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Using a U.S. document in Germany

Step by step

1. Obtain the U.S. public document (e.g. birth or marriage certificate, school transcript, power of attorney).
2. Request the apostille from the Secretary of State of the state that issued the document; German missions in the U.S. no longer legalize U.S. public documents.
3. Ask the German authority receiving the document (e.g. the local registrar's office, Standesamt) whether it needs a German translation; where required, use a certified translator.
4. Present the apostilled document (with translation, if required) to the German authority or mission.

Translation

The German Missions in the U.S. state that, to marry in Germany, a translation of U.S. documents such as birth certificates 'might be required', while divorce decrees need a German translation made by a certified translator. Only the local registrar's office (Standesamt) can give binding information in each case.

Sources