registry office
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registry office
A government office responsible for the official registration of births, marriages, civil partnerships, and deaths, and where civil marriage ceremonies are performed.
Sie haben nur auf dem Standesamt geheiratet und auf eine kirchliche Trauung verzichtet.
They got married only at the registry office and chose not to have a church wedding.
The word is made up of 'Stand' and 'Amt'. 'Stand' here refers to 'Personenstand' (civil status, e.g., single, married), and 'Amt' is a government office. So it is the 'Amt für den Personenstand' (office for civil status).
Für die Anmeldung der Geburt müssen die Eltern zum Standesamt gehen.
To register the birth, the parents have to go to the registry office.
In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, only a marriage at the registry office is legally valid. A church wedding is a private ceremony with no legal effect.
Bevor sie in der Kirche feiern, muss das Paar auf dem Standesamt heiraten.
Before they celebrate in the church, the couple has to get married at the registry office.
The verb 'heiraten' (to marry) is often combined with the adverb 'standesamtlich' (in a civil ceremony). You can also say that someone gets married 'auf dem Standesamt' (at the registry office).
Mein Bruder heiratet nächsten Monat standesamtlich.
My brother is having a civil wedding next month.
town hall
'das Rathaus' and 'das Standesamt' are easy to confuse because the registry office is often in the town hall or closely connected to the city administration. 'Rathaus' is the central building of the city or municipality. It contains various offices and departments. 'Standesamt' is a specific government office that officially registers births, deaths, and marriages, for example, and performs civil wedding ceremonies. If you are talking about the building, you usually say 'Rathaus'. If it is about marriage or official certificates, 'Standesamt' is more precise.
Für ihre Hochzeit haben Lena und Paul einen Termin beim Standesamt gemacht.
Lena and Paul made an appointment at the registry office for their wedding.
Das Rathaus ist heute wegen einer Sitzung nur bis zwölf Uhr geöffnet.
The town hall is open only until twelve today because of a meeting.