial Status Certificates.

As far as using tax forms, pay stub, etc. as proof of residency. The person at the Standesamt told him that something like that would work. They would need something with signatures and certification.

I'll have to check out the 3 months. Apparently he was told that it would have to have been issued no longer than 3 months prior to the wedding date.

Maybe you misunderstood me? I think you should ask an AMERICAN authority in LA, not a German one, for the certificate, because you have to swear that you, as an American, are single. You'd have to go to an American one here, too.

question...if we do get married here in the US. Does anyone know what I will need to do to make the marriage lisence legal in Germany?