Marriage in case of life-threatening illness (emergency marriage)

In the case of an acute life-threatening illness, a civil marriage can, under certain conditions, be performed at very short notice with little formal effort, regardless of opening hours, even outside the registry office, for example in a hospital or at home.

Requirements

An emergency marriage ceremony can be performed if

• there is an acute life-threatening illness,
• the current state of health cannot be postponed,
• the ill person is legally capable and aware of the importance of a marriage, and
• it can be credibly shown that there are no obstacles to the marriage ceremony.

What documents do I need?

• In principle, all documents necessary for the registration of the marriage must be submitted.
  

  However, please contact us immediately in any case. The registry office decides on a case-by-case basis which documents are required immediately or can be submitted later and whether it is possible for the registry office to obtain them more quickly.

  In order to prove the necessity of an emergency marriage, you will in any case need a current medical certificate stating that

  • the marriage cannot be postponed due to the life-threatening illness, and
  • the ill person is fully capable of business and sane, if necessary, despite appropriate medication (the ill person must be able to be aware of the importance of entering into a marriage).