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

Legal Remedy

An appeal against a decision (notice) of the civil status authority (registry office) may be lodged with the competent regional Landesverwaltungsgericht (administrative court)^{German text}. The appeal must be submitted within four weeks to the authority that issued the decision.

Legal basis

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