Reform of naming law: More freedom for families in Hesse!

Reform of naming law: More freedom for families in Hesse!

On May 1, 2025, a comprehensive reform of naming law came into force in Germany, bringing with it many changes that primarily affect married couples and their children. These innovations create more freedom for double names and make it easier to change names in various family situations. Loud stern.de Spouses can now have a common double name, with or without a hyphen. The reform also allows children of divorce to change their names more easily, and adult children have the opportunity to change from the surname of one parent to the surname of the other.

Inquiries to registry offices have increased significantly since the change in the law came into force. In Darmstadt, 176 applications for name changes had already been submitted by the beginning of June 2023, which represents a sharp increase compared to 79 applications in the previous year. There are also numerous requests for changes in Wiesbaden and Kassel, with many requests coming from divorced partners. In Frankfurt, increased interest and comprehensive online advice could be observed even before the law came into force.

Facilitation for special family situations

The reformed regulations apply not only to newly married couples, but also to people who are already married and their children, who can subsequently adopt a double name. Stepchildren and children of divorce also benefit from the new rules: it will be easier for them to change their name and, if necessary, they can take the last name of a parent if they give up their married name. This happens on the condition that the child lives in the household of the parent concerned and agrees to this if he or she is at least five years old bmjv.de reported.

The new opportunities that arise for members of minorities such as Sorbs and Danes are particularly exciting. They will be allowed to use traditional forms of names and naming rights will be made more flexible internationally. Children may be given double names consisting of both parents' surnames, and a maximum of two surnames are permitted. Although a hyphen is possible, it is no longer absolutely necessary rp-online.de.

A greater need for adjustment at registry offices

However, the change to the new regulations also means more work for the registry offices. The time required to process these applications has increased, and initial training measures for registrars and the implementation of a name configurator to provide support are already known from cities such as Marburg and Offenbach. These measures are necessary to meet increased requests and continue to provide citizens with an efficient service.

Overall, it can be seen that the reform of naming law brings with it many positive developments. It enables families to better preserve their identity and traditions and makes naming rights more flexible and fair. The new law is a step in the right direction to meet the needs of modern society and promote diversity.