The divorce is final — and after that nothing happens by itself. The name stays until you change it, the tax class follows its own calendar, insurance and wills have rules of their own. This step is about closing every loose end in a single pass.
After the decree: name, taxes, paperwork
The decree becomes final — and then the chain of updates begins. Name, tax class, insurance, residence and your will each follow their own rules and none of them change by themselves.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Standesamt
Municipal authorityMarriage, birth and death certificates, and leaving the church (in most states) all go through your town's Standesamt — often in the same Bürgerbüro.
Where to go in your city →› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I forgot the beneficiary on my life insurance and only changed it eighteen months later. Divorce rewrites nothing there on its own.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Make yourself a six-item list: registry office, tax office, health fund, bank, employer, immigration office. One evening of phone calls clears what otherwise drags on for months.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does my name change automatically? ▾
No. The married name stays yours after the divorce until you declare otherwise. You reclaim a former name by declaration at the registry office, and the law sets no deadline for doing so.
When does my tax class change? ▾
Joint assessment applies for the last time in the year you separated. From the following year both are assessed individually, and a parent living alone with a child can have the single-parent class checked.
What about my will and inheritance? ▾
Divorce generally excludes a former spouse from statutory inheritance, but a will made in their favour does not always lapse automatically. If you have a will, have it reviewed rather than trusting to automation.
Do I need to visit the immigration office? ▾
Yes, if your residence permit depends on the marriage. The decree is the basis for converting to an independent right — going there yourself is better than being asked at your next extension.