GermanyWhat are the requirements for getting divorced in Germany?
You can only get divorced in Germany through a court judgment, and the marriage must be legally broken down — usually proven by at least one year of separation (or three years if only one spouse applies).
What the Law Says
German law requires strict formal and factual conditions before a marriage can be dissolved. Divorce is never automatic — it always requires a final court judgment, and the legal basis for ending the marriage is the 'breakdown' of the marital relationship.
First, divorce in Germany is exclusively judicial: no administrative or mutual agreement divorce exists. Under BGB § 1564, only a court can dissolve a marriage — and only upon application by one or both spouses. The divorce becomes legally effective only when the court’s decision becomes final (rechtskräftig).
Second, the legal ground for divorce is the breakdown of the marriage (Scheitern der Ehe), defined in BGB § 1565(1) as the irreversible end of the spouses’ shared life — meaning they no longer live together and there is no reasonable expectation they will resume cohabitation.
Third, the law provides two key presumptions of breakdown under BGB § 1566: (1) if spouses have lived apart for one year *and* both apply for divorce or the respondent consents; or (2) if they have lived apart for three years — regardless of consent. These presumptions are unwiderlegbar (irrebuttable), meaning courts cannot deny divorce once these conditions are met.
Statutory TextEine Ehe kann nur durch richterliche Entscheidung auf Antrag eines oder beider Ehegatten geschieden werden. Die Ehe ist mit der Rechtskraft der Entscheidung aufgelöst.
— BGB § 1564 — German Civil Code
Statutory Text(1) Eine Ehe kann geschieden werden, wenn sie gescheitert ist. Die Ehe ist gescheitert, wenn die Lebensgemeinschaft der Ehegatten nicht mehr besteht und nicht erwartet werden kann, dass die Ehegatten sie wiederherstellen.
— BGB § 1565(1) — German Civil Code
Statutory Text(1) Es wird unwiderlegbar vermutet, dass die Ehe gescheitert ist, wenn die Ehegatten seit einem Jahr getrennt leben und beide Ehegatten die Scheidung beantragen oder der Antragsgegner der Scheidung zustimmt.(2) Es wird unwiderlegbar vermutet, dass die Ehe gescheitert ist, wenn die Ehegatten seit drei Jahren getrennt leben.
— BGB § 1566 — German Civil Code
What to Do
File a divorce petition with the local family court (Familiengericht) — representation by a lawyer is mandatory in contested cases and strongly advised in all cases.
Prove separation: document the date you stopped living together (e.g., lease termination, utility bills, witness statements).
If applying without consent and less than three years separated, prepare evidence showing 'unzumutbare Härte' (e.g., abuse, severe betrayal, or intolerable conduct making continued marriage unbearable).
Attend the mandatory hearing — even in uncontested cases, the court must verify the breakdown and ensure procedural fairness.
Wait for the judgment to become final (usually after appeal period expires, unless waived). Only then is the marriage legally dissolved.
Sources
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IndiaNot legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.