In Germany, many couples choose to live together without being married, even when they have children. Every individual has the freedom to make their own choices.

Same-sex marriage – whether between two men or between two women – has been legal in Germany since 1 October 2017. Same sex couples have the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual couples. This means they are allowed to adopt children and take on their partner’s name. They are also obliged to support each other.

Do you want to get married in Germany? Register at the registry office in your place of residence. You will need several documents: your ID or passport, your birth certificate, your certificate of registration and an “Ehefähigkeitszeugnis”, a certificate of no impediment to marriage. If you have children, you will also need to bring your children’s documents. Ask your registry office whether you need any additional documents.

You must have the documents from your home country translated into German. A notary must confirm that the translations are correct with his/her signature. He or she must authenticate the translations.

After the marriage, you will receive a new document at the registry office: the marriage certificate. If you wish, you can also have a family register (Familienstammbuch) in which information about your family is recorded.

If you got married in your home country, you can have this foreign marriage certificate recognised at the registry office. Ask at your local registry office.

Most people celebrate their wedding with a big party. The couple invites lots of guests, including relatives, such as parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, but also friends and often colleagues. There are usually around 100 guests at a wedding in Germany. So the celebrations are not quite as big as in some other countries.

There is food, music and dancing at the party. The bride and groom dance together while all the guests watch. They also cut the wedding cake together. Sometimes, games are organised for the couple. The bride often wears a white wedding dress. Many couples buy wedding rings. Guests bring gifts, often in the form of money. Guests can also ask the couple beforehand what they would like as a wedding gift.

Is your husband or wife still in your home country? You can bring your family to Germany. To do this, you will need a residence permit. This applies only to your wife or husband and your children if they are under the age of 18. This is called family reunification or spouse reunification. Certain skilled workers from abroad may also bring their parents and parents-in-law to Germany. This is the case if they received their residence permit after 1 March 2024.

There are specific rules for this process of family reunification. You must be able to support your family financially. And your home must have enough space for everyone. You also need health insurance. It’s important that your husband or wife has a basic knowledge of German. They will need a language certificate proving they have at least A1-level German. Children under the age of 16 do not need to take a German language test.

Are there problems in your marriage? Do you argue a lot? Consider marriage or couples counselling. This can sometimes be helpful.

However, there are times when couples have valid reasons to separate or divorce. The divorce process, however, can be complicated. You must first live separately for a year. It is advisable to seek counselling. Counselling centres can help with legal matters and questions regarding children, such as who the children should live with and who has to pay how much.